The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-05-13


| ment for the New York custon-house is exceed
ingly doubtful. The vote will probably be taken
| to-day.
Letter from the Secretary OF State TO the
Governors Of Massachusetts and Maine.
| DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
| Washington, Ilth April, 1892
| 1ohis ErceReacy JOHN FAIRFIELD,
| Governor Of Maine:
| Your EXcelency is aware that previous 10 March
| IS4I, negotiation had been going on for some time
between the Secretary of State OF the United States
under the direction of the President and the British
| Minister accredited to this Government, having fol
| is object the creation OF JOINT commission for set
tns the controversy respecting the Northeaste n
| boundary of the United States with provision fol
| an ultimate reference to arbraors. TO be appointed
by some of the sovereigns OF Europe in case an arb
| trarion should become necessary. On the leading
| features of Convention tor this purpose, the two
Governments were agreed, but several matters
of detail the parties differed, and appear to have
IONS projects and counterprojects, without coming
| to final arrangement down to August, 1910. Va
rout causes, not now necessary to he explained,
arrested the progress of the negotiation at that time
and no considerable advance has been since made
| in H.
Itseems to have been understood, on both Sides
| that one arbitration having failed it was the duty
of the two parties to Sroceed to institute another,
according TO the spirit of the Treaty of Ghen and
olher treaties and the President has felt ii to be
| his duty unless some new course should be propos-
| ed, TO cause the negotiation to be resumed, and
pressed to its conclusion. But have now TO inform
1 your Excelency that Lord Ashburon, Minister
Plenpotentiary and Special, has arrived at the Seat
| of Government OF the United States, charged with
full powers from his sovereign to negotiate and set
tie the different matters in discussion between the
| two Governments. | have further to state to you,
that he has officially announced to this Department
that, in regard to the Boundary question, he has
thorty to treat for conventional line, or line by
agreement, on such terms and conditions, and with
such mutual considerations and equivalents as may
be thought Just and equitable; and that he is ready
| TO enter upon negotiation tor such conventional
line as this Government shall say that 1t is
authorized and ready, on its part, to commence
such negotiation.
Under these circumstances, the President has felt
to be his duty to call the serious ate non OF the
| subject, and to submit to those Governments the
proprety OF their cooperation, to certain extent
and in certain form, in an endeavor TO terminate
a controversy alre ady of so long DURATION and which
| seems very likely to be still considerably further
protracted before the desired end of final adjust
men shall be attained unless shorter course OF ar
| irving at that end be adopted, than such has
| here tofore been pursued and the two Govern
ments are still pursuing.
| Yet without the concurrence of the two States
| who rights are more Immediately concerned, both
having interest in the soil, and ono of them in the
jurisdiction and government, the duty Of this Co
vernment will be to adopt no new course, but, in
compliance with treaty stipulaons and IN further
ancee. OF what has already been DONE to hasten the
/ pending negotiations as fast as possible.
But the President thinks ii highly desirable OBJ
ject to prevent the delays necessarily incident TO
| any settlement OF the question by these means.
Such DELAYS are great and unavoidable. Ii has been
| found that an exploration and examination of the
| several lines constitute work OF three years. The
| existing commission for making such exploration
under the authority OF the United States, has been
l occupied two summers, and very considerable
portion of the work still remains TO be done II a
| Joint commission should be appointed, and should
| go through the same work, and the commissioners
should disagree, as IS very possible, ana an aTpitra
ton on that account become indispensable, the ar
bitrators might find II necessary to make an explora-
tion and survey themselves, or cause the same to be
/ done by Others of their own appointment. II TO
these causes, operating TO postpone the final decl
sion, be added the time necessary TO appoint arbi-
traitors aud tor their preparation to leave Europe tor
the service, and the various rearding incidents al
ways attending such operations. seven or eight
years constitute, perhaps, the shortest period within
| which we can look for final result. In the mean
| time, great expenses have been incurred, and fur
| Their expenses cannot be avoided, II IS well known
| that the controversy has brought heavy charges
| upon Maine herself to the remuneration or proper
| settlement Of which, she cannot be expected to be
| Indifferent.
The-exploration by the government OF the United
| States has already cost hundred thousand dollars,
and the charge of another summers work is in
| prospect These facts may be sufficient to form a
probable estimate OF the whole expense likely 10 be
incurred before the controversy can be settled by
| arbitration; and eur experience admonlshes Us that
| even another arbitration might possibly fail
| The opinion OF this Government upon the justice
| and validity Of the American claim has been ex-
| pressed, al so many times and IN so many forms
that repetition OF that opinion is not necessary
| But the subject IS subject In dispute The 60
vernment has agreed TO make matter Of reference
and arbitration; and mxst fulfil that agreement un
less another mode for settling the controversy should
be resortcd to with hope ofproducing speedier deci
sion The President proposes that the governments o.
Maine and Massachusetts should severaly appoint
commissioner or commissioners, empowered TO con
l a (,Nv-ar
. | conventional line. line by agreement with III
| terms, conditions, considerations, and equivalents
| with an understanding that no such line will b,
( agreed upon without the assent of such commisson
| ers. This mode of proceeding some other which
shall express assent beforehand, seems indispensable
| If any negotiation for conventional line Is 10 b.
had, since if happily treaty should be the result o
| the negotiation, II can only be submitted 10 tn
| Senate of the United States for ratification.
| II is subject of deep and sincere regret 10 tn
President that the British Plenlpotenary did no
arrive in the country, and make known his powers
, | IN time to have made this communication bctor
| the annual session Of the Legislature Of the tw
States had been brought to close. He perceives
laments the Inconvenience, which may be exp'r
cedfrom assembling those legislatures; but the Br
ish mission is special one it does not suppressed
| the resident mission Of the British Government I
Washington and its stay in the United States IS ne
4 expected to be long. In addition to these console
| ratons il is TO be suggested that more than TO!
months of the session Of Congress have alread
}, passed. and il is highly desirable, If any treaty tor
conventional line should be agreed on, II shc uld
concluded before the session shall terminate; M
only because of the necessity ct the ratihcaiion
II the Senate but also because isnot impossible IN
= measures may be thought advisable, or become in
" | porant which can only be accomplished by II
! | authority of both Houses,
h These considerations, in addition to the impo
| lance of the subject, and firm conviction in u
| mind of the President that the interests of bot
countries, as well as the interests of the two Stat
y | more Immediately concerned. requires prompt G
: i foyt 70 brIu COnstraln
to expires, an earnest hope that your ExceDency vi