Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 61 Part 4.djvu/725

 61 STAT.] CANADA-RUSH-BAGOT AGREEMENT June 9 10. 1939, Oct. 30 Nov. 2, 1940 4073 Feb. 26, Mar. 9, 1942, Nov. 18, Dec. 6, 1946 After careful consideration of this problem, Mr. Hull is of the opinion that the following proposal would be in harmony with the spirit of the Rush-Bagot Agreement; namely, the placing of two 4-inch guns on each of three naval vessels on the Great Lakes, and the removal of all other armaments, subject to certain conditions. These are that the firing of target practice be confined to the territorial waters of the United States, and that the 4-inch guns be dismantled except in the summer season during the period of the training of naval reserves. There remains a question which is of definite interest to both Governments, namely, the construction of naval vessels in shipyards situated on the Great Lakes. The State Department has recently received renewed inquiries on this question. The Rush-Bagot Agreement, after providing for the maintenance of four naval vessels of each party on the Great Lakes, stipulated that "All other armed vessels on those lakes shall be forthwith dis- mantled and no other vessels of war shall be there built or armed." The provision just quoted should, Mr. Hull believes, be read in the light of the geographical factor to which reference has already been made. At a time when there was no navigable connection between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean, it was obvious that naval vessels constructed on the lakes could only be intended for use in those waters. Mr. Hull is satisfied that it was this contingency alone which the contracting parties wished to guard against, for no evidence what- ever exists to suggest that either party at any time considered that the Agreement should affect the naval forces of the two countries outside the Great Lakes area. In the circumstances, Mr. Hull believes that it would be entirely Construction of naval vessels in ship- in harmony with the intent of the negotiators and the spirit of the yards on reat Lakes. Agreement for either country to permit naval vessels, unquestionably intended for tidewater service only, to be constructed in shipyards situated on the Great Lakes. In order carefully to preserve the intent of the Agreement, however, it is believed that prior to the commence- ment of construction each Government should provide the other with full information concerning any naval vessels to be constructed at Great Lake ports; that such vessels should immediately be removed from the lakes upon their completion; and that no armaments what- ever should be installed until the vessels reach the seaboard. I shall be happy to receive for Mr. Hull's informal and confidential information any observations which you may wish to make with regard to the questions touched on in this letter. Sincerely yours, DANIEL C. ROPER. Dr. O. D. SxELTON, Under-Secretary of State for ternal Affairs, Ottawa.

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