, 1840-04-25
Mr.. FORSYTH TO Ma. Fox.
Department of State,l

United States, acknowledges to have receiv.
ed MIR. Fox's communication of the 18th in.
slant, IN reference to the boundarys negotia.
ton and the affairs Of the disputed territory.
The information given in the closing part OF
1t, that a reply to the last proposition of the
United States upon the subject of the boun.
dairy may be expected in a short time, is
highly gratifying to the President, who has.
however, given directions to the undersigned
in making this acknowledgement, to accom-
pany it with the expression of his profound
regret that Mr.. Fox's note was in no other
respect satisfactory.
After the arrangements which ia the begin.
ming of last year, were entered into on the
part of the two governments with regard TO
the occupation of the disputed territory, the
President had INDUCED the hope that the eau
ses Of irritation which had grown out Of this
branch of the subject could have been re-
moved. Relying on the disposition Of Maine
to cooperate with the Federal government
in all that could lead to the pacific ad justment
of the principal question, the President felt
confident that his determination 10 preserve
order and peace on the border, would be full
ly carried out. He looked upon all appre-
tensions OF designs by the people Of Maine
TO take possession of the territory, as without
adequate foundation; deeming it improbable
that on the eve of an amicable adjustment of
the question, any portion of American peo-
pie would, without 4 cause, and without OBJ
ject, leopard the success Of the negotiation
and endanger the peace Of the country. a
troublesome, irritating, and comparatively
unimportant, because subordinate subjects,
being thus disposed of, the President hoped
that the parties would be left free at once TO
discuss and finally adjust the principal ques-
ton. In this he has been Disappointed
While the proceedings of her Majesty's Go
vernment at home, have been attended with
unlocked for delays, its attention has been
diverted from the great subject in controver-
sy by repeated complaints, i'nputing 10 pOr-
ton Of the people OF the United States, de-
signs to violate the engagements OF their GO
vernment: designs which have never been
entertained and which Mr.. Fox knows would
receive no countenance from this govern
ment.
/, is to be regretted that at this late hour.
SO much misrepresentation still exists on the
side of tie British government, as TO the OBJ
ject and obvious meaning {. the existing ar
engagements respecting the disputed territory.
The i'll success which appears TO have atten-
the efforts made by the undersigned
to convey, through Mr.. Fox to her Majesty's
government more correct impressions res.
them, calls for a recurrence TO The
and n brief review of the correspon-
dence which has grown out OF 1t, may tend
to remove the erroneous views which prevail,
as to the name in which the terms Of the
arrangements referred to have been observed.
As Mr.. Fox had no authority to make any
agreement expecting the exercise OF jurIs-
over the disputed territory, that be-
tween him and the undersigned, of the 9th
February, 1889, had for its object no provi
sional arrangement for the restoration and
preservation of peace in the Territory. To
accomplish this object it provided that her
Majesty's officers should not seek to expel,
by military force, the armed party which had
been sent by Maine into the district border
ng on the Arostook river, and that on the
other hand, the government of Maine would
voluntarily, and without needless delay,
withdraw beyond the bounds of the disputed
territory any armed force then within them.
this ; the arrangement had other
dispersion of notorious tres
o~assers, and the protection of public proper
" from depreciation was to be conducted
~ c~onsert. jointly or separately, according
o agreement between the government Of
Maine and New Brunswick.
In this last mentioned respect, the agree.
nent between Maine and New Brunswick. q
Through the agency of General Scott, one t
vas agreed to on 23d and 25th of March a
by which Sir John Harvey bound J
himself not to seek, without renewed ~instruc. t
ions to that effect from his government, to t
axe military possession of the territory, or I
o repeal fromit by military force the armed t
ivil posse, or the troops of Maine. On the S
Of Maine, it was agreed by her Gov o
rnor that no attempt should be made wit P
ut renewed instructions from the Legisla. v
ure, to disturb by arms the province o. 4
Jew Brunswick, in possession Of the NADIA n
vaska settlements, interrupt the usual com 4
,unications between that and the upper n
As to possession and jurisdiction C
ley were to remain unchanged, each party Il
gliding in fact, possession Of part of the s
territory, but each denying the II
ght of the other to do so. With that un- n