Norwich bulletin., 1921-05-30
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERIcAS
 NIsroRf
WHEN WE MIGHT HAVE ACQUIRED
 CANADA

WHEN WE MIGHT HAVE ACQUIRED
 CANADA.
 When the treaty of peace was made between the United States and England following the Revolutionary war, a mum Der of our statesmen thought that the treaty should include Canada, and other English provinces on the Western Hem isphere, thus making this coun'ry 1fac- ticaIy free from any foreign control On July 2S, ITS, John Adams wrote tc Samuel Adams a letter which contained the following: "So long as Great Brit ain shall have Canada, Nova Scotia and the Floridas, or any of them, so long will Great Britain be the enemy of the United States. let her disguise it as much as she will"
 Franklin was one of the biggest men among the many who believed that Can- ada should have been included in the United States in the treaty of peace. He wrote regarding the matter: If we &C., quire Canada also we shall be sure of durable peace and sweet reeoncilia- l tion.'' But it does not appear that he urged the project to any extent after the negotiations had been formally en- | tered upon.
 With the better knowledge now of the necessities of the British government and the state of parties. as revealed by l the correspondence and narratives of the period, it would seem probable that if the cession of Canada, coupled with a substantial provision for the loyahsts, had been made a condition of peace, it
 might have been attained; but it is evil dent that it was not so believed at the time by the American negotiators.
 Lafayette, who had been consulted as to the scheme, and who was deeply in- terested in the separation of Canada
 from England, was about to make a wis 1t to Paris, and to him was to be in- trusted the plan for delivery to Dr
 Franklin. by whom, seconded by Lafay-
 cite, it was to be urged upon the French
 government.
 After it's informal adoption the plar
 was sent to General Washington witt
 request that he communicate directly
 with Franklin on the subject Thereupor
 Washington wrote congress a long letter
 strongly disapproving of the plan as i'm ! practicable and unwise. and suggeste, , that before communicating with Frank lin he should have a personal interview
 with congress.
 Accordingly Washington visited Phila
 delphia and the result was that the ex petition was entirely though reluctant ly. given up. Washington assigned man. military reasons why the plan was un , wise, but ne found one unsurmountabl objection. ''This,' he wrote. "is the in
 troduction of large body of Frenc troops into Canada, and putting ther /, in possession of the capital of that prov ince, attached to them by the ties o : blood, habits. manners. reliigon and for mer conception of government. I fea
 that this would be too great tenlpta
 ton to be resisted by any power actual
 ed by the common maxirns of nationa s policy"
 6 Washington expressed the suspicio l that the plan originated with the Frenc e government. and that Lafayette wa = made the instrument of bringing it { { the attention of congress; and adds: n hope I am mistaken. and that my fear t of mischief make me refine too muc !. and awaken jealousfes that have no sut g hcient foundation"
 h Unimpeachable as was the patriotisr c of Washington, it is no disparagemer = to his character to say that his partia t lty for the English race saw in the Q, Ii cupation of Canada by a French arm a serious danger to the interests of h
 country.
 Tn the draft of the treaty presente
 by the British they at first demanded il e WhoIe oI Malne oStenSlply Tor Its tin V her. but really for a refuge for the T, l. rfes. but they finally agreed to the Sail A Croix as the eastern boundary. and " the United States pushed no claim f, e Canada the northern territorial limit $ our country was easily adjusted wi 'e the Mississippi river on the west and tl S. lines across the country north of F'lol l. da as the south
 n. CTomorrow- in English or Prisons.)