The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-09

How Its Abrorntion Would Anect the Qnes-
ton OF Our Lake Defenccs.

| ,,,n .r H.. -, Wn
WASHINGTON. Dec. s.-secrc,ory Fosters an
swer 10 tho resolution Of Tho S,n,.a ,ou,hins
| tho Rush RaEot agreement OF 1917 reoncp,
| the question ns to th, .yncI;,noy ~ ,nn,ii,nC
VIZ iu. ,s, "s 10 'ne eSneuehcy OF hhnu'iina
or modifying that compact. The resolution
called for two replies. tho first being whether
the agreement was stil in force. and the sec
ond whether It's existence Ind caused tho re-
lection OF any bids from shipbuilding firms
Tor inc construction OF naval vessels. 1t was
expected, OF course that both replies would be
eminent inst bofora tb, o,oso n, ,ho i'm ,,,,
a,., w., JUS. n''''e 'no ciose OF 'he ei'ii wal
E"'e 'ne required notice oil n desire to annul
tho treaty. but promptly withdrew that notice
'G ,rna ,' :. .ook e,'ec'.
uant q, p"r,,Sal question therefore is.' DO We
noo,in r., o,na, ,,e 'naN inuuee lnuny
pev'o W cohd'uue tnat withdrawal is our true
policy. Asthc case stands. the treaty make our
northern frontier indciensihI, hv war shins
,a,. pteScr'o's 'hal the naval force on the
lakes. American and British. shall DO confined
to tho following vessels on each side:
~, IN Lake 'n,nrn. to Que vessel not exceeding 100
On The mt ria Sst /" Wi,n one is nonl .aIn9
On the waters OF Lake CiaminIa, 10 one vessel. not
exceeding mo burden. ani armed in Ike force.
h. ri,i or rn al no one Vessel OF Mar sinai. then
DESTROYS Of nr t nnrty sVT hn rye Ne
no!irc at eocI 30 tie otHer par,y. i sh"i CEASE
'he date OF such notice
And besides this diillcuty, there is the OBJ
ton " inquiry. nmmni thnt n,,r % I.ie hin
builders cannot under the treaty. com pnts Tor
contracts to construct tho smaller vessels U OF
away from 4. ". Wheeler & Co OF Bny tity
Mich. who had been tholowest bidders Tor her.
occur. are no. .o only points nrnr T ;or nn
Ias,y Siharaw a notice %H .. S
to tho trav When thsrs IS little r."snn to
eanus S Sn ss the
Annr won hay" N fern ~" MI IVY b 20
t" tat GoTa oven, utt INC treaty On Application
The answer /" these questions must anpor.
tns COUNTRY, T5 is wtn It
bars from the lakes the scores OF Light .drnurht
Gunhoats and Other war vessels Which Great
Britain now has and could send thithcr II
the treaty were arnullr,!. we shonli instantly
feel compelled 10 build fleet OF war .' vessels
boon provided We should hnIdlv be better ,e on
than now because it would simply Offset tho
ns9 sSiF i4on ;rs Ss XIV nta;rs!zSI
treaty itself. In tho mean time. or Until thnt
lcrt was cons,ruce Great hri,ain INV, wo oui,
DOUBTLESS woul.l. jmneiintely s"nd ;mtn M
lakes the ruuhont 3 and tnrnnLo craft mnw, ''.o
barred She also could. and worry iii eiv w"uiI
begin huiitiin. other war VESSELS IN ~. C'n
dian shiryard-. Thus tnr our present s"nuritv
furnis she'd without rynunso wa sl,G,,ll .unSt;
tutc tho Necessity Of huiliimr :, Iai;n ,aei ~
grea, cost. aud thu, Introduce that sysien, If
arm NJ: :uajnst "A near ncirLEnr whi,.h is 50
heavy "A burden a. tho countrirs Of Emrona ~
The treaty OF 1917 neutraii@"s not anlv tho
British feet but, for all ncrrossivS rurnosns
the st. Lawrence and this Dominion canals
TIL" decided advantage which Great britain
would otherwise now have in thase nnvni hi"h
ways must not be iorEottnn. If may In sail
that they would be prOmntiy useI in casa ~
war and hence that we shouiJ have ~ LAT ~,
the lakes ready to meet one thnt might inns
enter But IN, Destruction of thp rnnnis nn;