Gourt Home::Gourt :: Rush-Bagot Treaty
The Rush-Bagot Treaty was a treaty conducted between the United States and the United Kingdom in 1817. The treaty provided for the demilitarization of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, where many British naval armaments and forts still remained, and laid the basis for a demilitarized boundary between the U.S. and British North America. This agreement was indicative of improving relations between the United States in the period following the end of the War of 1812. It was negotiated by Acting United States Secretary of State Richard Rush and the British Minister to Washington Sir Charles Bagot. It laid the groundwork for and eventually led to the Treaty of Washington of 1871, which completed disarmament.
The United States and Canada 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, the United States Coast Guard decided to arm 11 of its cutters stationed on Lake Erie and Lake Huron with M240 7.62 mm machine guns. The American decision is based on an increase in smuggling operations as well as a perceived threat due to terrorist activity after the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Canadian government has decided that this does not violate the treaty, as the guns are being used for law enforcement rather than military activities. Canada also reserves the right to arm Canadian vessels with similar weapons *.
External links
Canada and the United States | United States treaties | Legal history of Canada | 1817 in law
"Rush-Bagot Treaty"