Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-07
BY Gerald Worins
SpecioI CORRESPONDENT Of The ssc

Special Correspondent Of The siar
OTTAWA, July THE first
conference between the United
States and Canada in two years
on how these countries might
cooperate to build a jointly
owned st. Lawrence Seaway
ended in amicable agreement
here yesterday.
The scope of the agreement
was limited, however. Canada
was clearly agreeable to the over
all objective of the Wiley Act
that is. American participation
in the seaway project-but with
a number of stated "ifs."
The American delegation of a
dozen officials from Washington
headed by Deputy Defense Sec
rotary Robert T. Anderson was
obviously eager to secure the
Canadian cooperation necessary
to give effect to this legislation.
The two-day meeting accom-
plished three things. It listed
the problems and questions
which the two governments must
negotiate and decide before they
can build the seaway. It referred
this list to the governments as
a tentative .agenda for a confer
ence of cabinet ministers to be
held here later this month. It
also established q harmonious
atmosphere for coming higher
level talks.
U. S. Revises Plans.
Neither. side seemed to- think
the other side was unreasonable.
For the last two years Canada
has been proceeding with plans
and engineering on the assump-
ton that it would construct the
$500 million canal system in the
st. Lawrence River by itself.
Now the United States Govern
ment has approached the Ca
madam government with an al
tentative idea-that Canada
build the navigation works in
that part of the river which is
entirely within Canada, and that
the United States build the
canals in American territory
along that section of the river
which forms the international
boundary.
The Wiley Act, which author
ICES American participation,
stipulateS that before the United
States proceeds with its share of
the project, 1t must have as
surance that Canada will go
ahead with it's share. The act
also requires assurance that the
power authorities Of Ontario and
New York will proceed concur
rently with the development Of
hydro-electric power from the
river.
Canada to Proceed.
Canadian officials at the meet
ing, including Lionel Chevrier,
president of the st. Lawrence
Seaway Authority. gave the
United States delegation firm
verbal assurances that Canada
intends to proceed with a mimi
mum of delay to build the canals
in the lower st. Lawrence.
The Americans were also told
that while the Canadian gov
hernment cannot commit the pro-
vincial government of Ontario,
the provincial authorities have
indicated by word and deed that
they are eager to push the power
development at the earliest pos
sible time.
The ifs" raised by the Cana
dians in reacting favorably to
the American proposal were
mainly these:
!. Canada wants assurance
that the United States will start
its share of the project without
delay.
2. Canada wants assurances
that the United States will not
discriminate against Canadian
bottoms or cargoes in establish
ing tolls for the proposed Amer
lean canals.
3. Canada agreed in 1852 to
pay SIS million to the two power
authorities as a contribution
toward the cost of dredging the
river above the power dams.
This dredging is necessary to in
crease the quantity of water
available for power generation,
as well as for navigational pur-
poses. When Canada agreed to
contribute this amount, it in
tended to build the seaway alone.
Now. If the United States is 60
ing to build the canals in that
1 section, the Canadian govern
ment believes the United States
should pay the SIS million.
4. Canada wants the United
States to recognize that by
agreeing to joint canal system.
Canada will not prejudice its
sovereign right to build dupli-
cate canals on the Canadian side
later If it wants to.
Joint Tolls Proposed.
American agreement on the
first point is expected to be au-
tomato. On the second point
the United States wants to go
further and establish Joint or