March 18: ON THIS DAY in 1949, pact would tie US, Europe against Russia for 20 years

March 18, 2019 Brooklyn Eagle

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ON THIS DAY IN 1847, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Notwithstanding the blustery state of the weather, the sons of St. Patrick, both in Brooklyn and over the river, celebrated his anniversary yesterday with becoming ardor. The processions of the various Irish benevolent societies were handsome, and the display of banners, emblems, etc., imposing. All of them have declined partaking of the usual annual dinner, but generously appropriated a sum equal to the cost of such a feast, to the relief of their suffering countrymen at home.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1870, the Eagle reported, “Mr. [Edward W.] Serrell’s bill for making a new East River in lieu of the one made by Nature, has been laid before the Assembly. It provide for appointing commissioners on behalf of Kings, New York, Queens and Westchester counties, who shall cut a ship canal from Newtown Creek mouth to Long Island Sound, so as to get around Hell Gate. The soil taken from the artificial channel [would] be used for filling up the old bed of the river, and for raising the grade of the now useless swamp lands along the margin of Newtown Creek. The expense of the work, Mr. Serrell calculates, will be far more than defrayed by adding 1,200 acres more land to New York City, or Manhattan Island, for the whole of the present river, both sides of Blackwell’s, Ward’s and Randall’s Islands, will become city lots; and upper New York and Long Island will be brought with easy bridging distance of each other. The improvement to navigation intended by this project is, however, its main feature, supplanting the dangerous Hell Gate passage by an unobstructed channel.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1905, the Eagle reported, “St. Patrick’s Day in New York City was more notable this year than ever before because the president of the United States came on from Washington and made a speech to the Friendly Sons at their annual banquet held at Delmonico’s last night. The president got one of the most cordial receptions ever given him in New York and he won the admiration of every Friendly Son when he offered a toast to Patrick McDonnell, a youngster two hours old, whose father sent the following telegram to Grandfather Peter McDonnell, one of the diners: ‘Peter McDonnell, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Patrick just arrived, tired after parade, Sends his regrets to President.’ … President Roosevelt, before he went into his speech proper, said: ‘Now, I want you to join me in drinking the health of Patrick McDonnell and Peter McDonnell and, above all, Mrs. McDonnell.’ There was a great cheer and the grandfather hid his blushing countenance behind a napkin.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1949, the Eagle reported, “Washington, March 18 – The North Atlantic Treaty would pledge the United States in general to help Western Europe repel any Russian attack for 20 years. But at a showdown, it would bind this country to take ‘only such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed forces.’ This was disclosed today with the first official announcement of the exact text of the proposed treaty. The text was published here and in Western Europe capitals after months of negotiating on the basic points and weeks of final polishing of the language. It would be a 20-year ‘collective defensive’ alliance of the United States, Canada and Western Europe against Soviet Russia, although Russia is not mentioned by name. It would cover territory right up to the Iron Curtain, including the Allied zones of Berlin inside the Soviet zone of Germany. An armed attack against any pact member ‘shall be considered an attack against them all.’”