No. 17.
Mr. Bancroft to Mr. Fish.
No. 413.]
American Legation, Berlin, October 24, 1872. (Received November
14.)
Sir: At four minutes before 10 o’clock last
evening I received the award of the Emperor on the question of boundary
submitted by the Government of the United States of America and the
Government of Her Britannic Majesty to his arbitration.Award received and forwarded.
I send the award by Mr. Frank Austin Scott, as special messenger. He will
sail by the first German steamer, the Main, which leaves Bremen on
Saturday, the 26th instant.
I inclose also a translation of the award, and a copy and translation of
the note of Mr. Von Balan relating to it.
I congratulate you most heartily on this result, which is so greatly due
to your own wisdom and forethought: first, in selecting as arbitrator a
man of excellent judgment and an inflexible love of justice; next, in
having defined with the utmost precision the question for arbitration;
and lastly, in having brought together every document and book that
[Page 266]
could be of use in elucidating
and establishing the rights of the United States.
I have this day, as by order of the President, in the name of the people
of the United States expressed to His Majesty, the German Emperor, their
thanks for the great pains and attention which His Imperial Majesty has
devoted to the question submitted to him for adjudication. A copy of
this letter is also annexed.Thanks of President
expressed to Emperor.
I remain, &c.,
[Inclosure No. 1.]
Award of His Majesty the Emperor of
Germany on the San Juan boundary question.
Wir Wilhelm, von Gottes Gnaden, Deutscher Kaiser, König von Preus
sen, &c., &c., &c.
Nach Einsicht des zwischen den Regierungen Ihrer Britischen Majestät
und der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika geschlossenen Vertrages de
dato Washington den 6ten** Mai, 1871, Inhalts dessen die
gedachten Begierungen die unter ihnen streitige Frage: ob die
Grenzlinie, welche nach dem Vertrage de dato Washington den 15ten
Juni, 1846, nachdem sie gegen Westen längs des 49ten Grades
Nördlicher Breite bis zur Mitte des Kanals, welcher das Festland von
der Vancouver Insel trennt, gezogen worden, südlich durch die Mitte
des gedachten Kanals und der Fuca-Meerenge bis zum Stillen Ocean
gezogen werden soll, durch den Rosario-Kanal, wie die Regierung
Ihrer Britischen Majestät beansprucht, oder durch den Haro-Kanal,
wie die Begierung der Vereinigten Staaten beansprucht, zu ziehen
sei, Unserem Schiedsspruche unterbreitet haben, damit Wir endgültig
und ohne Berufung entscheiden, welcher dieser Ansprüche mit der
richtigen Auslegung des Vertrages vom 15ten Juni, 1846, am meisten
im Einklange stehe;
Nach Anhörung des Uns von den durch Uns berufenen Sachund
Rechtskundigen über den Inhalt der gewechselten Denkschriften und
deren Anlagen erstatteten Vortrages,
Haben den nachstehenden Schiedsspruch gefällt—
Mit der richtigen Auslegung des zwischen den Begierungen Ihrer
Britischen Majestät und der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika
geschlossenen Vertrages de dato Washington den 15ten Juni, 1846,
steht der Anspruch der Regierung der Vereinigten Staaten am meisten
im Einklange, dass die Grenzlinie zwischen den Gebieten Ihrer
Britischen Majestät und den Vereinigten Staaten durch den Haro-Kanal
gezogen: werde.
Urkundlich unter Unserer Höchsteigenhändigen Unterschrift und
beigedrucktem Kaiserlichen Insiegel.
Gegeben Berlin
den 21ten October,
1872.
[l.
s.]
WILHELM.
[Inclosure No. 2.]
We, William, by the grace of God, German Emperor, King of Prussia,
&c., &c., &c.
After examination of the treaty concluded at Washington on the 6th*
of May, 1871, between the Governments of Her Britannic Majesty and
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of the United States
of America, according to which the said Governments have submitted
to our arbitrament the question at issue between them, whether the
boundary-line which, according to the Treaty-of Washington of June
15, 1846, after being carried westward along the forty-ninth
parallel of northern latitude to the middle of the channel which
separates the continent from Vancouver’s Island is thence to be
drawn southerly through the middle of the said channel and of the
Fuca Straits to the Pacific Ocean, should be drawn through the
Rosario Channel as the Government of Her Britannic Majesty claims,
or through the Haro Channel as the Government of the United States
claims; to the end that we may finally and without appeal decide
which of these claims is most in accordance with the true
interpretation of the treaty of June 15, 1846.
After hearing the report made to us by the experts and jurists
summoned by us upon the contents of the interchanged memorials and
their appendices—
Have decreed the following award:
Most in accordance with the true interpretations of the treaty
concluded on the 15th of June, 1846, between the Governments of Her
Britannic Majesty and of the United States of America, is the claim
of the Government of the United States that the boundary-line
between the territories of Her Britannic Majesty and the United
States should be drawn through the Haro Channel.
Authenticated by our autographic signature and the impression of the
imperial great seal.
Given at Berlin,
October the
21st, 1872.
[
l.
s.]
WILLIAM.
[Inclosure No. 3.—Translation.]
Mr. Von Balan to Mr. Bancroft.
Berlin, October 23, 1872.
His Majesty the Emperor and King, having made the award in the
Arbitration referred to him by the Treaty of Washington, May 6, [8,]
1871, in the Boundary Dispute between the United States and Great
Britain, the undersigned has the honor to transmit herewith a copy
of this award with the remark that he sends to the Royal Embassador
of Great Britain at this Court a like copy.
At the same time the undersigned avails himself of this further
opportunity to renew to the Envoy of the United States, Mr.
Bancroft, the assurance of his most distinguished consideration.
[Inclosure No. 4.]
Mr. Bancroft to Mr. Von Balan.
American Legation, Berlin, October 24, 1872.
Mr. Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs: I have communicated to my Government
the Award of the Imperial Arbitrator, received last evening,
relating to the northwestern boundary of the United States of
America. In return the President of the United States has charged
me, in the name of the people of the United States, to express to
His Majesty the German Emperor their thanks for the great pains and
attention which His Imperial Majesty has devoted to the question
submitted to him for adjudication.
The definitive, friendly settlement of the difference has a peculiar
interest and importance. It is now exactly ninety years since the
King of Great Britain first formally recognized the existence of the
United States of America as an independent State, and
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from that time to the
present controversy regarding the boundaries of their respective
possessions in America has never ceased even for a single day.
During this period the two countries have been repeatedly on the
verge of war, growing out of their opposing claims to jurisdiction.
After an unrelenting strife of ninety years, the award of His
Majesty the Emperor of Germany closes the long and unintermitted,
and often very dangerous, series of disputes on the extent of their
respective territories, and so for the first time in their history
opens to the two countries the unobstructed way to agreement, good
understanding, and peace.
I gladly seize this occasion, &c.,
