The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-07
INTERNATIONAL POLICY.

A proposal for limiting the armed force between
France and England something IKE tnss S----.
limiting the armed force on the Lakes between
the United States and Canada, has been made in
the British Parliament The proposition comes
from MIR. Golden, that great and stanch re-
former, who distinguished himself 30 ably in OPP
position to the " Corn Lswsn IL a treaty like
that limiting the armed force ON the American
Lakes were applied between the various nations
of Europe, the result would be general and
widespread benefit. England and France have
been rivals for generations, and when one shows
her teeth the other forthwith proceeds to arm
herself against any hostile approach In this way
the two nations have been urged, time and again,
to arm against invasion, and the passions Of ha-
tired, ambition, and fear, have been In turn ap-
pealed to for the purpose of Fastening prepare
tions for war. For several years in succession,
Mr.. Golden has made a motion in Parliament
with the object of limiting the armed force be-
tween France and England. Heretofore, his
motions have been regarded by the Ministry as
impracticabe or ridiculous; but latterly they
have been received with more favor. A writer
in the Buffalo Republic thus sums up the case,
which cannot but be gratifying to every lover Of
peace
"The case stands briefly thus. The United
States by abstaining from military and naval es-
Establishments upon an aggressive scale has led the
way towards peace and rational intercourse.
France and England have been perpetually con-
tending which should mako the greatest prspara-
tions for war but tAeir relative strength before
and after the psduct;on o. their naval force would
ms %s a: wa mi red 80 III s7sy one. g
will diminish yours in like proportion
"To show the retaliatory system of arminp
which has prevailed between these nations W.
will quote from the two statesmen who, in their
respective countries, have had and now posses,
most authority in questions Of foreign policy. IL
1885, when o motion was made in the French
Chamber of Deputies for vote of 5000 OO(
francs to increase the navy, M. Theirs said
We pay England the compliment of think
ing only of her when determining our nava
force we never heed the ships which sally forth
from Trieste or Venice-we care only for those
that leave Portsmouth or Plymouth
" In lS4S, Lord Palmerston said, in the British
Parliament;
$50 far from its affording any cause of Of
fence to France, that Ne should measure our ma
Wy by such standard, | am sure any one who
follows the debates in the French Chambers
when their naval estimates come under discussion
must know that they follow the same course
adopting the natural and only measure in such
cases, namely the naval force which other ma.
} tons may have ct the same time
, {" A commission of the French National AS
sembly said, in April last
"'We must be on our guard against so power.
full an enemy, situate at so short distance from
our shores and who, by the aid of steam, will be
. henceforth independent of wind tides, and cur
rents, which formerly mpeded the operation o.
sailing vessels
" Both these nations have spent nearly the
same amount in this system. There is, on the
CONTRARY, moral and political grandeur in the
lesson which is taught by the Convention between
the United States and Britain, which in its prob.
able results is far greater than any ever taught
by the same number of diplomatic words, which
are rs follows:
, "' Arrangements between the United States
and Great Britain, between Richard Rush. Esq
, acting as Secretary Of the Department Of State
and Charles Bagot, His Britannia Majesty Envoy
Extraordinary, &c, April, 1917 The naval force
to be maintained upon the American Lakes by
Ills Majesty and the Government of the United
States shall henceforth be confnoa to the follow
ing vessels on each side that is: On Lake Onta-
rio, to one vessel, not exceeding 100 tons burden
and armed with one eighteen pound cannon on
the upper lakes, to two vessels not exceeding
like burden each, and armed with like force on
the waters Of Lake Chsmplaiu, to one vessel, not
exceeding like burden and armed with like force
All other armed vessels on these lakes shall be
forthwith dismantled and no other vessels of war
/ shall be there built or armed IL either party
should hereafter be DESTROYS Of snnulling thii
stipulation, and should give notice to that effect
to the other party, it sk-A cease TO DO binding
after the expiration of SIX months from the date
I Of such notice The naval force 80 to be limited
shall be restricted to such services will in nc
respect interfere with the proper duties of the
armed vessels Of the other party
. sit may be said that In such treaty between
) France and England those countries alone would
. be affected Upon this point MIR Golden used
the following argument which is truthful trib.
ute Of implied praise both to our policy, sea.
men, and our power:
90 Now, he might be told he was dealing mere
ly with France; but there were only two coun-
tries Of any Importance ~ naval powers, namely
France and Russia, for America had set an exam
pie, and was out Of the question. When Cali
fornia Was discovered, America might have placed
two or three line-os.battle ships off that coast
but she withdrew tho only one she had there, and
: turned her artisans and shipwrights to construc
some Of the most magnificent steam vessels thai
3 were ever seen; and yet her commerce was ex
tending, as our own. The honorable member
from Stafford might perhaps refer him TO Russia
! but he commended that no country that had not
l. mercantile marine could be great naval country
You might build up navy a. Mehemet Ali has
done and put his fsllahs on board but IL You hat
e not mercantile marine you never could becom,
, great naval power. Hear, hear Russia hs,
r no doubt great number Of ships at Cronstadt-
s he had seen them sll-but II Russia had power
she kept 1t at home and there might be very gooc
a reasons why she did %, for he had heard remark
: from American Skipper lying at Cronstadt to tn
effect that her vessels were not 30 much to be ad
: mired. She had shout 10000 sailors, but the,
: were men taken from the interior, unaocustome,
Z to sea duty, and were Of course complete laugh
4 ingstock 10 British ssazAsn. He did not conside
4 that any country like America or England, oar
> rying on an enorwsss commerce and with 100 ,O0
mercantile sailors, could ever be endangered by
= country hsvise 10 mercantile marine. Wit
A | reference IN oup dlnfsnt stAtious Mt ALI event