711.4216 M 58/25

The British Ambassador (Howard) to the Secretary of State

Sir: I have the honour to refer to the note which you were so good as to address to Mr. Chilton on February 16th last and to inform you, by request of His Excellency the Governor-General of Canada, that the question of the diversion of water from the St. Lawrence River watershed into that of the Mississippi continues to cause grave concern to the Government and people of Canada, more especially in view of the provisions of the bill which has been introduced into Congress in regard to this matter. The Dominion Government desire me to express the hope that no action will be taken either to confirm or permit the claim of the Sanitary District of Chicago to continue the diversion of water referred to above, inasmuch as this would adversely affect navigation on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River as well as the actual or prospective development of power upon river and inter-lake connecting waters.

The attitude of the Government of Canada in opposition to and in protest against the most injurious effects of this proposed diversion of water has been consistently maintained throughout and has been made known to the United States Government. The Dominion Government feel that it would be most unfortunate if, now that the development of the St. Lawrence Waterway for navigation and power purposes is under consideration, any action should be taken which might adversely affect the possibility of such development, and they trust that these views will meet with the agreement of the United States Government.

In this connection I would draw your particular attention to the contents of Mr. Chilton’s note No. 144 of February 13th, the receipt of which you were good enough to acknowledge on the 15th ultimo,14 and to enquire whether you are yet in a position to inform me of the attitude of the United States authorities in this matter. At the same time it would be a matter of convenience both to myself and to the [Page 353] Government of Canada to learn whether the time has yet been fixed for the hearings of the Committee, which you foreshadowed in your note of the 18th ultimo,15 and if so whether Mr. Stewart16 will be at liberty to attend them.

I have [etc.]

Esme Howard
  1. Not printed.
  2. Not printed.
  3. W. J. Stewart, chief hydrographer of the Canadian Government.