The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-01-21
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL.
Special kilograms to the Dispatch. 10 a .a


IS WASHINGTON, January 20, 1859.
The San Juan Controversy Explained.
The facts connected with the San Juan
controversy between Great Britain and the
United States and the vital Importance Of
the amicable settlement Of the dispute
appear to have been lost sight Of, and even
among officials who are supposed to be ad.
vised there is much inquiry to get an un-
derstandipg of the Importance Of the con-
venticn now before the Senate for ratifca-
ton. asa
From official documents your correspond
emit gathers the following:
II is we'll known that for forty years or
more prior to 1916 all that territory west Of
the Rocky Mountains between the ATTITUDES
of AZ and 81 degrees 40 minutes was in
dispute between the United ststes and
Great Britain, each claiming the right Of
sovereignty to be in itself, and denying
that right in the other. In 1s4S the two
Governments concluded a treaty, in which
the line Of boundary between the United
States and Great Britain was to be con-
tinued westward along the 49th parallel Of
north latitude to the middle of the channel
which separates the Continent from Van
couver's Island, and thence southerly
through the middle of said channel and of
Tuca Straits to the Pacif: Ocean. ~p
Out Of this verbal de- Upton Of water
line boundary through 10 middle Of the
channel which separates the Continent from
Vancouyer's Island, ST., q new oontro-
versy arose between the two Governm ents,
Great Britain claiming that the Rosario
Strait is the channel intended by the treaty,
thus giving to her all the islands in the
Haro Archipelago; the United States claim
ing that the Canal De Haro is the channel
intended by the treaty, thus giving to
them the Haro Archipelago, of which San
Juan Island forms part. The claims
and pretensions of Great Britain under the
treaty of of 1916 were made known to the
President Of the United States through Mr..
Bancroft, our Minister in London, as early
as November 1916. These claims were
promptly rejected by the President as being
without sufficient foundation, and the
claims of the United States under the treaty
were made known to the British authorities.
Diplomatic correspondence on the subject
ensued, which resulted in the appointment
of two commissioners, one on the part of
each Government, for the purpose Of carry
ing into effect the first article Of the treaty
of 1916 by locating and marking out that
part of the water boundary-line which se-
perates Washington Territory from the
British possessions. This was in 1856.
Each Government instructed itB own COM
missioner, and Congress appropriated near
ly twenty thousand dollars for the purpose
of establishing this boundary line. The
commissioners met in June, 1867, and, after
spending months in endeavoring to accom-
plish the object of the joint commission, fail
ed to agree, and reported the result to their
various Governments. Diplomatic cores
pondence was again resumed, and no final
settlement Of the controversy has yet been
made.
During all the time since 1916 until the
present, each Government, as is wellknown,
has adhered to it's construction and under
standing Of the treaty. Each has invari-
ably asserted its claim to the Island of San
Juan and others in the Haro Archi-
pelago by agents and public declarations
too plain and emphatic to be misunder-
stood, and more than once during that
period the controversy has assumed aspects
which made war almost inevitable. From
this brief summary of facts it would
seem to follow as legitimate conclusion
lst, that the boundary line between Wash
ington Territory and Vancouver's Island
verbally described in the treaty Of 1916 has
never been located and determined, and
that SO far as that part Of the boundary line
is concerned the first article of the treaty
of 1916 has never yet been carried into
effect I'd, that neither Of the two Govern
ments has ever yielded or surrendered to
the other the right of sovereignty over San
Juan and the other islands lying between
the Rosario Strait and the Canal De Haro
Sd, that these islands are disputed territory,
end that any determined exercise Of the
exclusive right of sovereignty on the part
of either Government would lead to q de-
claration of war by the other. In the light
of these facts, the Importance Of the treaty
now before the Senate can be appreciated
when it is explained that the treaty con-
templates the settlement of this controversy
by submission of the dispute to the arbi-
trament of the President of Switzerland.
General KiIparrick's Leave Extended.
General Fitzpatrick has obtained from
the State Department further extension
of leave of absence from Chilli until the LIST
of March.
What was Done by the Senate in Executive
Session
Shortly after the Senate went into execu-
tive session this afternoon vote was taken,
upon motion Of Senator Sherman, tc recon-
NIT the nomination of Mr.. Cummings to be
commissioner of internal revenue. The