The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-02-10
OUR RELATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN.

OUR RELATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
THE OREGON CORRESPONDENCE.
To the House Of Representatives Of the United States:
In compliance with the request Of the House Of Rep
resentnves in their resolution of the 81 instant
with communicate report from the Secretary of State
with the accompanying correspondence which has
taken place between the Secretary Of State and
the Minister of the United States al London y and
between the government Of Great Britain and this 60
vernment IN relation to the country west Of the Rocky
mountains since the last annual message Of the Pres
dent' to Congress. JAMES X. POLK.
Washington, February 4 1876.
TO the President Of the United States
DEPARTMENT or SrArE,l
Washington, Feb, 5, 1886
The Secretary Of State, to whom has been referred
resolution of the House Of Representatives Of the 3d
instant requesting the President to communicate to that
House, far in his opinion 10 not incompatible
with the public interest," all correspondence which has
passed between the government of Great Britain and
said in relation to the country Of the
Rocky mountains since the last annual message OF the
President to this has the honor to lay before the
President the accompanying papers
All which il respectfully submitted.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Mr.. Buchanan to Mr.. McLsne
DEPARTMENT OF SITE,
Washington, Dec. Is, lst5.
The President has received information from variety
of which he cannot disregard that Great Britain
is now making extensive waake pssparstons As her
to be Of peaceful character the prevailing and natural
inference here is that these preparations look to p-
is Of vast importance that this should
early possible ascertain their true character You
therefore instructed to embrace the first opportunity
ofbringng this subject the notice OF the Earl Of Aber
deem ia such manner az you may deem most expedi.
The President is also anxious to learn your own
opinion upon this subject with the Least practicable de-
Louis McLane, Esq, &c, &c, &c.
Mr.. McLane to Mr.. Buchanan.
LONDON, Jan. 8. 1876.
PATCH dated the 18th Of that month and the day io
lowing, sought interview with Lord Aberdeen in
order that, in conformity with your Instructions might
bring his notice the warke preparations making by
Great Britain and possible, ascertain their real char
| acter and object
It will not escape you that upon such subject il i,
not always easy to obtain very answers OF
entirely definite official informaticn and did doubt
that frank personal conference was the best not the
only mode OF obtaining any satisfactory information
whatever.
In introducing the subject advertcd at the same time
rety Of sources Of the extensive warlke paraons
making by Great Britain and the natural inference upon
Of drea. Britain with all the powers Of Europe, they
could only look to rupture with the United States on
Lord Aberdeen said very promptly and frankly that
would be improper to disguise that with the sinceres
desire to avoid they obliged to eok to the pos
siby OF rupture with the United States and that il
| such crisis the warke preparations making
would be useful and important but he stated at the
been made in the same way, and to the same extent
without regard to the relations OF Great Britain and the
lie also advered to the fact that such preparations
were actually making, had been commenced before thu
had become serious they appeared to be- and
therefore, could not at that me have had any connex
ion with difficulties which had since grown out of the
Oregon question. He thought, too that the representa-
ons to the extent OF the preparatons must have beer
exaggerated He denied that they related particularly
had been informed to distant service that they
were making any addition to the old form of msrine
He stated that the most extensive and formidable part
their preparations the Notifications of the prnc
pal and exposed ports and stations, which he thought
could hardly be to guard against invasion from
the United states; and to the S increase Of the number
Pssr-d sthsr nssions wore about to adopt and whct
confessed he Thought u, matter Of doubtful po
system Of national dssn.a and p1oisessn p an
of preparing in time Of peace for the exgences Of
if il should unfortunately from any quarter what
and he distinctly repeated his disclaimer that
United States on the Oregon question, or any othe
| ground
In regard to my opinion upon this subject, which
the President has been pleased to desire,
it is altogether probable that the possibility of other dit
6cultisa from other quarters in Europe
may have s influence in debating the policy Of the az
in Il al T.. q Ss
ness and straightforwardness Of Lord Aberdsen and
without meaning to distrust in the slightest de-
Cent conversation, do not think il ought to be A.
sumed by any ono that warlke Preparations upon
making here could not have even an indirect reference
to the possible contingency Of rupture with u.s. And
at the Same time il is perfectly obvious that they in
great degree and especially far they consist of
augmentation in the number Of steam vessels and OF the
naval msrine generally precisely Of the character
the most appropriate and the most useful in will
our country. am not prepared to say, nor do deem
It material to decide how far We have right to expec
explicit disclaimer Of the character and purposes
under the circumstances. They may be the dictate o.
various motives OF policy and the result many causes
influence am By 10 means prepared to admit that the
apprehension Of dhcultes with the United States had
Ss out
diculties this country will be fully and eectuay
prepared for at all points and for all possible purposes
that and that alone had been the object Of all hel
warlike preparations. She will be If situaan to aci
and strike as promptly and :gnally as she could bsvs
and feel my duty to add that not to expect In
rupture becomes unavoidable, that this government
sss uas will M .s
jury upon our country and all its interests would not
% doing justice to such crisis. -.
it ought to be expected indeed from all learn cannot
doubt that in OF hostties the aim of this govern
ment Will DC 10 strlke a neavest DloW ~ tn0 COM
mencsmen the expectation Of being thereby enabled
to shorten the duration OF the war.
have the honor to be, &C.,
LOUIS McLANE.
Tho Hon. JAMES BUCHANAN,
Secretary Of State, Washington.
Mr.. Pakenham to Mr.. Buchanan.
WARRINGTON, December u, ls45.
An attentive consideration Of the present state Of
affairs, with reference to the Oregon question, has de-
teTmned the British government to instruct the under
signed her Britannia Maestys envoy extraordinary and
minister psnipotenary sgain to represent in pressing
the government Of the United states the expe
cheney Of referring the whole question Of equitable
division Of that territory to the arbitration Of some
friendly sovereign or State.
Her Msesys government deeply regret the failure Of
all their efforts effect friendly settlement of the
acsing claims NV direct ootiation betwecn