16 READJUSTMENT AFTER WAR 



Canada. Demands for this policy were strongly 

 urged in both Parliament and the press during 

 the winter and spring of 1816, and gave Adams 

 much anxiety. Ultimately, however, the bel 

 ligerent faction was overcome by the pacifists 

 of the government, and Adams, much to his 

 surprise, was informed by Castlereagh in April 

 that the proposal for disarmament would be 

 taken up for discussion. 



The detailed discussion of the business was 

 transferred to Washington, where it was handled 

 by Monroe, the secretary of state, and Bagot, 

 the British minister. Final action was not 

 reached without considerable delay. On both 

 sides of the water there prevailed in military 

 and naval circles, and was reflected in the press, 

 the usual post-bellum irritation and bluster, 

 making the diplomats cautious. Adams re 

 ported his fear that the sudden change in 

 Castlereagh s attitude concealed some treach 

 ery, and Bagot was suspicious of an ulterior 

 motive behind Monroe s earnestness in seeking 

 a settlement. All the clouds were dissipated, 

 however, and at the end of April, 1817, a 

 formal agreement was effected by an exchange 

 of notes at Washington. By this date Monroe 

 had become President of the United States, and 



