Mr. Day to Sir Julian Pauncefote.
Washington, February 17, 1898.
Excellency: Referring to previous correspondence concerning protection of the relief expedition which the United States proposes to send to Circle City, Alaska, accompanied by an armed United States force, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of to-day stating that the Dominion government is willing that the United States troops considered necessary for the protection of the expedition in question should pass through Canadian territory under the same regulations which govern Canadian mounted police passing through United States territory, namely, that the men shall not be under arms and that the arms and munitions of war shall go through Canadian territory as baggage.
The Department notes with pleasure your statement that the Dominion government desires to make it clear that it fully appreciates the wish of the United States to afford the relief and that to this end the Canadian local officials have been instructed to facilitate the expedition in every possible way.
A copy of your note has been communicated to the Secretary of War with the request that he inform the Department as soon as practicable as to whether the arrangement indicated in your communication is satisfactory to him.
I have, etc.,