Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-03-04
Mr.. Pakenham to Mr.. buchanan.

Mr.. Pakenham to Mr.. buchanan.
Washington, January Is, 1886.
With anxious desire to contribute, by every means
in his power to satisfactory conclusion o. the ques
tion pending between the two governments respec-
ting Oregon, the undersigned, her Britanic Maestys
envoy extraordinary and minister penipotentary, has
reflected the contents of the note addressed to him
on the Sd instant by the Secretary of State of the
United States, in answer to that which the under
signed had the honour to address him on the 27th of
last month.
The note of the undersigned proposed to the gov
eminent of the United States that the whole cues
ton of an equitable division of the Oregon territory
should be referred to the arbitration of some friendly
sovereign or State.
In his answer, the Secretary of State informed
the undersigned that his proposition could not be ac
cepted that it did not propose to refer to arbitration
the question of title to the Oregon territory claimed
by the two powers respectively. That in proposing
to refer to friendly sovereign OF State merely the
partition, equitable division of the territory be-
tween the parties it the fact that the title
of Great Britain to portion of the territory, is val
i'd, and thus takes for granted the very question in
dispute. That under this proposition the very terms
of the submission would contain an express acknowl
edgement of the right of Great Brtaip to portion
of the territory, and would necessarily preclude the
United States from claiming the whole territory
fore the arbtrator and this too, the Secretary goes
to observe, in the face of his note to the under
signed of the 80 of August, by which the President
had asserted, in the most solemn form, the title of
the United States to the whole territory.
1t is not the purpose of the undersigned, in the
of either party Great Britain or the United States)
to the whole to any part of the Oregon territory
He must however, beg leave, with reference to the
observation which he has just quoted, to remind the
United States secretary of State that if the govern
ment of the United States have formerly advanced
claim to the whole of the Oregon territory it is
less certain that Great Britain has in manner equal
y formal, declared that she, too, has rights in the
Oregon territory incompatible with the exclusive
claim advanced by the United States.
This declaration, arising from the conviction E.
qually sincere, will, the undersigned is persuaded,
be viewed with the consideration by the govern
ment of the United States they expect that their
own declaration should receive at the hands of the
government of Great Britain.
This promised, the object of the undersigned in adj
dressing to Mr. Buchanan the present cOmmunca-
ton is to ascertain from him whether, supposng the
British government to entertain objection TO such
course, it would suit the views of the United States
to refer to arbitration not las has already
been proposed) the question of an equitable partition
of the territory but the question of title in either of
the two powers to the whole territory: subject Of
course, to the condition, that if neither should be
found in the opinion of the Arbitrator, to possess
complete title to the whole territory, there should in
that case, be assigned to each that portion of terri
tory which would, in the opinion of the arbitrating
power be called for by just appreciation of the
spective claims of EACH
The undersigned has suggested reference, on the
above principle, to friendly sovereign State.
This the undersigned believes to be the course usu-
ally followed in such cases. it is that which has al
ready been resorted to by the two governments land
more than once.) But there may be other forms of
arbitration, perhaps agreeable to the govern
ment of United States.
There might be, for instance, mixed commission,
with an umpire, appointed by common consent, or
there might be board appointed in such manner as
should bring all pending questions to take decision of
the most enlightened, impartial, and Independent
minds.
In the present position of affairs, and feeling how
much the interests of both countries require early
well amicable and satisfactory adjustment of
exciting difficulties, the undersigned earnestly invite
the Secretary State to take the subject of this note
into consideration with view to such an arrange
ment the principle of asbitration as may to
the government of the United STATES to be most just
wise and expedent.
The undersigned take advantage of this opportuni-
ty to renew to The Hon. James Buchanan the assu-
rance of his high consideration,
R. PAKENHAM.
Hon. JAMES BUCHANAN.
s7iss bsaH hsss