Rush-Bagot Treaty
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The Rush-Bagot Treaty signed in 1817 between the United States and the United Kingdom demilitarized 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 US and British North America. This agreement was indicative of improving relations between the United States and Britain during this 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 the job of disarmament.
This treaty marked the end of unofficial fighting (known informally as the Lumberjack's War) along the Maine-New Brunswick border. The border was fixed with the disputed territory divided among the two nations. Also, as a result of this treaty, portions of the western U.S.-Canada border were adjusted so as to be consistent. It gave the U.S. negligibly more land to the north; gold was later discovered on this land.
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 7.62mm machine guns. The American decision is based on an increase in smuggling operations as well as a perceived threat due to post 9/11 terrorist activities. The Canadian government has decided that this doesn't 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 [1].