Mr. Lincoln to Mr. Blaine.

No. 594.]

Sir: Referring to your instruction numbered 656 of the 19th ultimo, in relation to the denial by the Canadian government of the right of citizens of the United States to the benefit of copyright in Canada, I have the honor to acquaint you that yesterday in an interview with the [Page 224] Marquis of Salisbury I brought the matter to his notice directly. While I think his lordship had already heard something of it, I don’t think that it had been presented to him so as to arrest his attention properly. He indicated great interest at once, and without expressing any opinion as to the result said that he would cause the business to be looked into immediately. I did not in any way press for an immediate expression from him as to the solution of the difficulty, as I could hardly expect to learn anything further at the moment than that I already knew that the assurances in his note of June 16, 1891, were the official opinions of the law officers of the Crown, and that they must again be consulted prior to further action.

I did not fail to suggest the urgency of the subject, orally, and again to-day in a note, of which a copy is herewith transmitted, and which I have addressed to his lordship, inclosing at his request a copy of the communication from the registrar in Canada to Messrs. Munn & Co., of New York, dated the 22d of August, 1891.

I have, etc.,

Robert T. Lincoln.
[Inclosure in No. 594.]

Mr. Lincoln to Lord Salisbury.

My Lord: With reference to our conversation of yesterday, I have the honor to transmit a copy of a communication, dated August 22, 1891, from the registrar in charge of the copyright and trade-mark branch of the department of agriculture of the Dominion of Canada, addressed to Messrs. Munn & Co., publishers, of New York, by which the latter are given officially to understand that citizens of the United States can not have the benefit of copyright in Canada.

It will be observed, as I indicated to your lordship yesterday, that the communication itself negatives the possibility of the official action being based upon any failure or refusal to comply with the provisions of Canadian law as to printing and publishing in Canada. I venture also to point out that the registrar, while appearing to have before him the proclamation of the President, omits, as though unimportant, consideration of the statute and of the official assurances upon which the proclamation was based, and which are set forth in its preamble.

Inasmuch as under the proclamation, as it now stands, Her Majesty’s Canadian subjects enjoy full privilege of copyright in the United States, as do all British subjects, on a footing of perfect equality with citizens of the United States, Mr. Blaine, upon receipt of the information of the attitude of the Canadian Government, denying the existence of a reciprocal right of our citizens in respect to Canadian copyright, addressed a note to Sir Julian Pauncefote, but in view of the importance of the immediate removal of any misapprehension on the subject, he has instructed me to suggest to your lordship directly the urgency of the matter.

I have the honor to inclose, for your lordship’s convenience, additional copies of the President’s proclamation, above mentioned, and of sundry other papers printed therewith.

I have, etc.,

Robert T. Lincoln.