Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1922-07-15
new TREATY WITH
CANADA IS URGED
Premier King Offers Permanent
Policy to Secretary
Hughes.
sEAWAY PROJECT ALSO TOPIC
development of Customs Vessels to
Guard Against Liquor Running
Across Lakes May Have
Prompted Move

Washington, July ia proposal
% modernlze and make permanent the
century old Rush-Bagot agreement of
treat Britain and the United States
IN the Great Lakes and other boun-
larry waters was made TO Secretary
Hughes by Premier Mackenzie King
IF Canada.
Mr.. King, accompanied by the
Canadian minister of national de-
tense, George 2. Graham, called on
The secretary of state and discussed
not only this proposal, which was hos
pitably received, but controversies
between the American and Canadian
governments over fisheries and boun-
dairy waters over which there has been
much diplomatic correspondence.
One element which may have
prompted action is the development
of customs vessels TO guard against
liquor running across the lakes. The
dry navy" with modern equipment,
would be technical violation of the
agreement if the boats carried ma
chine guns instead of "1S-pound can
nOn.'
Discuss Seaway Project
The st. Lawrence seaway also was
discussed. Mr.. Kings position on this
ing formal statement:
Though not the subject of formal
discussion, it is understood the St.
Lawrence waterway project was men,
toned in the conference. The position
taken by the Canadian prime minister
is that as stated by the Canadian
prime minister in the house of COM
mons some weeks ago
ut is an attitude neither of ac-
ceptance nor rejection of the project,
but of postpOnement of its considera-
ton. Having regard to the magnitude
of the expenditures involved and other
far-reaching considerations, the pres
ent does not appear to the Canadian
government an Opportune moment in
which to contemplate treaty negotia-
lions on this subject as between the
two countries"
Official Statement Issued.
The Canadian premiers reasons for
proposing a new agreement are stated
thus in the official statement:
'At recent conference on disarma-
ment no single aspect of international
relations attracted more attention
than the unfOrtified frontier of from
three to four thousand miles between
the United States and Canada Over
and over again reference was made
to the sO-called Rush-Bagat agreement
of 1917, under which armament on
the Great Lakes and the st. Law
renee river was restricted to four
vessels of 100 tons burden, each car
rying not more than one 1S-pound gun.
1.-THE significance of this agree
ment, providing a means of escape
from competitive arming, was dwelt
upon not less from the point of view
of what it has meant for more than
a century in the saving of expenditure
of armament by each of the two cOun-
tries, than from that of maintenance
Of friendship between the peoples of
the respective countries, and as an
object lesson to the continents of Eu-
rope and Asia of new world methods
in the maintenance of international
peace.
Permanent Treaty Sought.
"WOrld disarmament having made
the important strides it has as a con-
sequence of the recent Washington
conference and the leadership given
the movement by Secretary Hughes,
the present has seemed to the Cana
dian government an OppOrtune mo-
nent in which to approach the govern
ment of the United States with a view
TO perpetuating the ideals which the
trainers of the Rush-BagOt agreement
had in mind by having permanency
given in a formal treaty between the
two countries respecting the limitation
Of ornaments on the Great Lakes and
the ST. Lawrence river"