Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Sproat, Gilbert Malcolm, Anderson, James Y. S., and Irwin, James V. H. to Grenville, Richard 5 October 1868, CO 60:34, no. 10993, 295.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (4).
Sproat, Anderson, and Irwin transmit a memorial expressing an interest in extending the
Reciprocity Treatyto British Columbia for trade with the US. Robinson’s minute summarizes the intent expressed in the memorial. Elliot’s minute suggests sending the despatch to Seymour and not the Foreign Office and discusses why the Foreign Office should not be contacted yet. Minutes by Adderley and Buckingham advise sending the despatch to Seymour and Monck. Included documents describe British Columbia’s involvement in the Reciprocity Treaty.
Sproat, Anderson and Irwin to Secretary of State
London,
11 King William Street, E.C.
5th October 1868
11 King William Street, E.C.
My Lord Duke,
We have been requested to present to your Grace the accompanying
Memorial, which bears the signatures of the leading firms, and
Companies, representing in London the trade, and the productive
industry of British Columbia.
Many influential names would have been added if it had not been
deemed of pressing importance that your Grace's attention should
be drawn to the subject at the earliest moment.
Newspapers lately received from British Columbia and also
private advices received by the Memorialists, express the
anxiety of the colonists of British Columbia that the
opportunity of benefitting by the new Reciprocity Treaty should
not be lost; and the Memorialists hope that your Grace may feel
justified in endeavouring to secure, through the Foreign Office,
the opportunity for the colony to give more formal expression to
its claims and wishes in regard to the extension of the Treaty
to the British Columbia trade with the neighbouring American states.
We have the honour to be,
My Lord Duke,
Your obedient Servants
Gilbert M. Sproat
James Y.S. Anderson
James V.H. Irwin
Honorary Secretaries
to the Memorialists
My Lord Duke,Your obedient Servants
Gilbert M. Sproat
James Y.S. Anderson
James V.H. Irwin
Honorary Secretaries
to the Memorialists
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
The Memorialists pray that his Grace will move Lord Stanley to instruct HM Minister at Washington to endeavour to secure that the benefits of the Reciprocity Treaty shall be extended to all the N.A. Colonies so that option may be reserved to B Columbia to make application for the extension of its provision to that Colony.
The Memorialists pray that his Grace will move Lord Stanley to instruct HM Minister at Washington to endeavour to secure that the benefits of the Reciprocity Treaty shall be extended to all the N.A. Colonies so that option may be reserved to B Columbia to make application for the extension of its provision to that Colony.
WR
7 Oct 68
This letter appears to me to require alittle
little deliberation.
little deliberation.
The first question will be whether it will be right to act upon
it at all without referring to the Governor of British Columbia.
Supposing that this is thought right it would still I apprehend
be inexpedient to ask the Foreign Office to make any special
move on the present point unless some communications on
reciprocity are at all events in progress on the part of our
Minister at Washington. For we are continually told that it is
a bad plan to make frequent applications to the American Govt.
The utmost therefore that could be done, I think, would be to
forward this to the Foreign Office, and to say that if the
subject of a renewal of the Reciprocity Treaty should come under
discussion at Washington, the Duke of Buckingham will see no
objection to the British Minister's endeavouring to ascertain
whether the American Govt would be willing to extend it's
provisions to B. Columbia, but that His Grace does not wish to
recommend that any communication should be made to the American
Govt expressly on account of the present application, nor unless
the subject of Reciprocity should be at all events under discussion.
Perhaps, however, to Governor first, and not to F.O.?
The Writers must be answered.
TFE
9/10
I should first refer the Memorial to Govr and send Copy to
Ld Monck for Canada & if no objection, ask F.O. to instruct
Thornton to endeavour to lead any overtures, which may be made,
in that direction.
CBA
11/10
Acknowledge the letter &c—copy to Governor for his opinion
and copy to Lord Monck for his information.
B&C
11/10
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Memorial signed by representatives of commercial, banking,
landed and other interests in British Columbia to Secretary of
State, asking that "the benefits of the Reciprocity
Treaty shall be extended to all the North American Colonies."
Newspaper clipping,
The Weekly British Colonist and Chronicle, 22 August 1868,
"Reciprocity—Who is to Blame for our Omission from the Treaty."
Other documents included in the file
Rogers to Sproat, 19 October 1868, advising
Buckingham would communicate with Seymour and Monck on the subject.
Rogers to Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office, 20 October
1868, forwarding copy of correspondence for information.
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 89, 21 October 1868 transmitting Sproat’s letter and accompanying memorial as well as the Colonial Office’s reply to Sproat regarding extending the Reciprocity Treaty to British Columbia and requesting Seymour to provide a report on British Columbia and the Reciprocity Treaty.
Draft reply, Buckingham to Monck, Canada, No. 214, 24 October
1868 transmitting Sproat’s letter and accompanying memorial as well as the Colonial Office’s reply to Sproat regarding extending the Reciprocity Treaty to British Columbia.