The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-10-30
= x X X y y - ~ $3.50
! To Celebrate a !
: Century of Peace :

That the century Of peace between
the United States and Canada should
be conmemorated in some suitable way
is the conclusion of the Canadian peace
and arbitration society, reached at its
meeting in Toronto Friday evening
Sir William Mulock presided, and a
petition to the Canadian government
was drawn up. A large number of
signatures are to be secured before the
presentation of the petition to the gov
ernor-general in council. 1t reads as
follows:
1--WE, the undersigned citizens of
Canada, rejoicing in the manifold bless
ings that have come to Us through a
century of unbroken peace, and believ-
ing that a suitable commemoration of
this unique event in the world S his
tory IS 0pportune and calculated to
produce lasting good, respectfully pc
tition the government of Canada,
either alone or jointly with that of the
United States. as may De deemed ex
pedient, to arrange for national or
international commemOration of an
event of such worldwide significance,
whereby the whole people may have
the opportunity of participating in
public expression of Thanksgiving to
the Giver Of All Good for the blessings
that have flowed TO them from a cen
fury of peace. Such public commem-
Grafton of the happy conditions that
have thus prevailed between Canada
and the United States, with the re-
sultant benefits to the two countries,
Will, it is hoped, also serve as an OBJ
ject lesson TO the world as to the in
fuence of peace upon human progress,
and accelerate the arrival of the time
when international differences may be
settled, not by the arbitrament of the
sword, but by appeals 10 international
courts of justice, -
Ambitious or costly projects Ike the
suggested international bridge at NJ
agara Falls may be inadvisable in this
connections; but the appropriateness of
some eommemoration. of the century
of peace will gain widespread indorse-
ment in both countries.
One Of the best ways to celebrate
would be the negotiation of a new,
hard and fast treaty embodying the
principles of the diplomatic "arrange-
ment y of 1917 limiting the naval force
maintained by the respective govern
ments on the great lakes. Now that
Canada is beginning to build navy
of her own, the agreement OF 1917 be-
comes more important than ever as a
future barrier to senseless naval RI
valry on the interior waters of the
North American continent.
The specific terms employed in the
agreement are now antiquated and,
consequently, they contain possible
loopholes for systematic evasion. 1t
limits, for Example, each government
TO the following force:
On Lake Ontario, TO one vessel not
exceeding 100 tons burden, and armed
with one 18-pound cannon.
On the upper lakes, to two vessels,
not exceeding like burden each, and
armed with like force.
On the waters of Lake Champlain,
to one vessel not exceeding like bur
den, and armed with like force.
Since the agreement was made, naval
construction has been revolutionized,
and it is impossible for either govern
ment to obey literally the provisions
laid down. The result is that there is
always room for criticism and distrust
in each country concerning the naval
force of the other in those waters.
Revise the agreement of 1917 in con-
formity with modern requirements and
Technology, cast it in a more formal
and permanent mold, and limit no less
severely the strength of the naval
forces to be maintained-the outcome
would be a memorial to the century
| of peace in which Canadians and Amer
leans alike could exult.