711.4216 M 58/20

The British Chargé (Chilton) to the Secretary of State

No. 1111

Sir: My attention has been drawn by the Government of Canada to the fact that about the month of June last the Government of the United States were granted an injunction restraining the Sanitary District of Chicago from diverting water from Lake Michigan, but that this injunction would not take effect for a period of six months in order to allow time for the Sanitary District of Chicago to appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States. I understand that such an appeal has been lodged but that the Supreme Court has not yet acted upon it.

I have the honour to inform you that the Government of Canada have received numerous communications from various bodies and interests directly concerned with this question, protesting against this diversion of water from Lake Michigan and I would further explain that, owing to the injurious effects of such diversion both upon navigation and water power, the Dominion Government still maintain their attitude of opposition as already explained to the United States Government in Sir Auckland Geddes’ note No. 285 of April 22nd, 1921,13 and previous correspondence.

In these circumstances, the Governor General of Canada has asked me to enquire the present status of the legal proceedings instituted by the Government of the United States with a view to preventing any increase in the diversion of water from Lake Michigan, and to add that the Dominion Government confidently hope that these legal proceedings will be vigorously pressed by the United States Government.

I have [etc.]

H. G. Chilton
  1. Not printed; see Correspondence Relating to Diversion of the Waters of the Great Lakes by the Sanitary District of Chicago, from March 27, 1912, to October 17, 1927 (Ottawa: F. A. Acland, printer to the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, 1928), p. 21.