He thought that a representative of the Aeronautics Branch of the Department of Commerce might well be appointed to Ottawa, and that his assignment to the Legation here would be greatly appreciated. His views, he said, represented those of the Deputy Minister of National Defence, and he was authorized so to advise me. As I have already pointed out, the call of Wing Commander Gordon was a purely personal one and should not be taken, therefore, as any official step on the part of the Dominion Government towards an exchange of civil air attachés. I venture to express the hope, however, that the Department will give careful consideration to this subject, and should it be found practicable to adopt the suggestion of the appointment of an air attaché, that I may be instructed to sound the Dominion Government informally in order to obtain an expression of its views. I have [etc.] 701.4211/84 WILLIAM PHILLIPS The Secretary of State to the Minister in Canada (Phillips) No. 201 WASHINGTON, April 12, 1928. SIR: The Department has received your despatch No. 271 dated March 6, 1928, reporting that Wing Commander J. Lindsey Gordon suggested to you the desirability of establishing in the American Legation at Ottawa and in the Canadian Legation at Washington official representatives who would concern themselves with the development of commercial aviation between the two countries. A copy of your despatch was forwarded to the Secretary of Commerce with the request that he furnish the Department with any comments he might care to make in regard to this matter. A letter dated March 30, 1928, has now been received from the Secretary of Commerce, approving in general terms of the proposed exchange of commercial aviation attachés at some future time. 69 In the Department's opinion, it is doubtful whether commercial aviation has reached a stage of development in either the United States or Canada to warrant the appointment of officials of this nature. I am [etc.] Not printed. For the Secretary of State: EMBARGO ON THE IMPORTATION OF PEACHES INTO CANADA FROM THE UNITED STATES 842.612 Peaches/5 The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Ottawa (Foster) WASHINGTON, June 11, 1927. SIR: There is enclosed for your information and guidance a copy of a letter, dated June 3, 1927, from the Acting Secretary of Agriculture 70 relative to the embargo against the importation into the Dominion of Canada of fresh peaches and peach nursery stock from certain states of the United States. You are instructed to bring this matter immediately to the attention of the appropriate Canadian authorities with the view to securing a removal of the embargo at the earliest date possible. In making your representations in this regard the following points should be emphasized: 1. That the embargo, other than that section of it applicable to importations into British Columbia, appears to be no longer justifiable on the ground of protection against pests, and is consequently in violation of the "contiguous country policy", adopted in the interests of Canada. 2. That the pest in question, the Oriental peach moth is, according to the information available to the Department, already prevalent in Canadian peach growing areas, notably that of the Niagara Peninsula. 3. That, whereas the Oriental peach moth is stated to have come to both the United States and Canada through the importation of flowering cherry trees from Japan, the United States has long maintained a quarantine on this pest carrier, while Canada has not. 4. That although the Destructive Insect and Pest Act Advisory Board is said to have recommended the removal of the embargo for all the states concerned, it was lifted only for peaches from Arkansas. There appears to be no valid reason for this discrimination against the other states. 5. That, finally, as the peach crop is already in movement and important interests in the United States are anxious for the opening to it of the Canadian market, a prompt decision is wanted. In this last connection, you are informed that Senator Harris, of Georgia, and several representatives of the peach growers of that state, have communicated to the Department their interest. The Georgia peach crop is the most considerable of those of the states affected by the embargo, as well as one of the earliest in the market. Not printed. Before this month has elapsed, several thousand carloads of peaches from that state will already have been routed to their destinations. It is desired that you inform the Department at frequent intervals of the progress of your efforts to secure the removal of the embargo. I am [etc.] For the Secretary of State: 842.612 Peaches/14 The Consul General at Ottawa (Linnell) to the Secretary of State No. 22 OTTAWA, July 18, 1927. SIR: Reference is made to the Department's instruction of June 11, 1927, with which was transmitted a copy of a letter from the Acting Secretary of Agriculture, concerning the embargo against the importation into the Dominion of Canada of fresh peaches and peach nursery stock from certain States of the United States. As was reported in Mr. Hickerson's despatches No. 6695 of June 23, 1927, No. 6675 of June 15, 1927, and No. 6673 of June 14, 1927,"1 it proved to be impossible to obtain a definite decision from the Canadian Department of Agriculture until the return of Mr. Motherwell, the Minister of Agriculture. Mr. Motherwell returned to Ottawa on July 14th, and an interview was arranged with him for July 16th, which was the earliest date possible, when I attended at his office with Mr. Hickerson. Dr. J. H. Grisdale, the Deputy Minister of the Canadian Department of Agriculture, was also present at the interview. The representations suggested by the Department in its instruction of June 11th, and Mr. Marvin's letter to the Department of June 3rd, were again presented fully to Mr. Motherwell, but he replied that he was not convinced that the fact that Canada now has some of the oriental peach moth, was any reason why Canada should take any chances of admitting more of these moths to the peach-growing areas. The only peach growing areas of Canada are in the Provinces of Ontario and British Columbia, and the final result of the conference was that Mr. Motherwell agreed to consider whether it would be possible to raise the embargo against American peaches for all the provinces of Canada, other than the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. Mr. Motherwell also pointed out that the statement made by the United States Department of Agriculture, (bottom of page 1 in its "None printed. John D. Hickerson was the consul in charge at Ottawa. letter of June 3rd, referred to above), that "Canada has placed no restrictions on the movement of fruit to other parts of the Dominion from infested areas in Ontario where the peach crop is an important feature" is incorrect, since Canada has an embargo against the shipment of peaches from Ontario to British Columbia. It is appreciated that the province of Ontario is the most densely populated province and furnishes one of the principal possible markets for American peaches, but Mr. Motherwell said that under present conditions, he did not feel that the embargo could be removed for Ontario, in any event. He promised to give a definite answer concerning the removal of the embargo for the provinces, other than Ontario and British Columbia, as soon as possible, probably by July 20th or 21st. In the course of the conversation, he intimated that he would have liked to have dealt personally with Mr. Jardine, the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture in this matter, and had hoped to have seen him at the Poultry Congress, which begins in Ottawa on July 27th. Mr. Motherwell also stated that his Department had been unable to ascertain definitely with reference to Georgia, Michigan and Illinois, in particular, what measures have been taken to control the peach moth and to what extent these measures have been effective. I have [etc.] IRVING N. LINNELL 842.612 Peaches/15: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Ottawa (Linnell) WASHINGTON, August 8, 1927—1 p. m. Your despatch No. 22, July 18, 1927, stated Motherwell promised decision respecting peach embargo by July 21. Please telegraph status of this matter. Peach interests are pressing for action. KELLOGG 842.612 Peaches/20: Telegram The Consul General at Ottawa (Linnell) to the Secretary of State OTTAWA, August 13, 1927-noon. [Received 2:20 p. m.] Order in Council dated August 11 just issued to the following effect. 1. Importation of fresh peaches and peach nursery stock into Province of Ontario prohibited from all States east Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers. 2. Importation of fresh peaches, peaches nursery stock and peach fruit pits or seeds for propagating purposes into Province of British Columbia prohibited from above stated area and from Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas. 3. All importations fresh peaches and nursery stock consigned to places in Ontario and originating in States other than mentioned in section 1 and peach fruit pits or seeds for propagating purposes consigned to places in British Columbia and originating in States other than those mentioned in sections 1 and 2 cannot be released from customs unless entry papers accompanied by a statement signed by consignor indicating name of State in which products originated. 4. This regulation does not prohibit the movement fresh peaches, peach nursery stock, or peach fruit pits of whatever origin passing through Ontario on a through bill of lading and consigned to places in Canada outside Ontario with the exception of British Columbia. Full report by mail. LINNELL 842.612 Peaches/32 The Secretary of State to the Minister in Canada (Phillips) No. 183 WASHINGTON, March 20, 1928. SIR: On June 11, 1927 the Department instructed the American Consul General at Ottawa to take up with the appropriate Canadian authorities the matter of an embargo against the importation into Canada of fresh peaches and peach nursery stock from certain States of the United States and to endeavor to bring about a removal of this embargo. Through the efforts of the Consulate General, the Canadian Government was persuaded to remove the embargo from all of Canada except the two Provinces which grow peaches, namely British Colum bia and Ontario. Reference is made in this regard to Mr. Newsom's despatch No. 61 of August 18, 1927,72 transmitting a copy of the Order-in-Council of August 11 incorporating the above mentioned changes. 73 Senator Harris wrote the Department on March 10, 1928, referring to the efforts made last summer to bring about a removal of this embargo and inquiring whether it would be possible to obtain at this time a removal of the embargo against the importation of American peaches into the Province of Ontario. 72 Not printed; see telegram of Aug. 13, 1927, noon, from the Consul General at Ottawa, supra. 73 Letter not printed. |