[Delphine-dvlpt] ns and conclusions of the Canal Commiss

[McNolty K. <det...@li...>]

 existence of animal life impossible. Our relations with Great Britain
have continued on the most friendly footing. Assenting to our request,
the protection of Americans and their interests in Spanish jurisdiction
was assumed by the diplomatic and consular representatives of Great
Britain, who fulfilled their delicate and arduous trust with tact and
zeal, eliciting high commendation. I may be allowed to make fitting
allusion to the instance of Mr. Ramsden, Her Majesty's consul at
Santiago de Cuba, whose untimely death after distinguished service and
untiring effort during the siege of that city was sincerely lamented. In
the early part of April last, pursuant to a request made at the instance
of the Secretary of State by the British ambassador at this capital, the
Canadian government granted facilities for the passage of four United
States revenue cutters from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic coast by way
of the Canadian canals and the St. Lawrence River. The vessels had
reached Lake Ontario and were there awaiting the opening of navigation
when war was declared between the United States and Spain. Her Majesty's
Government thereupon, by a communication of the latter part of April,
stated that the permission granted before the outbreak of hostilities
would not be withdrawn provided the United States Government gave
assurance that the vessels in question would proceed direct to a United
States port without engaging in any hostile operation. This Government
promptly agreed to the stipulated condition, it being understood that
the vessels would not be prohibited from resisting any hostile attack.
It will give me especial satisfaction if I shall be authorized to
communic