New-York tribune., 1900-03-11
WARsHIP FOR THE GREAT LAKES,
THE OLD CRUISER MICHIGAN MAY BE RE-
PLACED BY A MODERN GUNBOAT.

PLACED BY MODERN GUNBOAT.
Washington March 10 (speciaD.-Secretary Hay
IN his report the President regarding warships
on the Great Lakes which has been presented to
Congress, the obstacle which has pre-
vented the Navy from using the appropriation
made two years ago for the purpose Of replacing
the antiquated cruiser Michigan with modern
gunboat and the Navy Department is expected
10 take prompt advantage OF the fact AS now
regarded by the State Department. the Rush-Bagot
agreement is not the bugbear 1t seemed to be IN
the estimation of re ,ent Secretaries of State nor
is it any longer believed prevent the shipbud-
ers of the lakes from competing for the construc-
tion of training ships torpedo boats, especially
when the latter to be armed only on reaching
salt water Secretary Hay says:
An agreement was reached between the two
Governments May 80. 1898 for the creation OF
a Joint High Commission, to which should be re-
tween the United states and Canada, among which
"a revision of the agreement of 1877, respect
ing naval vessels on the lakes"
The instructions given the American members
of this Joint High Commission the subject
ferred to in the resolution of the House of Repre-
sentatives representing the views of the Govern
ment of the United States were that IT was desira-
BILE TO a declaration recognition that ii
not contrary to the true spirit and intent of
the arrangement of 1917 to build vessels OF war
upon the Great Lakes in its ports. provided
they not to be used or maintained upon those
lakes. 1t held that the evident meaning of the
arrangement especially when read in the light of
the correspondence leading up TO it, that only
such armed vessels described should thenceforth
be maintained in those waters. Lake Ontario
shut up by the rapids of the st. Lawrence and by
Niagara Falls; the lakes above Lake Erie
shut In by the rapids of the st. Clair River. and
Rapids OF saut Ste. Marie. There was, therefore,
navigabe connection between them and the
ocean. Under such circumstances, build and
vessels on the lakes meant ito maintain"
them there and to them for no other purpose
than as part IT, Of the ann as
a he
Moreover, at the time of making the arrangement
the region of the great lakes in large measure
an uninhabted wilderness. To-day the lakes are
highways for an enormous traffic and their ports
dreamed of in 1917. They have, among other
things peculiar advantages for the construction of
in this respect capable of large extension and
of development which, in the future, may be of
inestimable value to the United States.
For these reasons the Government of the United
States regarded it entirely consonant with the
spirit of the arrangement of 1917 to those naval
facilities, and TO do SO upon full understanding
on the lakes is in no way hostile to the arrange
ment, or intended 10 increase the permanent arma-
bers Of the Joint High Commission therefore
instructed TO secure. some agreement whereby
constructed and passed through the Canadian
canals to the ports of the United States the
1t was likewise held that proper construction
of the arrangement did not prohibit the mainten-
ance on the lakes of vessels properly equipped
for the purpose of training seamen and reserves in
proper training ship is necessarily hostile to
the spirit of the ARRANGEMENT and should be so
1t is understood that some satisfactory progress
was made in the Joint High Commission toward
me attainment OF these ends, but the labors of
me Commission have been suspended without
reaching definite result.