Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1839-03-30

NJ. VAN buren,.
MEMORANDUM

MEMORANDUM
| Her Majesty's authorities consider it Il
have been understood and agreed upon by
the two Governments that the territory il
dispute between Great Britain and ths
United States, or the Northeastern front
| ier, should remain exclusively under Brit
ish jurisdiction until the final settlement O
the boundary question.
I The United States Government have
not understood the above agreement in the
same sense, but consider, on the contrary,
| that there has been no agreement whatev-
err for the exercise, by Great Britain, Of
exclusive jurisdiction over the disputed
territory, or any portion thereof, but mu-
tual understanding that pending the nego-
4 tia,ion, the jurisdiction then exercised by
either party, over small portions Of the ter
ritory in dispute, should not becenlarged,
but be continued merely for the preserya-
ton Of local tranquility and the public
property, both forbearing as far as practi-
| cable to exert any authority, and, when
any should be exercised by either, placing
upon the conduct Of each other the most
favorable construction.
A complete understanding upon the
question, thus placed at issue, Of present
jurisdiction, can only be arrived at by
friendly discussion between the Govern
ments of the United States and Great Brit.
ain; and, as II is confidently hoped that
there will be an early settlement Of the
question, this subordinate point Of differ
ence will be of but little moment.
Ia the mean time, the Governor Of the
Province Of New Brunswick and the Gov
eminent OF the State OF Maine will act as
follows: Her Majesty's officers will not
seek TO expel, by military force, tho armed
parts which has been sent by Maine into
the district bordering on the Aroostook
river; but the Government Of Maine will,
voluntarily and without needless delay,
withdraw beyond the bonds Of the disputed
territory any armed forcenow within them;
and if future necessity Should arise for
dispensing notorious 'trespassers, or protec.
ting public property from depreciation by
armed force, the operation shall be conduc-
ted by concert, jointly or separately, accor-
ding to agreements between the Govern
ments Of Maine and New Brunswick.
The civil officers in the service respec-
lively ofNcw Brunswick and Maine, who
have been taken into custody by the oppo-
site parties, shall he released.
Nothing in this memorandum shall be
construed to fortify or TO weaken, in any
respect whatever, the claim Of either party
to The Ultimate possession Of the disputed
territory.
The Minister Plenipotcntiary Of her
Britanic Majesty having no specific author
ity TO make any arrangement on the SUBJECT
the undersigned can only recommend, as
they now earnestly do, to the Governments
Of New Brunswick and Maine, to regulate
their future proceedings according to the
terms herein set forth, untl the final settle
ment Of the territorial dispute, or until the
Governments Of the United States and
Great Britain shall come to some definite
conclusion on the subordinate point upon
which they are now at issue.
JOHN FORSYTH, Secretary
Of State Of the United States
Of North America.
III. S. FOX, H. B. M.
Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenlpotentiary.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 81, 1889.
In the House Of Representatives, Mr.
Howard, from the Committee Of Foreign
Affairs. made report Of an important
character on the state Of the controversy,
TO which was appended the following:
BILE
Giving to the President of the United
States, additional power for the defence
of the United States, 10 certain cases,
against invasion and for other purposes
Be II enacted By the Senate and House
of Representatives, That the President oil
the United States be, and he hereby is
authorized to resist any attempt on the
part Of Great Britain to enforce, by arms,
her claim to exclusive jurisdiction over
that par. of the Stale of Maine, which is
in dispute between the United States and
Great Britain; and for that purpose. to
employ the naval and military forces Of
the United States and such portions Of the