THE NOUTIIWESTERN UOUNDARY-LINE. 223 



boundary between our territory and the possessions 

 of Great Britain on tins continent." 



In recent debates in the House of Lords, tlie Earl 

 of Lauderdale criticised the Treaty of Washington 

 in severe terms, partly on the assuni])tion that the 

 United States have in reserve new claims respecting 

 the northwestern boundary-line. He is mistaken. 

 Nothing remains but cpiestions of hydrography fur 

 Commissioners to detennine, whicli there is no dilli- 

 culty in doing; and ari'angements have already been 

 made ])y tlie two Gov(!rnments for the a])pointment 

 and oi'ganization of the requisite Commission. 



In conclusion, let me say that Great Britain has no 

 cause to regret the adverse conclusion of this contro- 

 versy. The conditions of the Treaty of 1 840 involved 

 positive concession on the part of the United States, 

 if not as to the general lino, yet in giving n]) the 

 whole of the Island of Vancouver Avithout any com- 

 pensation. AVe certainly did not mean at tlie same 

 time to give np the important island of San Juan, and 

 various other islands intervening between tliat and 

 the main-land, which would liave been the effect of 

 admitting the Straits of Uosario as the water-bound- 

 ary. AVc knew that ])rior to and during the negotia- 

 tions the Canal de llaro was expressly mentioned 

 and always understood as the true channel, corre- 

 sponding to the desire of the British Government to 

 seciu'c Vancouver's Island. 



To Great Britain it can be of no possible conse- 

 quence which of the lines uf boundary should be es- 

 tablished. AVhat possessions remain to her on the 



