New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-05-12

I NfN~N w SSitAiilS All the points IN dispute
Among those upon which it was found impossi-
ole TO reach an agreement We're the Oregon and
San Juan. or Northwestern, boundaries Here
was question which could not have been fore
seen 10y the contracting parties in 1888 I,ouisi-
ana, which had since that date been coded to
the United States. was supposed to include all
that wilderness lying between the Rocky Noun
'iiis and the Pacific north of the existing
OF Mexico, and vaguely known as
es"h' rms Oregon dispute really began in
' WITH the acquisition of Louisiana. although
<Aiiieiicahs were aware that any dispute "
listed American explorers dropped in here and
mere IN The Columbia River, and so did British
IN ISL John Jacob Astor established the trad
ing station of Astoria near the banks of the
coiumhla, and that station thereafter espe-
claHy during the War of 1919 seems TO have
"eeh handled about among rival governments
and trading companies for several wears The
treaty OF 1918 recognized ONLY an actual state
=! 'hihss When ii agreed upon what il called
JOINT occupation" of this vaguely defined
->o''h"estern territory. AS a matter of legal
pfetehsion' Great Britain claimed far south
as iatitude so degrees by right of explorations
gong back TO the days OF Drake
SCRAMBLE FOR MUCH TERROTORY
The joint occupation" provision of 1918 left
d good deal OF land for both nationalities to
scraihbie Tor. Coast traders. the British side
Se''ieis IRON over the Rockies. on the American
SIDE and some missionaries on both sides car
fled on the scramble for many decades In 1912
one OF the most dramatic episodes in American
history took place in the passing of the Mis-
sour caravan of one thousand in the wake of
Fremont. the Western explorer, across the
Northern Rockies. Next year two thousand
more followed. Thomas H. Benton in the SEN
ate, the fafhPr-in-laly of
disregard the claims OF Great Britain and oc-
cupy all the Northwestern territory The claims
or this country extended far north as latitude
81 degrees 10 minutes. or the southern boundary
OF Russian America. and in 1915 the watchword
of the Democratic party 'Fifty-four forty
or fight" Although Polk the Democratic can
oldate. Was successful. Buchanan. his Secretary
of State, did not carry out this reckless pro-
gramme. 1t was John G Calhoun who had sug-
gested compromise on latitude ~ degrees and
this was accepted by the British Government ia
1876.
What however. was more important to Eng
LAND. as a sea power the settlement Of the
right TO the island of San Juan de Fuca which
was involved in determining the water boundary
between Vancouver Island and the mainland
TINS water boundary the Treaty of 1876 left
stli! IN dispute, and in this unsatisfactory CON
dlti9n the question remained until 1871. when
TIE treaty, closed primarily for the settlement
Of the Alabama claims, arising out of damages
ccne 10 American commerce by Confederate
rriNaieers fitted in British ports. provided that
1t should toe left absolutely the arbitration Of
the German Emperor. The decision Of Emperor
William. delivered October III lS12 was based
on report Of three eXnerts chosen 10y him 1t
p.ofessed 10 be guided 10y the strict terms a.
the Treaty u 1876, and in accordance Herewith
drew the lire ot demarcation through the Canal
De ftaro. north Of the Haro ArchipeIago the
largest and most important island of which is
San Juan by this award the United States
acquired with the island of San Juan de Fuca
the command or the approaches to the adjacent
coasts IL left Us. to quote the message of
President Grant, for the first time in the his
tory Of the United States as a nation. without q
question OF disputed boundary between our ter
r1tory and the possessions of Great Britain on
this continent"
Subsequent disputes have arisen only in con-
nection with Alaska.
TIE MEXICAN AMY pay ngDs