The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-09

gators. A. well as claims of occupation.
having been among the first to establish
trading posts. especially In the far North.
United principally by the right
of the discovery OF the Columbia river by
Capt. Robert Gray In 1ss2.
Spain was the first to leave this list of
claimants. and England. as usual, was the
last BY the terms OF the Nootka con-
vsntion of October - 1870, Spain parted
with her claims 10 Nootka and withdrew
to the South. leaving England the better
of that diplomatic battle.
In $500 Spain secretly conveyed TO Ma
poleon all her claims To Louisiana. whose
original northwestern boundary was never
accurately fixed or understood but by
many construed TO include this North.
western territory. afterwards known as
Oregon territory. Thus Spain was con-
ftraied 10 have been dropped from the lis.
OF claimants In the Psclfle Northwest
Napoleon soon found himself unable tn
retain Louisiana for France. and he,n~
unwilling that Il should fall into the
hands of England. be sold II 10 the Ifnt,ass
States fer total nf sfs.aoeea the ,res,v
of purchase BEARING the date of April ao
isa. Napoleon Is said to have axrrassas
himself In words TO this effect. unan sten-
fng the treaty II have given 10 smertse,
a priceless heritage and 20 England !.
maritime rival that sooner or later viii
"a "a
France removed a. a claimant 10 the pa
s,ifc Northwest. leaving only England
Russia and the United States whose
claims had Just been greatly strengthened
ny the Louisiana purchase Rut soatr
might stiil he said 60 hold cloud over IN
title ny virtue 81 the vaguenesz a. tbs
disputed northwestern boundary OF the
old Louisiana.
England and the United States sean, IN
have mutually understood that they we're
the principal claimants. Tor Ia ISIS pcta-
Dor ~ they entered into a treaty article
III OF which provides FOR the Joint occu.
psncy az the land for period OF ten
years This treaty ts entitled Convention
Respecting Fisheries BOUNDARY ana Res.
foratlon OF slaves" bat 20 us In the fal
West II Il known "a the ''i0tnt occupancy
treaty" That article III. l. 50 important
10 orr history that give IL here In full:
.sIt IL agreed that any country that ma,
he claimed ~ elmer party on the north
west coast ~ America, westward OF ~.
Stony mountains shall together with n,
narasors hays and creeks. and the nsvsx.
alton Of all rivers within the same Re fires
AND open for tire term 81 ten years ron
the cate Of the signature % the presen
convention. 10 ths vessels. cittxouS ans
subjects cS the two power. u being vel
understood that this agreement h no; q
fse construed 70 the prejudice ~ sav claiss
which either cf TIE TWO ttkH fHntf fteStfss
rartiss may have 20 any part 81 the safs
country. nor shah Il Ne taken 70 aTaci
the claims OF any other power or state q
any part OF the said country. the onis
aesec, Of the high eontrsctiug parties Il
that respect eelnx 90 prevent Disputes anS
ssvereaccs amongst themselves"
T~,is treaty waS stxned ir isS And IN ~.
following year. on washsagtoa's birthday
Tenruary - lsis. another treaty WAS sign
"a ~ the rnit@t states IL Vas nit.
snasn and Is knewn as the "Florida Ygl~
chase II there had been asy Krolns
Tar the continuance ~ Spaia's claims ;r
,re Northwest this treaty sratlcatea :
,.x,.-, r,sseav. Article III % thtx treat,
rsss<.wrsx~@ she cicna that STxfn had hell
49,. ,ne title 81 the lands IN the Nersh
,~ast for n rccitss the boundaries snt
So, r~fsnoul~he@ forever all rfxhts
s.,.s,..s ar rresenxtcns 90 those l&nds
resv~ are naw ont three claimants fe
v.,ss,snx~ England. Russia ara sas Ungses
$50. ON Aprsi -. iszs there was ssxnes
a. :, psserssurx treaty eetw~en ths
rs,.tse.t states And Russia, enstttea 'ssAna.
.s.,s,s, Relative % Navigation k1shzna
s~e Tsrsasng In the pzcisas oseeaa. sna q
Yss.s.ss~s,unenss en the Northwest tsasss .
49,. III az thtx treaty establishes -
san,e,ss ..fsgsy scur forty" The article !.
as fasser~s
~ - ,.,er-uvxr agreed thst hereafter
there saaa not Be termed ~ the e.sGzea.