Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-07-19
Washingtua Standard
STRUGGLE FOR OLD OREGON

The SpokesmanRerie,c has said
that "for more than 80 years there
was constant danger that Oregon
might be lost to the United States"
BY the term Oregon is meant the
country so long in dispute between
Great Britain and the United States,
extending from the present California
line, north into British Columbia.
The two powers signed in ISIS a
treaty of joint occupation, under
which both held their claims in abey-
ance, and citizens OF either were to
have equal rights in the Oregon coun-
try. British craftsmanship foresaw
that final title would pass to the
country with the strongest show of
possession, and calculated ON beating
the Americans in the game OF occupa-
ton.
Acting on this theory, every effort
was made to discourage American set
tlement and encourage British occu-
patton. After the treaty OF joint &C.
cupation had been in force for eight
years, it seemed to British statesmen
that the prize was won. Every Amer
lean fur company had been driven
from the country. There was not an
American flag from British Columbia
to California. The rules of the Hud-
sons Bay company were the supreme
and exclusive law OF the land. This
aggressive company had its chief post
at Vancouver, on the Columbia. 1t
held the falls of the Willamette, and
French-Canadian settlers were farm
ing in the Willamette valley, far to
the south OF the Columbia. There
were practically no Americans in the
country.
The time seemed opportune for
British aggression. Accordingly Can.
ming, the British secretary of foreign
affairs, approached the American min
ister with overtures for renewed nego-
tiations. and in June, 1926, Henry
Clay, as Secretary OF State, sent Gala.
tin his instructions. These were to
insist on the extension of the 49th de-
gree of latitude to the Pacific ocean
(the present international boundary
"This is our ultimatum," said Clay,
"and yeu may so announce it. We
can consent to no line more favorable
to Great Britain"
This was entirely unsatisfactory to
Great Britain, because the prize was
the Columbia river and the tributary
country occupied as a field of opera.
tions by the Hudson's Bay company.
Defining their position, the British
negotiators said:
cit is fact admitted by the United
States, that with the exception of the
Columbia river, there is no river
which opens far into the interior on
the whole western coast OF the Pacific
ocean. In the interior the subjects of
Great Britain have had for many years
numerous settlements and trading
posts; several of these posts on the
tributary streams of the country it.
self; some to the northward and
others to the southwark Of that river
and they navigate the Columbia as
the sole channel for the conveyance of
their products"
Always the Columbia river was the
strategic point desired by Great
Britain. And the most the British
would concede was to make the Co
lumbia river the boundary up to lati-
tude 40, which would have given Eng
land all Of Western Washington and
. part of Eastern Washington. The
navigation Of the river was ~ be for.
ever free to vessels of both nations.
1t was argued by the British commits
sioners that
"To carry into effect this proposal,
Great Britain would have to give up
posts and settlements south Of the
Columbia. On the part of the United
States there could be no reciprocal
Withdrawing from actual occupation,
as there is not, and never has been, q
single American citizen settled north
of the Columbia river"
The conference failed to agree on
the delimitation of the international
boundary, and resort was again had to
temporizing measures. That is, the
treaty OF joint occupation was extend
ed. In other words, the fate of large
part Of Oregon was left trembling in
the balance; the United States hoping
by this course to gain territory north
of the Columbia; Great Britain hop.
ing to strengthen its hold on the
country south of that river.
RECIPES BY MARION t1ARLANp.
,--saz.s-assp' Cherry Bounce.