New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-16
GREAT BRITAIN.
THE SAN JUAN DIFFICULTY.

FTom The London Times, Jan. 30.
II il but short time since the thoughts OF the coun-
try DOW concentrated on French treaties and Italian
struggles were directed with no slight soicltude to
remote spot on the shores of the Pacific. The San
Juan difficulty thanks to the forbearance and mod
Grafton Of the two Governments concerned, was sue
cessfully escaped but the question itself ID penang
STILL and it will not be unnteresiing TO the public to
learn the position in which stands. Certain features
of tie case render it of the most curious perhaps,
which even the oversights of diplomacy ever pro-
duced.
When after long alteration it was finally decided
that the 18th parallel should constitute the boundary
between the possessions of Great Britain and the
United States North-Americsn territory litigation
might have been fairly supposed at an end and ex-
ceprg, indeed, for particular and unforeseen emoar
rassent such would doubtless, have been the result
No sooner, however, bad the Commissioners charged
with the duty of cutting the boundary line by land and
defining il by water proceeded to the dcpatch OF bnsi
ness than they encountered serious obstacle. E%,
actly opposite the point at which the 49th parallel
strikes the coast lies Vaycouyers Island, portion OF
which, if the boundary line had been prolonged with
out deviation, would have been cut off, To avoid this
dsnemberment of what confesse dy British terIl
tory it had been agreed that the line after striking the
coast should be DETECTED in southerly direction, and
carried through midchannel round the coast OF VAN
couvers Island into the This was all PLAIN ana
reasonable; and in the complete and may almost
add the Tardonable ignorance prevailing at the time
respecting these distant regions 1t was probably con-
ceyed that the channel described could not bs mis-
taken. When, however, the actual survey came to
be made it was found that the supposed open STRAIT was
blocked up in the middle by group OF lfiands, and
that prate channel left on each side OF them
That TO the west is known as the Haro Channel that
TO the east as the Rosario If therefore, the boundary
line were carried down the former II would throw al
the islands into the American side II 1t were taken
through the latter twoud give them all to the Brltsh.
That We under such circumstances, should sickle for
the Rosario Strait while the Americans stand out for
the Strait of Haro, will not be considered surprising
AS far the letter Of the Treaty goes, we believe II
would be simply impossible to execute il according to
the American proposal. According 10 the best ntor-
nation we can obtain, no vessel keeping on such a
course the terms Of the Treaty prescribe could by
possibility get into the Haro Channel and it is, we be-
eve aso true, that far any channel was known
OF used at the time Of the Convention, was the Ro-
saro Channel and 10 other. However, for reasons to
be presently mentioned shall not insist on this point
any further
Il viii appear from what we have said that the de-
baiable territory il composed not Of island but
group OF sands all Of which together would be trans
ferred either 10 England America, according as the
Rosario or HaIo Channel taken as the channel
for the line Of delinitation. Accident however has
brought one of these islands into especial notoriey and
attached is TO the whole dispute. The western
most Of the group ID called the Isle of San Juan, and
on this island though has been recognized dis
puted territory, Gen. HaIDey last Summer landed
body Of American troops. W need not repeat the cir
cumstances under which this violation OF right was
committed, though may remark that the sole ex-
ulauaticn offered BIZ Gen. Harvey hmself failed alb
solutey justify the acts which he venured. lie
asserted that American citizens settled on the Island,
required the protection OF American troops 10 uelenu
them sgainst the incuTsioDs Of the Indians. But,
if this necessity could have been established
would certainly not follow that the island thereby be-
came any more American territory than before.
Now, Gen. Harvey not only furnished his counirymen
with military guard but he took possession OF San
Juan belonging 10 the Uniteo States, and proclaimed
American laws and authority there, although it had
been distinctly admitted by his own Government that
the tijle the territory was dispute and that until
was decided no such preensions should be advanced
by either of the claimants. These events brought the
Isle Of San Juan into notice the bone of contention,
although in point of fact the actual claim Of the Anne
ricaps would, if sustained, have given them a good
deal mole than this island and claili would have
secured III Lot only San JUAN but the rest Of the group
beside. "
We have said that we should he indsposed to rely
exclusively on the letter OF the Treaty, although we
regard II AZ eminently favorable to ourselyes or
II rigorous policy to be pursued it is to the
letter that must appeal and we shall have no Iea,
con % regret the proceeding but we should Pree, 70
smy and Cancellation For such course there are
obvious reasons but there Is this reason eSpeclaV
that we very much doubt whether the trainers oil the
Treaty really know anything about tue ehsnne' Of