New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-08
ARMED FORCES on THE GREAT LAKES.

ARMED FORCES on THE GREAT LAKES.
SECRETARY j. W. FOSTERS NXHAUTINh hH'
VIEW or THE AGREEMENT WITH ENGLAND
Washington. Dec. 7-On April II the senate ndop'eo
a resolution, calling upon the secretary % "1.
inform the senate whether the agreement 'n'''V'
into between the United states and Great Britain i"
1917 covering the question OF the naval ioroe 10 w
maintained ON The great lakes Is now held IN hrce
and what action las been taken by the unted STATES
70 enforce the agreement. To-day the president
transmitted 10 the Senate a report OF the SECRETARY
OF state in answer - the resolution "h''h s"'.
complete history OF the agreement entered INTO DC
tween the two count-cs.
Secretary Fo7tcr's report beens with reel ation
Of the sources disagreement between Great i''a'n
and the United states. In 1914 No ~
dcncc exists however. that the arrangement as !"
the restriction OF naval forces on the great mixes
received on the part OF Great Britain inc lor"'h""
usually accorded 10 treaty. THO only puphe'hOh
Of il in the British and Foreign stat, Papers Is on
certain pages, where the Presidents proclamation
is taxtuslly reproduced. The proclamation inc
srcrctar~ says does not appear IN have ocen
OFFICIALLY communicated 10 Mr.. Bsgd thc Dr'ns'
Minister, by tho Secretary of state keauVe 10 'n'
the secretary saws at se.ms evident, therefore tha
a, no time during the negotiation or ~ ifs compile
ton, did the arrangement In question thRc inc sn'p
Of formal inernationa treaty"
T1e Secretary dwells AT great length upon the Or
rongement of 1877, which he contends was sell
cxccutory requiring neither legislation nor appopra-
lion at the lime render It effective on the part oil
either g. United States or Great Britain The Bee
rotary holds that the existing legislation gives ample
discretion to trr Secretary OF the Navy rs TO The
force to be employed the lakes. The old Micm-
con now on the lakes. wa constructed I'm 1874. Icf
tonnage was 49s and her armament consisted OF Two
--lnch guns and some carronadcs. Ihis urc" l"'h
Great Britain, and orders were ISSUED
for her not to leave the port Of Erie on cruise no
further protests were made by either country tie re
port shows until 1880, wnen The building oil SIX SINAI!
revenue cutters for lake service called forth from
Great Britain formal protest 10 Minister Cas" but
according 20 secretery Foster no trace OF any action
I'm reply Is iound on record
1lic message gives In detail the history "f IN"
troublesome times OF the late war, with the irnrss
attempts " Congress 20 terminate the agreement. the
protest Of Great Britain and Mr.. Stewards action giving
siA months notice OF its termination. This notice
was Withdrawn before the time expired, because OF
better state OF affairs Oh tir lakeS
since that time, the secretary says. The arrange
mcnt Of 1877 hes been regarded by both govern.
mcn's az IL continuing force and effect. II ap
pears 70 be facility understood on both sides that
vessels FOR the revenue service do not fall within
the limitations Of the arrangement The fact re-.
mains, the Secretary. that now and for some
twcmy-Nlx years tho Government Of the rnlhd
states has drawn sharp distinction between is
naval force and revenue service ON the lakes ana
that this contention has passed without controversy
between Great Britain. The rcveaue service ot the
United states now comprises three steamers. II"
Ferry stationed nj Erie 2sl. "a tons. with an arm
ancn' Of TWO three-lnch rincs the Fcssend-n. sta
tioncI AT Detroit. 320sI tons. thirty FOUNDER
parroc .nin. two twenty iour FOUNDER Dahlgrcn
hovIucss. ana two thrccn"h rifles, and the John
SON. siaii0nti az Mlwnukc 400 IONS one thirty
pouulcr usrrot. AMI two twenty -four FOUNDER
howliz"T-.
80 Information has been received to the
number Tonnage md armament OF British rcvenu"
vessels stationed In these waters; bat II la, been
recently stated the auihori,y II a report Of the
Treasury Department. thot two vessels 'or the DO
minion Government have been cOnsiructet NJ
owen sound. Ont. and that although styled. rev.
ente critters md destined 10 suppress smuggling
on the II Lawrence River and the lakes they ar
ln reality capable Of adaptation o. naval purposes.
The Secretary then adds Isihuntli that d" add
loual weigh, j., pcriap, lent to this latter aspect
OF the report by the precautions that appear 20
have been taken - guard them from public Ia
spccjiOu7 Another revenue cutter Of similar
type Is said - have been launched recently ~
Hamilton. ont.
The naval force Of the United state In The lakes
II now and has been FOR many year, confined 10
the single iron sidc.Whool steamer Michigan
which now rtcs G-5 tons. and carries four howit
pear that an. lalusl ~ Canadian naval vessels
are now OF have been 10. many wears stationed
IA" Lake.. The dimensions 81 tt.o locks In tho -
Lawrence River canals excludes IN" entrance into
the lakes Of any vessels exceeding nine feet draft
or 200 feet IN length, and the only vessels borne
the British naval list which appear to De capable
OF passage from the deep TO the lakes some
forty three drawing oight feet and armed with
rapid firing guns.
The resolution Of the senate called explicitly for The
opinion OF the Department Of stat to whether The
arrangement Of 1917 f. held 10 he In force. Tho
correspondence exchanged In leG4. says Secretary
Foster. shows that IL IS - regarded, aud only
tcr1ninahlc i good faith BY siN months notice ~
ahrc CATION either f" The question of the spirit
which control. thc under standing ~ the two great
Governments l. to-day OF vastly greater Importance 10
thrlr Interests than any narrow contention. respecting
H. literal observance.
Mr.. Foster then draws picture Of tho changed
condition Of affairs In THIS country relative the great
lakes and the vast territory that depends upon them
~, their commercial highways. ma makes the follow
Ing recommendation " II seems most desirable now
I'm view Of d.. long lapse Of time and the changes
wrought IA these ana other less important regards
and surviving IN tho letter only ~ declared gainn
tee Of international peace. should be modified ~ NJ
the orlcr VI things. and with snoh ada ptaiion 10
the cSlgcndcS Of .he future as prudence forecast
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