The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-09-12
MARSHES ON THE LAKES.
Disadvantase to the United States.

In the North American Review for Sep
TENDER Congressman II. S. Boutell, of Illi-
nois, contributes an interesting article en-
titled is SRush-Bagot Convention I'M
mortal?" on the peculiarities which may
arise in diplomaticS arra ngements, peculiar
tiles including difficulties. injustices and
even paradoxes which were absolutely IN
foreSeen at the time Of making the agree
ments. One of. the most extraordinary
documents offhis Sort in America history
is the exchanged notes of Mr.. Bagot and
Mr.. Rush, in 1877, now called the Rush
Bagot Convention. These documents in
1917 required that both the British and
American Government should disarm its
war vessels on the Great Lakes, which
was done, and the Convention remained
in force for 20 years to every ones salts
faction. Then modern inventions, the in
PRODUCTION of steam propulsion in water
craft, canals through the lakes to the
sea-all made tae situation quite differ
ent, and the text of the letters is now
out of all harmony with present condi-
tions. Perhaps the most important injury
which the Convention is now perpetuating
is in the clause which prevents the ship
builders on the Lakes from constructing
any naval vessels. Mr.. Boutell says:
THE locks of the Welland and St
Lawrence canals are go feet long, 40 feet
wide, and II feet deep. Great Britain
now has afloat 100 gunboats, 1859 torpedo
boats, and los destroyers, which could
pass from the ocean to the lakes. In case
of war, therefore, the Convention would
seem to be an advantage to the United
States. 1t is deyOutly to be hoped that
there viii never be another war between
the United States and Great Britain, eth
er with or without the Rush-Bagot Con-
ventiOn; but it seems unreasonable to sup
pose that the abrogation of the agreement
would make any perceptible difference in
the present cordial relations between the
two countries. The ties of friendship and
commerce are now too strong to be lightly
severed, or even strained, without just
cause.
What are the disadvantages to the |
United States of the present arrangement? |
1t should be noted at the outset that !
they ali arise from conditions which did |
not exist when the Convention was agreed |
to, and could hardly have been anticipated |
by its trainers.
I'm the first place, it debars the ship |
builders on the Lakes from competing for |
the construction OF such Government war |
vessels as can pass the Canadian canals. |
This is a discrimination against a large
and important industry which should not
be tolerated except for the most urgent
reasons. The American Ship Building
Company now has nine plants on the
Lakes, located at West Superior, Mil
Chicago, Bay City, Detroit, Wy
1ndotte. Buffalo, Cleveland, and Lorraine.
There are three other yards on the Lakes,
1T Bay City, Port Huron and Toledo.
Owing to their proximity to the coal and
ron deposits, all these lake shipyards can
compete successfully with any of the yards
n this country or elsewhere They have
quilt several lightships and other vessels
sor the Treasury Department, and have
Ieen. as we have seen, the lowest bid
iers for some of the naval vessels The
Government is thus loser as well by be
ng deprived of the competition of these
Lake yards" -