Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-05-05
TEsR .rORTHuv.EST BOT.vD.sRI.

The joint high commission having, ac-
cording to report, succeeded so well in set
thing the later difficulties between this coun-
try and Great Britain, there is reason to an
ticipate an adjustment of the oldest matter
in dispute, ono which has twice very nearly
involved us in war. So little is generally
known of the details of the northwestern
boundary question, that review of the
matter cannot fail to be of interest.
Previous TO the year 1916, the territory
west of the Rocky mountains aud north of
Mexico was held under joint occupation
by the United States and Great Britain.
The treaty of 1878 provided for such an oc-
cupation for ten years, aud in 1873 the pro-
vision was continued in force indefinitely,
to be terminated at will by either govern
ment Under this arrangement the Hud-
son Bay Company held the actual and ex-
elusive control; and when, in 1908, emil
grafton began to set strongly that way from
the east, it became necessary to take some
action to protect American settlers i'm their
rights. The determination of Great Britain
to establish the boundary on the north bank
of the Columbia river prevented any ar
rangemcnt at the time, but in 1914 the at
tempt was again made. Negotiations were
commenced by Mr.. Upshur and continued
by Mr.. Calhoun, when vast difference in
the claims were manifest. The British gov
eminent still demanded the north bank of
the Columbia and equal privileges ut its
mouth, while Mr.. Calhoun stood firm for
the 10Th parallel, and his party entered the
Presidential canvass with the watchword
of "tilty-four forty or fight" The parallel
of 80 40 was the boundary based on a con-
yenton with Russia in 1924, and in his in
augural message Mr., Polk claimed that our
title to the territory south of that line was
clear and indisputable. This declaration
aroused the war spirit in England, and in
1916 Mr.. Buchanan, then Secretary of State,
re-opcned the negotiations with the offer of
the 10Th parallel as the boundary. A treaty
was ratified making this the boundary line
from the great lakes to the Pacific; but
since, if continued, this line would cut
Nancouver's Island and place within our
jurisdiction the most important settlement
in British Columbia it was agreed that,
when the line reached the coast, II should
! continue to the centre of the Gulf of Geor-
gia and thence southwark, through the
channel which separates the continent from
| Vancouycr's Island, to the Straits of Juan
de Fuca.
This concession of the town of Victoria
and the whole of NanCouver's Island SEEM
ed to settle the boundary question; but
now for twenty-five years we have been
quarelling ms TO the "channel" mentioned
in the treaty. The British boundary COM
missioner claimed the Rosario channel, to
the south; the United States claimed the
lIaro channel, to the north and close to
Nancouyers Island. Between the two lies
the island of San Juan, whose possession
has been contested, almost to the verge of
war, to this day. The claim of the British
to locate the boundary in Rosario channel
is based upon the statement that this chan
mel is the one always used, that the island
of San Juan commands the Haro channel
and that the latter leads to British Column
bia and nowhere else. The United States,
on the other hand, claim that the Rosario
channel has been used by vessels simply
from the fact that it was less open, less liza
BILE to storm disturbances, and ahording
easy anchorages while the IIaro channel
is wider. more direct by some 20 miles, and
more appropriately the boundary indicated
in the treaty. 1t is moreover urged that
when agreeing to relinquish our claim to
Vancouver's Island, we did not intend, moi
did any one ask us, to part with any Other
territory south of the 10th parallel.
Meantime both parties have occupied the
island in question. In 1853 the Hudson
Bay Company landed a flock of 1900 sheer
and put one of their clerks in charge. The
u. S. Collector of that district sent word tc
the British Governor that the sheep were
liable to seizure as having been brought
wit hin the jurisdiction of his custom house