The Columbian fountain., 1845-12-04

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| Territory. Three several attempts had been pre-
viously made to settle the questions in dispute be-
tween the two countries, by negotiation, upon the
principle of compromise; but each had proved un-
successful.
These negotiations took place at London, in the
years 1918, 1894 and 1926; the two first under the
administration Of Mr.. Monroe, and the last under
that of Mr.. Adams The negotiation of 1918 hav-
ing failed to accomplish its object resulted in the
convention of the twentieth of October of that
year. By the third article of that convention, it
was "agreed, that any country that may be claim
ed by either party on the northwest coast of Ame-
rica, westward of the Stony mountains, shall, to-
gether with the harbors, bays, and creeks, and the
navigation of all rivers within the same, be free
and open for the term of ten years from the date
of the signature of the present convention, to the
vessels, citizens, and subjects Of the two powers;
it being well understood that this agreement isnot
to be construed to the prejudice Of any claim
which either of the two high contracting parties
may have to any part of the said country, nor
shall it be taken to affect the claims of any other
power State to any part of the said country the
only object of the hgh-contracting parties in that
respect being, to prevent disputes and differences
| among themselves"
The negotiation Of 1894 was productive Of no
result, and the convention of 1918 was left un-
changed
The negotiation of 1896, having also failed to
effect an adjustment by compromise, resulted in
the convention of August the sixth, 1897, by which
it was agreed to continue in force, for an ndef-
mite PERIOD the provisions Of the third article of
the convention Of the twentieth of October, 1918;
and il was further provided, that it shall be
petent however, to either Of the contracting par
ties, in either should think fit at any time af
ter the twentieth Of October, 1928, on giving due
notice Of twelve months to the other contracting
party, to annul and abrogate this convention; and
in yIch ho nnlu onfrr ou,-t
nulled and abrogated after the expiration Of the
said term of notice." In these attempts to adjust
the controversy the parallel of the fortyninth de-
gree of north latitude had been offered by the
United States to Great Britain, and in those Of
| 1913 and 1926, with further concession of the
free navigation Of the Columbia river south Of that
latitude. The parallel of the forty ninth degree,
from the Rocky mountains to its intersection with
the northeasternmost branch of the he'Columbia, and
thence down the channel of that river to the sea,
had been offered by Great Britain, with addi-
tion of a small detached territory north of the
Columbia. Each of these propositions had been
rejected by the parties respectively.
| In October, l843, the Envoy Extraordinary and
/ Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States in
London was authorized to make a similar offer to
those made in 1911 and 1896. Thus stood the
question, when the negotiation shortly after
wards transferred to Washington; and, on the
| twenty third of August 1884, was formally opened
under the direction of my immediate predecessor.
Like all the previous negotiations, it was based
upon principles of Compromise and the avowed
purpose of the parties was to treat of the respec
tive claims of the two countries to the Oregon ter
ritory, with the view to establish permanent
boundary between them westward of the Rocky
mountains to the Pacific ocean," Accordingly, on
the twentysxth of August, 1874, the British plen-
ipotentary offered to divide the Oregon territory
by the forty-ninth parallel Of north atitude from
| al. a. r.
tion with the north-easternmOst branch of the Co
lumbia river, and thence down that river to the
sea, leaving the free navigation of the river to be
enjoyed in common by both parties-the country
south of this line to belong to the United States;
and that north of it to Great Britain. At the
same time, he proposed in addition, to yield to the
United States a detached territory, north of the
Columbia, extending along the Pacific and the
Straits of Fuca, from Bulfnch's harbor inclusive,
to Hoods canal, and to make free to the United
States any port or ports south of latitude forty
nine degrees, which they might desire, either on
the main land or on Quadra or Vancouver's is
land With the exception of the free ports, this
was the same offer which had been made by the
British, and rejected by the American govern
ment in the negotiation Of 1896 This PROPOSE
ton was properly rejected by the American
plenpotentiary on the day it was submitted
This was the only proposition of compromise Of
fered by the British penipotentiary. The propo-
stion on the part of Great Britain having been re-
jected the British plenipotentiary requested that
proposal should be made by the United States
for can equitable adjustment of the question:"
When came into office, found this to be the
| state of the negotiation. Though entertaining the
settled conviction, that the British pretensons of
title could not be maintained to any portion of the
Oregon territory upon any principle of public law
recognised by nations, yet, in Difference to what
had been done by my predecessors, and especially
| in consideration that propositions of compromise
had been thrice made by two preceding admins
trations, to adjust the question the parallel of
forty-nine degrees and in two of them yielding to
Great Britain the free navigation Of the Columbia,
and that the pending negotiation had been COM
menced on the basis of compromise, deemed it
to be my duty not abruptly to break it off In con-
1918 and 1927, the citizens and subjects of the
two powers held joint occupancy of the coun-
try, was induced to make another effort to settle
this long-pending controversy in the spirit of mod
| Grafton which had given birth to the renewed
discussion. Aproposition was accordingly made,
which was rejected by the British plenipotentiary,
who, without submitting any other proposition,
suffered the negotiation on his part to drop,
expressing his trust that the United States would
offer what he saw fit to call " some further pro-
posal for the settlement of the Oregon question,
more consistent with fairness and equity, and
with the reasonable expectations of the British
government" The proposition thus offered and
rejected, repeated the offer of the parallel of
forty-nine degrees of north latitude, which had
been made by two preceding administrations, but
without proposing to surrender to Great Britain,