AMERICAN LAKES, Neutrality of the. During the War of 1812 each party struggled to secure control of the lakes. In the negotia tions for peace the British demanded military control of these waters to prevent the expense of rival armaments. This proposition of a one-sided disarmament was not accepted; but after the treaty of peace was concluded, the American government decided that mutual dis armament was the only assurance against col lision which might result from various sources of misunderstanding, and early in 1816 sug gested through John Quincy Adams to Lord Castlereagh at London that some such measure should be accepted by both governments to avert the threatened evil of rival naval forces upon the Lakes. After debates in Parliament, Lord Castlereagh instructed Mr. Bagot, the British Minister at Washington, eto take ad referendum any such proposal." In August 1816, Secretary Monroe submitted to Bagot the precise project providing for limitation of the force on the Lakes to one vessel on Lake Champlain, one on Lake Ontario and two on the upper lakes, each of 100 tons burden and with one 18-pound cannon. This force was
to be restricted in its duty to the protection of the revenue laws, the transportation of troops and goods, and such other services as world not interfere with the armed vessels of the other party. Early in 1817, Castlereagh ac ceded to the proposition and later in the year the agreement was completed by the exchange of notes between Mr. Bagot and Acting Secre tary Rush. By the agreement all naval vessels except the four allowed were forthwith dis mantled and no other vessels of war were built or armed upon the Lakes. The arrange ment doubtless contributed to the century of peace along a boundary of 4,000 miles, the longest international boundary in the world. Consult Callahan, J. M., 'Neutrality of the American Lakes' (1898) ; Foster, J. W., 'The Agreement of 1817) (Ex. Doc. 1892).