Evening star., 1941-03-30

The discussions between the two govern
ments finally resulted in the negotiation
of a treaty in 1922, providing for the
construction of a 27-foot seaWay be-
tween the head of the Great Lakes and
Montreal. Signing of the pact was well
coined by President Hoover as step to-
ward "the greatest internal improvement
yet undertaken on the North American
continent"
A subcommittee of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee held extended hear
ings on the treaty during the winter of
1923. In addition to such organiza-
tions as the st. Lawrence Tidewater AS
sociation, the American Farm Bureau
Federation, the New York Power Au-
thority and the Great Lakes Harbors
Association, the main support for the
treaty came from the region tributary
to the Great Lakes. Among the prin-
cipal opponents were the railroads, rep
resentatives of North Atlantic ports and
the internal waterway interests. Strong
opposition also was registered by the
Mississippi Valley area.
Rejected by Senate.
In special message to the Senate,
President Roosevelt, on January TO-
1884, urged ratification of the pending
treaty. After an intermittent debate of
two months, the Senate, on March IA,
1884, rejected the treaty by 46 yeas to
AZ nays. The votes for ratification were
thus IL less than the required two
thirds majority Because of its rejection
by the Senate the Canadian government
did not submit the treaty to the Domin
ion Parliament.
In 1886, negotiations for new agree
ment were initiated. Previously, sup
porters of the st. Lawrence waterway
laid principal if not exclusive stress on
the economic benefits to the United
States and Canada, which, they declared,
would result from opening deep water
way into the heart of the North Ameri-
| can continent.
At the present time, the major en-
phasis is placed on the Importance Of
the project, in both its power and navi-
| cation aspects, in bolstering Western
Hemisphere defenseS, though the eco
nonic benefits are also stressed.
| AS envisioned by its administration
supporters, the ST. Lawrence project
will develop the Middle West as a vast
arsenal of democracy, relatively free
from the danger of air attacks on its
| industrial plants and shipyards. AS a
| long-range defense measure, it thus par
allels the two-ocean Navy program.
| Defense Arguments.
| The ST. Lawrence project will
strengthen Western Hemisphere defense
in two important ways, according to its
supporters. First, by making possible
utilization of Great Lakes shipbuilding
yards to construct ocean-going merchant
vessels and all types of warships except
battleships and aircraft carriers. Second
by providing vast amount of addi-
tional hydroelectric power, which both
Canada and the United States, it is
claimed, need in their defense programs
mo one who has studied our national
defense problems and the international
situation can possibly fail to see the
need for this project in the defense OF
| IiCoiOCilb feOOcCFClV uC
clared in message to the Great Lakes
st. Lawrence Seaway Conference at De-
troit on December s.. 1.-THE Congress oi
the United States, in providing funds
for two-ocean Navy on program cov-
ering many years, has properly recog-
nized the essential place of a sea power
in continental defense.
"Seacoast shipyards are already over
taxed with uncompleted construction
Shipyards of the Great Lakes, with
access to the ocean, yet close to the
sources OF supply of labor, raw and
finished materials, further removed from
possible attack, may be vital factor in
successful defense of this continent. We
hope that the world situation may soon
improve. But we are bound to be pre-
pared for a long period OF possible dan.