The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-01

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nient
The separate claims to any territory, whether
held by joint occupation pending the dispute,
or whether no authority Is exercised over such
territory by either Of the governments claiming
it, are always liable to bring about a serious
rupture. This Is particularly the case with re-
gard to the Island of San Juan. Both our own
citizens and the British are high-spirited, pug
nacious and not disposed to yield an inch when
they think they have right on their side. The
governments may be DESTROYS of preventing
trouble, but might not be able at all times and
under exciting circumstances to restrain the
people in that remote part Of their territories
We really approached the verge of war at one
time at that disputed point At the period
General Harvey commanded there the diff
Guilty had very serious aspect, for both the
Americans and British were resolved to occupy
San Juan. Though the matter was arranged tenn
porarily by the joint occupancy of the island
Of Sam Juan, the north end being held by the
British and the south end by the Americans,
the two being about fifteen miles apart, and
though there has been no great danger
since, the old feud might break out again at any
time if there should be suspension offriendly
relations between England and the United
States, or even through some local difficulty
springiny up between the American and
British settlers in that part of the world.
It is state of things always more
or less dangerous The two governments
recognized this fact when the Washington
Treaty was framed, and wisely provided for a
settlement
The fishery dispute by the provisions
of the treaty is likewise to be submit
ted to the arbitration of foreign Power in
Britain and the United States not being able
to agree. The arbitrator in this matter is to
be one appointed by the Emperor of Austria,
and the award he may make is to
be binding. This is on the ques-
ton of a money award for certain
fishing privileges or concessions AS for the
rest, regarding both the fisheries and tho navi-
cation of the St. Lawrence and lakes, upon
which the two governments have agreed or
have prepared the way for adjustment, there
need now be no delay PrAlce Bismarck, it
1 r.
is stated, will, on behalf of Kaise, wilhelm,
refer the San Juan boundary matter to distin-
guished international lawyers for decision.
1t was announced some time since that the
stout old Emperor was ready with his de-
cision; but it is not improbable that the
head Of the House of Hohenzollern
found himself more puzzled over the
legal FORGERY of the arguments pro and con.
than he did over the late French campaign,
and so turned the affrighting arbitration over
to the lawyers. Of all sovereigns he is per-
haps the last to be Influenced by outside mo-
tives in his decisions; but the internal
difficulties of the difference between the
Haro Canal and Rosario Straits, when
magnifed by lawyers technicalities, would be
enough to unnerve for arbtrating penmanship
such practical hand at the sword We are
to have settlements in all directions, but the
one most to be longed for at present is the ar
rival of the period when the muddled Treaty
of Washington is slowed away in q strong box
at the State Department and labelled sat
tended to-"