Exchange of Notes Between the United States of America and Canada Constituting an Agreement Regarding the Development of Certain Portion of the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Basin Project

Signed at Washington 14 and 31^st October and 7^th November 1940

I

Department of State
Washington, October 14^th 1940.

Sir,

I have the honor to refer to the conversations which have taken place recently between officials of the Government of the United States and Canada in regard to the desirability of taking immediate steps looking to the early development of certain portions of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin project. These conversations have indicated that there is apprehension in both countries over the possibility of a power shortage ; these apprehensions have been heightened by the necessity for increased supplies of power in consequence of Canada's war effort and of, the major national defense effort in the United States.

In the light of these considerations, the Government of the United States proposes that each Government appoint forthwith a Temporary Great, Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin Committee consisting of not more than five members. These two Committees would cooperate in preliminary engineering and other investigations for that part of the project which is located in the International Rapids Section of the St. Lawrence River, in order that the entire project may be undertaken without delay when final decision is reached by the two Governments. The Government of the United States is prepared to advance the necessary funds up to $1,000,000 to pay for these preliminary engineering and other investigations, on the understanding that their cost shall ultimately be prorated by agreement between the two Governments.

Meanwhile, to assist in providing an adequate supply to meet Canadian defense needs and contingent upon the Province of Ontario provide immediately for diversions into the Great Lakes System of waters of the Albany River Basin which normally flow into Hudson Bay, the Government of the United States will interpose no objection, pending the conclusion of a final Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin agreement between the two countries, to the immediate utilization for power at Niagara Falls by the Province of Ontario of additional waters equivalent in quantity to the diversions into the Great Lakes Basin above referred to.

I shall be glad if you will let me know if your Government is in accord with the foregoing proposals.

Accept, Sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

For the Secretary of State
Adolf A. BERLE, Jr.

The HonorableLoring C. Christie,
Minister of Canada.

II

CANADIAN LEGATION
No. 316.
WASHINGTON, October 14th, 1940.

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to your note of October 14th, in which you proposed that the Governments of Canada and the United States take immediate steps looking to the early development of certain portions of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin project.

I am instructed to inform you that the Canadian Government is in accord with the proposal which you have made.

I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration, Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant,

Loring C. CHRISTIE.

The Honourable Cordell Hull,
Secretary of State of the United States, Washington, D.C.

III

Canadian Legation
No. 340.
Washington, October 31st, 1940.

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to the third paragraph of your note of October 14th concerning the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin project, in which you state that to assist in providing an adequate supply of power to meet Canadian defence needs and contingent upon the Province of OntarioÆs agreeing to provided immediately for diversions into the Great Lakes system of waters from the Albany River Basin which normally flow into Hudson Bay, the Government of the United States would interpose no objection, pending the conclusion of a final Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin agreement between the two countries, to the immediate utilization for power at Niagara Falls by the Province of Ontario of additional waters equivalent in quantity to the diversions into the Great Lakes Basin above referred to.

I am instructed to inform you that the Canadian Government has received appropriate assurances that the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario is prepared to proceed immediately with the Long Lac-Ogoki diversions and that this action has been approved by the Government of the Province.

The Canadian Government is therefore giving appropriate instructions to authorize the additional diversion of 5,000 cubic feet per second at Niagara by the Hydro-Electric Power Commission Of Ontario.

I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration, Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant,

Loring G. Christie

The Honourable Cordell Hull,
Secretary of State of the United States, Washington, D. C.

IV

Department of State
Washington, November 7th, I940.

Sir,

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Note No. 340 of October 31st, 1940, stating that the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario is prepared to proceed immediately with the Long Lac-Ogoki diversions of waters from the Albany River Basin into the Great Lakes System and that this action as been approved by the Government of the Province.

I note also that the Canadian Government is giving appropriate instructions to authorize the additional diversion of 5,000 cubic feet per second of water at Niagara Falls by the Hydro-Electric Commission of Ontario.

Sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

For the Secretary of State A. A. BERLE, Jr.

The Honorable Loring C. Christie,
Minister of Canada.

Certified to be a true and complete textual copy of the original agreement in the sole language in which it was signed.

For the Secretary of State of the United States of America

Edward Yardley,
Director of Personnel.