North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-04-08
NORTH EASTERN BOUNDARY.


Mr.. Forsyth, Secretary of State.
Mr.. For to M. Forsyth
WASHINGTON, March IS, 1910
The undersigned, her Britannia Males
ty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary, has been instructed by
his Government TO make the following
communication to the Secretary OF State
of the United States in reference TO the
boundary negotiation, of the affairs of the
disputed territory.
Her Majesty's Government have had
under their consideration the official note
addressed to the undersigned by the Sec
rotary of State of the United States, on
the Gath of last December, in reply TO a
note from the undersigned of the Cd of
November preceding, in which the under
signed protested, in the name Of his Gov
eminent, against the extensive system OF
aggression pursued by the people of the
State Of Maine within the disputed terri
tory to the prejudice Of the rights of Great
Britain, and in manifest violation of the
provisional agreements entered into be-
tween the authorities Of the two countries
at the beginning of the last year.
Her Majesty's Government have also
had their attention directed to the public
message transmitted by the Governor of
Maine To the Legislature of the State, on
the Sd of January Of the present year.
Upon a consideration Of the statements
in these two official documents
her Majesty's Government regret to find
that the principal acts of encroachmcnt
which were denounced and complained
Of on the part of Great Britain, so far from
being either disproved or discontinued,
or satisfactorily explained by the author
ties of the State of Maine, are, on the
contrary persisted in, and poblcIy avow-
ID.
Her Majesty's Government, have conse-
luently instructed the undersigned once
more formally to protest against these
lets of encroachment and aggression.
Her Majesty's Government claim and
expect from the good faith of the Govern
nent of the United States that the people
If Maine shall replace themselves in the
ituation in which they stood before the
agreements. of last year were signed
hat they shall therefore retire from the
'alIey Of the ST. Johns and confne them
elves TO the valley Of the Aroostook +:
hat they shall occupy that valley in
temporary manner only for the purpose,
IS agreed upon, preventing depredations
nd that they shall not construct fort6ca-
ions, nor make roads or permanent set
elments.
Until Ii So done BY the people of the
tate o! Maine, and so long as that peo-
lie shall persist in the present system Of
ggtession, her Majesty's Government
viii feel it their duty to make such militia
= arrangements as may be required for
he protection Of her Majesty's rights
nd her Maiesty's Government deem il
ght to declare that if the result of the
njusiifable proceedings of the State of
laiDe should be collision between her
iajesty'S troops and the people of that
tate the responsibility Of all the conse-
uences that may ensue therelrom be they
hat they may, will rest with the people
nd Government Of the United States.
The undersigned has been instructed TO
id to this communication, that her Ma
sty's Government are only waiting for {
he detailed report of the British commits !
oners recently employed 20 survey the I
sputed territory which report it was be- s
eyed would be completed and delivered I
} her Majesty's Government by the end I
the present month, in order to transmit
} the Government Of the United States I
ply to their last proposal upon the sub 6
CT of the boundary negotiation s
The undersigned avails himself Of this /
,cssion to renew to the Secretary Of State c
the United States the assurance OF his I
consideration. {
H. S. FOX.
Han Inur Enrsr-u &c