Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 61 Part 4.djvu/727

 61 STAT.] CANADA-RUSH-BAGOT AGREEMENT- Ju ne91019, Oct. 0,Nov.2 1940 4075 Feb. 26, Mar. 9, 1942, Nov. 18, Dec. 6, 1946 permission for the latter vessel to proceed into the Great Lakes through Canadian waters will be made in due course. The Canadian authori- ties will be agreeable to this substitution, and I assume that at the time particular information will be given as to the disposition of the HAWK as well as a description of the SACRAMENTO and the purpose of the substitution. (2) Disposition of Vessels. It is recognised, for the reasons indi- cated in your letter, that it would be consistent with the underlying purpose of the Agreement to have the naval vessels of each party move freely in the Great Lakes or to maintain them at any of its ports in the Lakes. (3) Functions of the Vessels. The Rush-Bagot Agreement, as your letter points out, is silent with respect to the functions of the naval vessels maintained by the two parties on the Great Lakes other than to state that the naval force of each party is to be restricted to such services as will in no respect interfere with the proper duties of the armed vessels of the other party. The Canadian Government accordingly recognise that it is within the letter as well as the spirit of the Agreement for such naval vessels of both parties to be employed in the training of naval reserves, or in any other normal activity, including the firing of target practice, within their respective territorial waters. (4) Armaments. It appears that in view of present-day technical conditions, the United States naval authorities regard 3-inch guns as no longer adequate for the purpose of training naval reserves, whereas 4-inch guns, though not strictly within the technical definition of the Agreement, would be suitable for that purpose. Accordingly Mr. Hull suggests the following proposal as being in harmony with the spirit of the Agreement, namely, the placing of two 4-inch guns on each of three of the United States naval vessels on the Great Lakes and the removal of all other armaments, subject to certain conditions. These conditions 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. The Canadian naval authorities concur in the view of the United States naval authorities above indicated, and the Canadian Government agree that Mr. Hull's proposal is con- sistent with the underlying purpose and spirit of the Agreement. It is assumed that in due course the Canadian Government will be informed of the names of the vessels upon which the 4-inch guns have been placed. It is also assumed that, should any alteration as regards armament take place in any of the five vessels in the future, particulars will be furnished. A further particular question is raised by your letter, namely, the construction of naval vessels in shipyards situated on the Great Lakes. Careful consideration has been given to Mr. Hull's observations re- garding the changes in actual conditions that have occurred in this regard during the past century, and to the suggestion he has made in order to preserve the intent of the Agreement. The suggestion is

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