No. 351.
Mr. Evarts to Sir Edward
Thornton.
Washington , February 5, 1881.
Sir: In correspondence heretofore exchanged between this Department and Her Majesty’s legation in this city, for some two years past, the question of the erratic movements of hostile Indian bands from one to the other side of the boundary line between the northwestern region and Her Majesty’s American possessions has been earnestly set forth, and the need of arriving at some distinct understanding whereby these predatory incursions alternating with a recourse to asylum north of the border might be ended, has been urged upon Her Majesty’s Government. I refer especially to my note to you of the 27th of May, 1879, in which I sufficiently stated the gravity of the position as it then existed, in view of the anticipated refuge of Sitting Bull and his band in British territory, and suggested the international obligations which such a contingency would involve.
[Page 578]The course of the operations of our troops on this frontier during the past autumn and present winter has been so far successful that many of the hostiles have accepted the terms offered them, and have been placed in a position to deprive them of the power of doing harm.
In these efforts I am pleased to be able to recognize the cheerful cooperation, in the direction of using their good offices within the limited range of their duty, of certain of Her Majesty’s officers on the northwestern border.
Notwithstanding this improvement in the posture of affairs, the frontier question is, as respects Sitting Bull himself and his immediate following, still pending, although apparently advancing to a solution. That chief, with a persistent remnant of his band, seems to be able to avoid surrender only by seeking asylum from time to time across the border, whence to renew, again and again, his evasive and futile parleys for submission.
Under these circumstances, it seems to this government that the time is come when the British Government, in the fulfillment of its obligations of neighborly comity and good will, should repel any new attempt on the part of Sitting Bull and his unsubmissive adherents to cross the border into British territory in evasion of pursuit, or should take such active and effective steps as will prevent his recrossing into the territory of the United States, and domicile him as a British Indian, under due restraint of surveillance and subjection. The importance and urgency of the adoption, at this time, of the measures now suggested to prevent the continuance of disorder and alarm on the frontier and restore security of life and property to the dwellers there cannot fail, I am confident, to be promptly recognized by Her Majesty’s Government.
I have, &c.,