Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-03-08
MEMORANDUM.

Her Mojesty's authorities consider 1t to
have been understood md agreed upon by
the two Governments that the territory in
dispute between Great Britain and the
United Sotes, on the Northeastern frontier,
should remain exclusively under British
jurisdiction until the final settlement of tho
boundary question.
The Un,led STATES Government have not
understood the above agreement 10 the
same sense. but consider, on the contrary,
that there has been no agreement whatever
for the exercise. by Great Britain, of exclu.
slve jurisdiction over the disputed territory,
or any portion thereof. but mutual under.
standing that, pending the negotiation, the
Jurisdiction then exercised by either party,
over small portions Of The territory in dis
putc, should not be enlarged, but be con-
'inued merely for the preservation of locsl
tranquility and the public property both
forbea,ng a. far as practicable to exert
any authority, and, when any should be
exercised by either, placing upon the con.
duct of each other the most favorable con.
slruction.
A complete understanding upon the
question. thus placed at issue, Of present
jurisdiction, can only be arrived at by
friendly discussion between the Govern
menrs Of the United States and Great Brit
ain; and. as it is confidently hoped that
there will be on early settlement of the
question, this subordinate point of dlstInc.
ton can be Of but little moment.
In the mean time the Governor of tho
Province of New Brunswick and the Gov
eminent Of the State of Maine will act os
follows Her Mnjes'y's officers will no,
seek to expel by military force the armed
party which hes been sent by Maine into
the district bordering on the Arpos,ook
river; but the Government, Of Maine will
voluntarily, and without needless delay,
withdraw beyond the bounds Of the disput.
cd territory any armed force now within
them; and. if future necessity should arse
for dispensing notorious trespsssers, or pro
,ectlng public property from depreciation
by armed force, the operation shall be con,
Quoted by concert, jointly or separately,
according 10 agreements between the Gov
ernmens OF Maine and New Brunswick.
The civil officers in the service. respect.
lively, of New Brunswick and Maine. who
have been taken into custody by tho oppo
site parties, shall be released.
Nothing in this memorandum shall DC
construed to fortfy or to weaken in any
respect whatever The claim Of either party
to the ultimate possession of the disputed
territory.
The Minister Plenipotentiary Of Her
Brl,nnic Majesty having 10 specific ou,bor
ny TO mike any arrangement on the sub
j"ct, the undersigned can only recommend,
rs they now earnestly do, to the Govern.
men's of New Brunswick and Maine. to
regulate their future proceedings according
to the terms herein before set forth, until
the final settlement, Of The territorial dis
pnte, or until the Governments Of the U.
States and Grea, Britain shall come to
some definite conclusion on he subordinate
point upon which they are now at issue.
JOHN FORSYTH. Sec. Of S'arr
of III" u. States Of n. America.
II. S. FOX, II. b. NJ. Envoy Extra
ordinary and Minister Plcnpo
Washington, Feb. 81, 1889. Tertiary.