high seas."

BENJ. HARRISON.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 2, 1893_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

On the 23d of July last the following resolution of the House of
Representatives was communicated to me:

_Resolved_, That the President be requested to inform the House, if not
incompatible with the public interests, what regulations are now in
force concerning the transportation of imported merchandise in bond or
duty paid, and products or manufactures of the United States, from one
port in the United States, over Canadian territory, to another port
therein, under the provisions of section 3006 of the Revised Statutes;
whether further legislation thereon is necessary or advisable, and
especially whether a careful inspection of such merchandise should not
be had at the frontiers of the United States upon the departure and
arrival of such merchandise, and whether the interests of the United
States do not require that each car containing such merchandise while
in Canadian territory be in the custody and under the surveillance of
an inspector of the customs department, the cost of such surveillance
to be paid by the foreign carrier transporting such merchandise.

The resolution is limited in its scope to the subject of the transit
of merchandise from one port in the United States, through Canadian
territory, to another port in the United States, under the provisions of
section 3006 of the Revised Statutes; but I have concluded that a review
of our treaty obligations, if any, and of our legislation upon the whole
subject of the transit of goods from, to, or through Canada is
desirable, and therefore address this message to the Congress.

It should be known before new legislation is proposed whether the United
States is under any treaty obligations which affect this subject growing
out of the provisions of Article XXIX of the treaty of Washington. That
article is as follows:

It is agreed that for the term of years mentioned in Article XXXIII of
this treaty goods, wares, or merchandise arriving at the ports of New
York, Boston, and Portland, and any other ports in the United States
which have been or may from time to time be specially designated by
the President of the United States, and destined for Her Britannic
Majesty's possessions in North America, may be entered at the proper
custom-house and conveyed in transit, without the payment of duties,