The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-15
OREGON QUESTION SETTLED
PROF. SCHAFER TELLS WHY
ENGLAND GAVE WAY.

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LoYnoH, March A.-fo SIXTY years
American historians have been intermit-
emily occupied In disclsiug tbs interest,"
ing problem why England yielded In the
controversy OF 1870 no much territory which
Is nov an integral part Of the United States.
To tho initiated the problem is known a.
the Oregon question, and II will be welcome
news to all students Of American history
m learn thrt after nearly twelve months
research in Europe Prof. Joseph Schater,
professor of American history at the Uni
yersity Of Oregon, has definitely settled the
matter. He has asoertainAd that the Brit
isb pretensions were suddenly abandoned
because the land In question had already
been settled by American pioneers.
SI' we in the early nos Of the last oen.
rIry that the question arose Said Prof.
schrlcr in London the other day. 'The
United State~ claimed that It had exclusive
right 10 al tho territory on the Pacific
coast and west Of tho Rocky Mountains
between parallel " and parallel $40 north.
r the United STATES had been able 10 make
e ,laim good there would have been no
British Columbia to-day, but the question
vss compromised and the bour1ary was
settled rs We 10Y know It.
But TIE interesting point TO American
bistorisns has always been why Great
Pritpin in ieis made her concession, which
-gs this. From the contention that the
boundary murt run along the Columbia
River TO the Pacific, giving 10 England all
territory north a that river, including
Puget Sound, Great Pritain conceded that
he ~fortv-nirth parallel drawn west to the
ocean and then through the Straits Of Fuca
around the southern emf Of Vancouver
Island would he satisfactory.
I have gone a long way back In the
records Of the British Foreign Ofice and
those Of the Hudson's Bay Company hich
have been generously placed at my disposal
FOR the purpose and 7 have definitely asoer-
taired that the abandonment Of the British
claim vsa influenced by the presence Of
the American pioneers in the disputed
territory more than by any other circum-
stance.
These pioneers and their families had
pushed across from the nearer East In
such numbers thrt the British settlers
there we're at their mercy, The Hudson's
Bay Company sent its reports to
this eject 10 the British Government,
and British officers sent reports TO their
Government with tho same intelligence,
advising the Government that the
American claims 20 the territory were
lndlsputable for this reason.
The two countries were N the point
Of war at this period. but ii wa felt on both
sides that their relations were too intimate
10 permit Of such an eventually and a
strong force Of public opinion was brought
10 bear 10 prevent war. Much Of this anti
war feeling ives fostered by the energetic
action Of the Manchester community, by
the business men and Eonoonformists
oS that English city. They formed COM
mittees and wrote letters TO all American
newspapers, Congressman, public men
and private individuals OF any influence,
End in fact carried on such a vigorous cam
paig against the war feeling that In the
end wal was avoided.
II believe I have cleared up another in
teresting point with regard to these nego-
t%ia,ions. A large number Of religious people
n the Northwest and New England States
have always believed and still believe that
he Rev. Marcus Whitman was largely in
st-Imsntal in the adjustment.
MIR. Whitman had settled in Oregon
and he made a famous journey from Ore
co7 10 the East. He rode TO Washington,
and il was believed hat the information
he there gave 10 President Tyler had much
10 do with the settlement.
an the history OF the negotiations |
cannot find that Mr.. Whitman's name
vas ever mentioned either in London or
Washington, although | believe he GER
rainly called at Washington and informed
tho President Of tho situation. II wal a
missionary journey rather than a political
undertaking"
Prof. Schafer proposes TO write a histor-
ical monograph on the result Of his inves-
tigations. He will fret pay a short visit
to Paris and Berlin before sailing for home,
~ there are still some side issues on the
Oregon question which he wishes to look
M among the official archives Of those
capitals. The Emperor Of Germany ar
bi,rated and settled the question Of the
position Of the divisional line between
Washington State and Vancouver Island
il 1872, by which San Juan Island became
American territory.