- Rush-Bagot Treaty
The Rush-Bagot Treaty was a treaty between the
United States and theUnited Kingdom enacted in 1817 (signed April 28-29, 1817 at Washington D.C.). The treaty provided for the demilitarization of theGreat Lakes andLake Champlain , where many British naval armaments and forts still remained. The treaty laid the basis for a demilitarized boundary between the U.S. andBritish North America . This agreement was indicative of improving relations between the United States and Great Britain in the period following theWar of 1812 . It was negotiated by Acting United States Secretary of StateRichard Rush and the British Minister to Washington Sir Charles Bagot. It eventually led to the Treaty of Washington of 1871, which completed disarmament. The United States andCanada agreed in 1946, through an exchange of diplomatic notes, that the stationing of naval vessels for training purposes was permissible provided each government was fully notified in advance. In 2004, theUnited States Coast Guard decided to arm 11 of its cutters stationed onLake Erie andLake Huron with M240 7.62 mmmachine gun s. The American decision was based on a climbing number ofsmuggling operations as well as the increased threat of terrorist activity after theSeptember 11, 2001 attacks . The Canadian government decided that the armament did not violate the treaty, as the guns were to be used for law enforcement rather than military activities. Canada reserved the right to arm their vessels with similar weapons. [http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2006/03/11/local/iq_3947488.txt]Military Installations
There are still military facilities near or next to the Great Lakes:
*
Naval Station Great Lakes
*Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station
*LFCATC Meaford
*CFB Trenton
*CFB Kingston Plaques
An Ontario Heritage Trust plaque on the North East corner of General Crerar Crescent and Valour Road, on the grounds of the
Royal Military College of Canada inKingston, Ontario recognizes "The Rush-Bagot Agreement." A plaque also stands at the former site of the British Legation inWashington, D.C. (Pennsylvania Avenue and 25th Street, NW) where the treaty was negotiated.External links
* [http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/britain/br1817m.htm Avalon Project - Text of Agreement]
* [http://www.aandc.org/research/rush-bagot_agreement.html Rush-Bagot Agreement]
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