The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-10
The san Juan DtHfcuItv.

From the London Pos, (Palmerston's organ) Sept %
According the provisions cf public law questions of
disputed boundary only be determined in three ways
by an admission OF The right which discovery supposed
10 CONFER by an arrangement compromise embodied in
treaty, by the exercise of force-whch, Of
carries with the calamttes of In the question now
pending between England and the United States General
hrney, who is described to be bold and ambitious sol
der has been pleased TO adopt the alternative OF orcbe
occupation tothe temporary exclusion OF this country the
other claimant II is needless TO refer 10 the right OF dis
covery, because, in spite OF the awess of General
Harney, the question must eventually be settled
according to the true meaning OF the treaty Of June,
ls46 Many people win reccl,ect the long and
argy discussions which the Oregon question for nearly
quarter OF century had occasioned In 1s45 President
Polk startled England by declaring that he would 60 10
il the question were not speedily settled; and Lord
Aberdeen then the British Minister for Foreign Affairs,
was ut first equally disposed to make 1t ccsus t,it,
but in the beginning of 1916 he changed his opinion,
and concluded that compromise which surrendered
the United States the most valuable portion Of the
Oregon Territory and left the question of the boundary
still unsettled and undetermined Great Joy was ex-
pressed in both countries al the completion OF this
promise The Americans rejoiccd because they had OBJ
tanned all that they wanted, and the English were
pleased TO get rid Of the difficulty upon almost any
ms, simply because they did not think the territory
worth fighting for The discovery of gold the establish
ment of the colony Of British Columbia and the COLOMBIA
ton of the neghborng territory Of Washington, have
given an amount of Importance to the countries on the
northwestern coast OF the continent which in 1916 man
could have anticipated Judged by these considerations,
have right blame the authors OF the treaty Of
te4e but still think that both governments have been
guilty OF great remssness in having long ago settled
the boundaries Of their respective territories.
The treaty Of June, 1885, provides that from the point
of the forty ninth parallel Of north latitude, where the
boundary LAID down in existing treaties and conventions
between Great Britain and the United States terminates
the line Of boundary between the territories of her B
tannc Majesty and those Of the United States shall
be continued westward along the forty ninth parallel of
north latitude to the middle of the channel which sepa-
rates the continent from Vancouvers Island, thence
southery through the middle Of the said channel and of
Fucas Straits To the Pacific Ocean, The object Of the in
setcn OF the words Extending the hne TO the middle of
the channel and thence through Fcas Straits to the Pa
the possession of Vancouvers Island. Every will
by glance at the map thatf the forty min parallel
portion at the southern end of the island which, of course,
according to the arrangement ought have been
erred the United States But hc joint occupancy Of this
and-tLe sovereignty of which III ls45 and previously
had, without dispute, belonged TO Great Brtan-woud
have been nconvenient that the Cabinet Washington
made this concession some compensation TO England
for the loss OF the valuable district north Of the Colum
ba. The island OF San Juan lies the Gulf OF Georgia
on the southeastern end OF Vancouver's Island at
distance from Victoria and Esqurnaux harbor. 1t is sepa
rated from vancoGvers Island by Haros Straits and
from the American territory the main land by Vancou
vers Straits The real question to be determined whe
ther the island OF San Juan Is dependency OF Van
couyer's Island, the Islo Of Wight is Of England
whether it prosperity belongs to the neighborng American
territory on the continent We believe that this can
only be determined by actual survey and measurement
The channels appear to be Of the width, and San
Juan is certainly nearly TO Vancouvers Island than
the coast OF the apand be considered the
point BaT the importance Of San Juan 10 tie tDo
tries be considered Hye be doubt that possession by
England oy be sad absolutely nessaryto the security
Of British C0tppjia. Every vessel going to and from
Fraser river must pass the island The Americans under
General Harney, no doubt would wish To make il kind
OF Gibraltar 10 give them the command of this important
inland navigation Mr. Buchanan and General Cdss hoo-
ere, surely cannot ezpe deste political capital or sr.n
temporary popularity, BY adopting The violent and urjasfa
lie proceedings g their GfceT2 England have object
TO gain beyond the assertion and enforcement of those fair
rights which the treaty confcra, and which the Cabinet
Washington refuse with any regard TO their own
character or to international comfy.