The New York herald., 1872-10-24
San Juan Island Secured
to us.
Bismarck's Action After the Claims
Were Presented.
EXCITEMENT In WASHINGTON.
Value Of the Island from q Stra-
getical Standpoint.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct %. 1872.
The following despatch was tonight received
from Minister Bancroft - -.-
BERLIN Oct %, 1872.
To the Hon. HAMILTON FISH: =
The three experts to whom the American memo
rial on the Canal De Haro and the British case
were referred have made, each for himself, very
elaborate report on the question, supporting their
opinions BY reasons stated with
TECHNICAL PRECISION AND ExAcrNEss.
The Emperor has also, with the highest sense Of
Official duty, given his personal attention to the
subject and, after the most careful study and de-
liberation he has arrived at conclusion satsfac-
tory to his own of Justice The reports Of the
experts, with reasons, have not been communi-
Gated to us.
THE DECREE OF THE IMPERIAL ARBITRATOR,
which has been communicated has the form not
SO much OF decree in council as Of Cabinet
order. 1t does not enter into any elaborate expo
siton of the decision but without diverging in the
least from the point presented for arbitration,
DEGREES that
THE CLAIM OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
is most in accordance with the true Interpretation
of the Treaty OF June 15, 1s46. shall forward the
official copy of the decree by special messenger.
BANCROFT.
This despatch of Minister Bancroft announcing
that Emperor William had decreed that the United
States was right in claiming the Canal de Haro as
the boundary line between the British and Ameri-
circles in this city. AS has been stated in these
dispatches the jurisconsults had several weeks
ago concluded that In equity the claim Of the
United States was Just. and here may properly be
introduced the recital OF
AN ACT OF INTERNATIONAL COURTESY.
After the claims of the United States were fairly
presented Bismarck sent number of naval officers
abroad to observe the progress in naval archi-
lecture. Two of the most experienced officers
were ordered to this country. The subject OF the
San Juan boundary was introduced at o social
gathering in this city. and became the subject OF
conversation. During the discussion the question
was asked by the Prussian naval officers
as to what Importance the island Of San Juan
was to the United States in view OF the fact that
this country not supposed to be In favor OF the
acquisition of territory. The reply was that If the
claim OF Great Britain was sustained, Her Majesty's
government would control all the available chan
nels In that portion Of the territory. One Of the
officers promptly said, "From what know OF the
question, that would not be equitable. 1t would
give Great Britain the control OF at least territorial
ground and possibly an advantage in future inter.
national disputes.n The value Of
THE ISLAND AS TERRITORIAL ACQUISITION
has never been broached, but the officers of the
Engineer Corps, who are supposed to have an eye
simply to the interests Of the United States, have
always claimed that the island OF San Juan was nec-
essary to the United States as strategical point
The HERALD special from London, announcing that
the uriscons us to whom had been referred the en-
tire question had decided in our favour, was
teegraphed to this city. Ofdcers OF the Engineer
Corps visited the HERALD Bureau this evening to
ascertain ir the report was of1cally confirmed. On
being assured that Minister Bancroft had tele-
graphed the State Department that the decree was
in our favor they declared that it gave the United
States the only point OF defence on the extreme
northwestern frontier, and was gratifying.to them
as sustaining what they had always contended
for.