711.428/764
The Secretary of State to the British Chargé ( Chilton )
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your notes No. 764 of September 6 and No. 822 of September 28, 1923, with reference to the convention concluded between the United States and Great Britain on March 2, 1923, for the protection of the halibut fishery of the Northern Pacific Ocean.
With reference to the situation as presented in your notes, I have the honor to advise you for the confidential information of the Canadian Government that the President has expressed his readiness to resubmit the convention to the Senate with a view to obtaining the advice and consent of the Senate to the ratification of the convention as signed. Since it appears to be improbable that the Senate will convene before the first week in December, there does not seem to be any probability of obtaining reconsideration of the convention by the Senate in time to bring its provisions for the establishment of a close season into operation during the winter of 1923–1924.
With reference to the proposal of the Government of Canada to afford temporary protection to the Pacific halibut fishery by prohibiting the landing of halibut taken during the three months beginning November 16, 1923, on condition that the United States is prepared to take similar action, I have the honor to inform you that the Executive is without authority to make and enforce regulations of the character necessary to accomplish the plan suggested by the Government of Canada.
In view of the foregoing, I have the honor to inform you that the Government of the United States is prepared to join the Government of Canada in a public announcement to be made simultaneously from Washington and Ottawa to the effect that the close season provided by the convention will not be effective during the season 1923–1924.
I should be pleased to receive a draft of the statement which the Canadian Government proposes to make public. It is suggested that [Page 479] the announcement might be made on October 15, 1923, if that date be agreeable to the Government of Canada.
Accept [etc.]