THE REPEAL OF THAT CLAUSE IN THE SUNDRY CIVIL APPROPRIATION ACT FOR 1913 WHICH PROVIDES THAT "NO ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS AS CADETS OR CADET ENGINEERS SHALL BE MADE IN THE REVENUE-CUTTER SERVICE UNLESS HEREAFTER AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS."

JANUARY 2, 1913.-Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY,
Washington, December 21, 1912.

The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

SIR: I have the honor to recommend for the consideration of the Congress the repeal of that clause in the sundry civil appropriation act for 1913 which provides that "no additional appointments as cadets or cadet engineers shall be made in the Revenue-Cutter Service unless hereafter authorized by Congress."

From July 1, 1911, up to the present time the following vacancies in the active list of the Revenue-Cutter Service have occurred: Six resignations, three deaths, and six retirements. During the remainder of the current fiscal year there will be one retirement for age. This makes a total of 16 vacancies in the commissioned personnel to be filled during the current fiscal year, over half of which have been caused by death or resignation.

There are at present 18 cadets undergoing instruction at the School of Instruction at New London, Conn. Of these, 13 will fill vacancies which existed prior to July 1, 1911, so that there are at present but 5 cadets available to fill the vacancies which have occurred since July 1, 1911. There remain, therefore, 11 vacancies that can not be filled because of the foregoing provision of law.

The total number of officers authorized by law is 242, and in such a small number the existence of 11 vacancies which can not be filled under the law, with every prospect of additional vacancies from death and resignation, is a serious condition, and if the inhibition of further appointments of cadets continues the efficiency of the service must of necessity suffer because of an insufficient number of officers to perform the duties required.

Even after Congress has authorized the filling of these vacancies by appointment of cadets time must elapse before these cadets can complete the course of instruction necessary to prepare them for the responsible duties of commissioned officers, and meanwhile additional vacancies will occur. It is therefore important that the task of preparing young men to be officers should not be interrupted, because the future efficiency of any service depends most upon the quality and training of the young men selected to fill the vacancies in the lowest grades, and the duty of recruiting the commissioned personnel of a service is a most serious one, second only in importance to the duty of performing the work for which the service itself is maintained. Respectfully, FRANKLIN MACVEAGH, Secretary.

O

3d Session

No. 1268

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF PEACE

BY

SENATOR HENRY CABOT LODGE

PRINTED IN THE "OUTLOOK"

JANUARY 14, 1913.-Ordered to be printed

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

January 14, 1913.

Resolved, That an article in the Outlook, by Henry Cabot Lodge, on One Hundred Years of Peace, be printed as a House document.

Attest:

2

SOUTH TRIMBLE,

Clerk.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF PEACE.

The last war between Great Britain and the United States began in June, 1812. There has been no war between the two countries since the treaty of Ghent was signed on Christmas eve in 1814. Strictly speaking, the absence of war constitutes peace, and therefore we may describe these hundred years just passed as a century of peace between the United States and Great Britain. But in the larger and better sense of the word it must be confessed that the relations between the two countries during that period have been at times anything but peaceful and often far from friendly. Indeed, there have been some perilous moments when war has seemed very imminent. To describe this period, therefore, as one of unbroken good will merely because there was no actual fighting would be wholly misleading. If a review, however brief, of the relations between Great Britain and the United States since 1812 is to possess any value, it can only be through showing how, by slow steps, with many interruptions and much bitterness on both sides, we have nevertheless finally attained to the genuine friendship in which all sensible men of both countries rejoice to-day. This fortunate condition has been reached only after many years of storm and stress, which it seems to posterity, always blessed with that unerring wisdom which comes after the event might have been easily avoided.

To understand the present situation aright, to comprehend the meaning and effects of the War of 1812 and of the 98 years of peace which have followed its conclusion, it is necessary to begin with the separation of the two countries by the peace of 1782, when the connection between England and the United States ceased to be that of mother country and colonies and became the more distant relation which exists between two independent nations. Just now there appears to be a tendency among Englishmen to regard that separation of the eighteenth century as a small matter, especially so far as their own country is concerned, a view which, however comfortable, is hardly sustained by history; and we may well pause a moment at the outset to consider just what the war resulting in the treaties of Paris meant, for on that decisive event rests ultimately all that has since come to pass.