Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 61 Part 4.djvu/726

 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [61 STAT. The Canadian Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs to the American Minister OFFICE OF THE UNDERBSECRETARY OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS CANADA OTTAWA, 10th June, 1959 MY DEAR MR. ROPER, I have consulted the Acting Prime Minister and Secretary of State for External Affairs and the Department of National Defence con- cerning your informal letter of June 9th, 1939, which conveys the observations of the Secretary of State of the United States upon certain questions raised by the United States Navy Department 8 Stat. 231 . regarding the Rush-Bagot Agreement of 1817. The Canadian Government concur fully in the desirability of pre- serving this long-standing Agreement which has been of such inestima- ble value in furthering the ideals of good neighbourhood in this region of the world. It is also recognised that the great changes in technical, industrial, water transport and population conditions which have occurred in the meantime, while in no sense altering the desire of both peoples to maintain the underlying spirit and objective of the Agree- ment, have rendered its technical scheme and definitions somewhat out of date. It might be urged that the logical method of dealing with the changed situation would be the conclusion of some formal revision of the Agreement, but it is further recognised that the draft- ing of a new document which would cover present and future con- siderations of interest to both countries might present difficulties at the present time, and it is noted that Mr. Hull is inclined to the opinion that this would be undesirable. If formal revision is, as we agree, impracticable, it is nevertheless recognised that there are certain measures which are mutually con- sidered to be practically necessary or desirable and, at the same time, to be consistent with the underlying objective of the Agreement though not strictly consistent with its technical scheme or definitions. In the case of various instances of this character which have occurred in the past, the two Governments have consulted and made appro- priate dispositions by means of correspondence. It is felt that such procedure, which appears to be essentially inherent in the underlying spirit and objective, should be pursued as regards any new practical measures concerning naval vessels on the Great Lakes which may be contemplated at the present moment or in the future. In the light of these general considerations it will be convenient to give you the views of the Canadian Government regarding the partic- ular measures which your Government now consider desirable and which have been described in your letter under separate headings. (1) Number and size of vessels. I note that there is no proposal to increase the present number of United States naval vessels on the Great Lakes. As regards the proposed substitution of the HAWK, which is now on the Lakes, by another vessel, the SACRAMENTO, it is noted also that a formal request of the Canadian Government for 4074

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