The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-02

seward Gave This Notice to England.
as He Believed Canadian Territory was
rseing Used by the Enemies Of This
Couutry-Army Officers Not Allowed to
Talk.
Washington, Jan. 1.-THE recent war
excitement and the suggestion that
Canada has costructed revenue cutters
which may be easily converted into
war vessels has attracted attention TO
the provisions of law, treaties. and
agreements as to the defenseS Of the
lakes.
: An investigation of the records seem
to make it plain that the United States
! took the initiative in the matter of disre-
gard of the treaty of 1917.
{ An act of congress, passed September
9. 1S41, provided: For the construc-
ton and arament of such armed
steamers or other armed vessels for de-
Tense on the northern lakes as the presi-
dent may think proper" Under this
authority the Michigan was built at
Pittsburg and carried in pieces TO Lake
Erie where she was launched in 1874,
with a tonnage and armament far IN
excess of treaty Stipulations. This drew
forth from the British minister, Mr.
Packenham, on July %, 1874. Mr.. Cal
noun responded on September 5 in a con-
ciliatory tone, but he called Mr.. Pack
enham'S attention to certain reports"
received from United States naval Off
GERS to the effect that the British had at
that moneTt ON the lakes two formula
BILE war vessels-the Cherokee and the
Mohawk.
Matters rested in this shape until 1857,
when Lord Napier, on April 8, addressed
Mr.. Cass with a representation that his
government was advised That an
American armed vessel lies in the De-
troit river, from which 1t makes fire.
Quent incursionS into the lakes" He
complained that this vessel was Of dim
ensionS and armament inconsistent
with the treaty of 1917. The subject
was dropped until July 2, 1858, when
Lord Napier complained Of the reported
construction by the United States Of
six armed revenue cutters. To this
complaint no written response was
made In 1861 Lord Napier again COM
planned of the Michigan, but Mr.. Stew
ard in a note, allayed his approximations.
On April %, 1864, the British minister
had an interview with the secretary of
state concerning the proposed construc-
ton by this country Of certain revenue
cutters for lake service, but this also
was Smoothed over and dropped.
ADOuI UIllcS Illfle d was IIletuS
congress looking to the termination of
the treaty of 1917, and on August 4,
1864, Lord Lyons stated that his gov
eminent would view its abrogauion
with regret and no little alarm"
On October "a, 1864, MIR. Seward notd-
fed the British government that it was
apparent that Canada was being used
as a basis for hostile operations against
the United States and that under the
Of ,ry 0r az
expiration of six months, the United
States will deem itself at liberty to
increase the naval armament upon the
lakes" On June 16, 1865, Mr.. Seward
withdrew this notice, and by the con-
sent of both governments the status OF
the treaty of 1917 was revived. the de-
tailed correspondence ON the subject
which preceded the action which fixed
the present status is as follows:
BAGOT TO RUSH.
Washington, D. c., April rs, 1s17.-The
undersigned, his Britannia Maje5tyS
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipoten taary, has the honor to ac-
qpaint Mr.. Rush that, having lard be
fore his majestyS government the cor
respondence which passed last year be
tween the secretary of the department
of state and the undersigned upon the
subject of a proposal TO reduce the naval
force of the respective countries upon
the American lakes, he has received the
commands of his royal highness, the
prince regent, to acquaint the govern
ment of the United States that his roy
al highness is willing TO accede to the
proposition made to the undersigned by
the secretary of the department of state
in his note of the I'd of August last.
His royal highness, acting in the name
and on the behalf of his majesty, agrees
that the naval force to be maintained
upon the American lakes by his majesty
and the United States shall henceforth
be confined to the following vessels on
each side. That is:
On Lake Ontario, to one vessel not
exceeding 100 tons burthen and armed
with one eighteen pound cannon.
On the upper lakes, to two vessels not
exceeding like burthen each and armed
with like force.
On the waters Of Lake Champlain, 10
one vessel not exceeding like burthen
and armed with like force.
And his royal highness agrees that
all other armed vessels on these lakes
shall be forthwith dismantled. and
that no other vessels of war shall be
there built or armed.
His royal highness further agrees that
if either party should be hereafter desir-
Gus of annulling this stipulation and
should give notice to that effect 20 the
ONIICi pdi u CCdcC ~ bt bllln4llS
after the expiration of six months from
the date of such notice.
The undersigned has il in command
from his noyal highness, the prince
regent, to acquaint the American gov
eminent that his royal highness has is
sued orders to his majesty's officers on
the lakes directing that the naval force
so to be limited shall be restricted to
such services as viii in no respect in
terfere with the proper duties of the
armed vessels Of the other party
The undersigned has the honor TO re-
new to Mr.. Rush the assurance of his
highest consideration.
CHARLES BAGOT.
RUSH TO BAGOT.
Department of State. April %, 1911
| The undersigned. acting secretary OF
state. has the honor to acknowledge the
receipt OF Mr.. Bagot's note of the 2Sth
of this month. informing him that.
having laid before the government of
his Britannia majesty the corTeSpon-
dence which passed last year between
the secretary Of state and himself upon
the subject Of a proposal to reduce the
naval forces OF the two countries upon
the American lakes, he had received the
commands of his royal highneSs, the
prince regent, TO inform this govern
meris that his royal highness was will
ing 20 accede 10 the proposition made by
the secretary of state in his note OF the
ID Of August last.
The undersigned has the honor 70 ex-
press 10 M. Bagot the satisfaction
which the president feals al his royal