Year: 1872




to him, rs it is also due to the learned
and eminent counsel who attended the
tribunal in the part of this Govern
ment, to express my sense of the tai
liant and wisdom which they brought to
bear in the argument and upon the re-
suit SO happily reached. 1t will be the
province of CONGRESS to provide for the
distribution among those who may be
entitled to it, of their respective shares
of the money to be paid. Although it
is not payable, until a year from the
date of the award, it is deemed advisa-
BILE that no time be lost in making the
proper examination of the several cases
in which indemnification may be due.
I consequently recommend the creation
of Board of Commissioners for that
pupOse.


THE SAN JUAN QUESTION.


By the thirty-fourth article of the
Treaty of Washington, the respective
claims of the United States and of
Great Britain in their construction of
the Treaty of the 18th of June, 1S47,
defining their boundary line between
their respective territories, were submit
ted to the arbitration of His Majesty,
the Emperor of Germany, to decide
which of the claims was most in accord
ance with the true Interpretation of the
Treaty of 1916. His Majesty having
been pleased to undertake the arbitra-
ton, has the earnest thanks of this
Government and the people of the
United States for the labor, pains and
care which he has devoted to the con-
sideration of this long pending differ
ence. I have caused al expression of
my thanks to be transmitted to his Ma
jesty. Mr.. Bancroft, the representa-
tive of this Government at Berlin, con-
Quoted the case and prepared the state
ment on the part of the United States
with the ability that his services justi-
fed the public in expectingat his hands
As member of the Cabinet at the date
of the treaty which has given rise to the
discussion between the Governments,
as the Minister to Great Britain when
the obstruction now pronounced un-
founded was first advanced, and as the
agent and representative of the Govern
ment to present the case and to receive
the award, he has been associated with
the question in all its phases, and in
every stage has manifested patriotic
zeal and earnestncss in the mainte-
nance of the claim of the United States.
He is entitled to much credit for the
success which has attended the COM
mission, after Il patient investigation of
the case and of the statement of each
party. His Majesty the Emperor of
Germany, on the Dist day of October
last, signed his award in writing de-
creeing that the claim of the Govern
ment of the United States that the
boundary line between the territories of
Her Britannia Majesty and the United
States could be drawn through the De-
Haro channel is most in accordance
with the true Interpretation of the treaty
concluded on the 5th of June, 1913,
between the agents of Her Britannia
Majesty and the United States. Copies
of this case, presented in behalf of the
Government, and of the statement in
reply to each, and translation of the
award, are transmitted herewith. This
award confirms the United States in
their claim to the important archipela-
go of islands lying between the CONT
nent and Vancouver island, which for
twenty-six years-ever since the ratiti-
cation of the treaty-Great Britain has
held, and leaves us, for the first time
in the history of the United States as q
nation, without n question of disputed
boundary between our territory and the
possessions of Great Britain on this
continent. 1t is my qualification to
acknowledge the prompt and spontane-
Gus action of Her Maiesty's Govern
ment in giving effect to the award in
anticipation of any request from this
Government: and before the reception
of the award, signed by the Emperor,
Her Majesty had given instructions for
the removal of her troops stationed
there, and for the cessation of all ex-
ercise or claim of jurisdiction, SO as to
leave the United States in exclusive
possession of the lately disputed terri
tory. am gratifed to be able to an
nounce that the orders for the removal
of the troops have been executed, and
the military joint occupation of San
Juan has now ceased. The islands
are now in the exclusive possession
of the Uuited States. It now be-
comes necessary to complete the
survey and determination of that por-
ton of the boundary line through De
Haro channel upon which the commits
sion which determined the remaining
portion of the boundary line were una
BILE to agree. recommend the appOint-
ment of a commission to act Jointly
with one which may be named by Her
Majesty for that purpose. The expert
ence of the difficulties attending the
determination of our admitted line of
boundary after the occupation of ter
ritary -a@d its settlement BY those ewing
allegiance to the respective Govern
ments, points to the importance of es-
tablishing, by natural objects or other
measurements, the actual line between
the territory acquired by purchase from
Russia and the adjoining nossnssions of