New-York tribune., 1885-03-21
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

WASHINGTON, July 10, 1884 }
SIR Your notes OF the 9th asd oath OF May aud I'd
and 12th of June OF the present year. have presented
the question of the disputed ownership OF two Islands In
the Rio Bravo near Roma Texas This question has re-
ceiveS the careful consideration due 10 its Importance,
and have now the honor to acquant you WIN the reP
half of that OF Mexico, and especially 10 the detailed
case presented with your note Of 18th June.
The two islands. state. are known n Spanish as
MOreritos Sabinto aud in your note of the I'd OF
as Nos l2 and 13 at the time Of the original survey
This is owever, incorrect Of sabnitos Island which
Boundary Commission in 1853, No. H. and il therein
credited to Mexico. As the papers submitted by you
sabinitOs (No 1 1t may be laid aside for the present
The question TO be confined to the island known
airy Commission as Beaver Island" (So. 13).
This island formerly the most southeriy and the
largest of two podshaped islands lying in the bend
Of the river the Texan town OF Roma The channel
at any time navigabe. which formerly separated
ward of the twin islands formed Is the widest and at
the present time tke deepest Of the two arms OF the
The Mexican claim to jurisdiction rests briefly the
GJ scientific report OF the engineer. Gsrfas dated
April 1G 1885, which argues that the present deepest
deepes and therefore under the treaty OF Guadaoupe
Hdalgo the boundary line between the two Countries
in pursuance OF observed peculiarly OF rivers by
which the deepest flow OF water follows the hollow OF
course in the river bed.
(2J Ownership by Mexican citizens and an agreement
by said owners in March, 1874 whereby the Island OF
Morteres and its accretions were confirmed to taem
The second of these points to be dismissed forthwith
from consideration for this Government does not admit
IL reversed IL U to be supposed that the
Mexican Government would admit tue right OF allen
OF land to transfer under color OF Judicial
ment whatever the territorial domain their estates
the jurisdiction and sovereignty the nation 10 whom
individuals owe allegiance. This position is, more
over wholly opposed TO the contention Of the Mexican
Government ITSELF that the territorial jurisdictions esab
shed behalf OF the respective parties TO the treaty
OF Guadaoupe Hdalg0 remain forever as originally fixed
under that compact and are not to he affected by any
abrupt cnange In the course OF the River Bravo
This reduces the question 10 one OF simple fact namely
the asceranment OF the boundary channel fixed by the
Commissioners under the treaty OF Guadaoupe Hldago
To the end OF asceraining that fact examination OF
the original records and charts OF the Commission OF
Survey has been made by Brgadier General w. H.
vsio commissioner the part Of the United States
the original survey and determination OF the boundary
effected That officer under date of 10th ultIno
BY reference TO original notes and maps I'm
State Department find Islands Nos IL and IA We're as
signed 10 Mexico, and No ID 1 believe TO be Island
Sabinos tSabDitosl referred to by Sehor Romero.
Island No. l3 was assigned To the United States II
is doubt the island called by senior Romero Moter
tos, and by me Beaver Island say OF that island In
my report that the waters OF the Rio Grande
divided that point into three parts and the channel
that Is nearest to the Mexican shore IL that
steamers can with difficulty pass through IL; yet the
branches, by Of their shaOwness are wholly inn
passabe for steam An attempt was made by the Mex
local authorities ~ arrest steamboat Ia It's passage
through the channel but the actual experience
OF the navigator proved 1t TO be the true channel and
consequently the boundary between the two countries
IL was further agreed between the commissioners
that In the channel changed the right OF navigation
should remain uniInpared TO both countries, but the
Jurisdiction OF the land should remain rs We had ar
ranged"
So far as the question of territorial Jurisdiction in the
OF change In the channel 10 concerned the agree
ment OF the commissioners remains merely express
sion OF opinion which, however valuable as an snunca
top Of theoretical principle, has not been confirmed
as between the two Governments That Of Mexico has,
however various occasions put forth this principle
Its own and proposal has been made through your
predecessor schor Marisca TO negotiate