Lincoln telegraph., 1838-05-10
NOE'sia Eastern Hsogindary.
MIR. NoRsyTHTo GOV. KENT.
ToAis EeceItoacy EDwAsp KFNT.
GOvernor ofthe State q Name.
Department OF gtatc,
WASHINGTON, March ist, 1888. !
TCoacladed
TCoacladed

The Secretary concluded by stating tllat
the President, wih'a view to terminate at
once all controversy, and, without regard
TO the extent of territory lost by one party
or acquired by the other, to establish de-
finite and indisputable line, would, il his
Malesty's Government assentcd TO it, APP
ply 10 the State of Maine, for its consent to
make the river ST. Johns from its source
to its mouth. the boundary between Maine
and his Brittannic Maiesty's dominions in
that part OF North America
Mr. Bankhead acknowledged, on the 9TH
of March 1886, the receipt ofthis note from
the department. and said that the rejection
ofihe conventional line, proposed in his
previous note, would cause his Malesty's
Government muchr regret; he referred the
Secretary TO that part Of his note of the
29th December last wherein the proposition
of the President for a commission OF eyplo-
ration and survey, was fully discussed, as
it appeared TO Mr. Bankl,ead that the Sec
retary had not given the modification on
the part ofhis Majesty's Goyernment ofthe
American proposition, the weight to which
il was entitled; he said that it was offered
with the view Of meeting, as far as practi-
cable, the wishes Of the President, and Of
endeavoring, by such preliminary meas
ure 10 bring about settlement ofthe boun-
Diary upon basis satisfactory to both par
ties; that, with this view, he again submit
ted TO the Secretary the modified proposal
ofhls Majesty's Government, remarking,
that the commissioners who might be ap-
pointed, were not TO decide upon points of
difference, but merely 10 present 70 the res
pectiye Governments the result oftheir la.
bors, which it was hoped and believed,
would pave the way for an ultimate settle
ment Of the question
Mr.. Bankhead considered it proper to
state, frankly and clearly, that the propo-
siion offered in the last note from the de-
partment, to make the river st. Johns,
from its source to its mouth, the boundary
between the United States and his Maies-
ty's province of New Brunswick, was one
to which the British Government he was
convinced, would never agree.
On the 5th March, The Secretary ex-
pressed regret that his proposition to make
The river St: Johns the boundary between
Maine and New Brunswick, would, in the
opinion of Mr.. Bankhead, be declined by
his Government; that the Government Of
the United States could not, however, re-
linquish the hope that the proposal, when
brought before his Majesty's cabinet, and
considered with the attention and deiibera-
ton due to lis merits, would be viewed in
a more favorable hight than that in which
it appeared to have presented itsclfto Mr..
Bankhead. If, however, the Secretary
added, this expectation should be disap-
pointed, it would be necessary, before The
President consented to the modification Of
his previous proposition for ihe appoint
ment of a commission of exploration and
survey, to be informed more fully Of the
views of the British Government in offering
the modification, so that he night be ena-
bled to Judge how the report Of The com
mission, (Which as now proposed 70 be
constituted, was not to decide upon points
of difference, } would be likely to lead to an
ultimate settlement of the question ofboun.
dary, and also which ofthe modes propos-
ed for the selection Of commissioners, was
the one intended to be accepted, with the
modification suggested by his Brittanic
Maiesty's Government.
In January last, Mr.. Fox, tho British min
lister at Washington, made a communica-
tion TO the department of State, in which,
with reference to the objection preferred
by the American Government, that it had
no power without the consent OF Maine,
TO agree to the arrangement proposed by