Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Hammond, Edmund to Merivale, Herman 31 August 1854, CO 305:5, no. 7690, 167.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (2).
Hammond writes to Merivale to transmit a copy of Crampton’s despatch, which reports the US Senate’s refusal to pass a boundary-settlement clause,
in an appropriation bill, which would allow the US President to work with the British
government to settle the boundary dispute in the San Juan Islands.
The minutes agree to withhold Crampton’s news from Douglas and the HBC, and ask that Douglas continue to
treat the Islands in the Canal de Arro as part of the British Dominions.
The first of the three documents included in the file is a draft reply from the Colonial Office to Hammond, which forwards a letter that approves of Douglas’s response to the boundary dispute; the second is a draft reply from Grey to Douglas, which approves of Douglas’s response to the boundary dispute; the third is a letter from Crampton to Clarendon, which reports the US Senate’s refusal to pass the aforementioned boundary-settlement
clause.
Hammond to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)
With reference to my Letter of the 5th Instant I am directed by
the Earl of Clarendon to transmit to you, for the information of
Secretary Sir George Grey, a copy of a despatch from Mr
Crampton, Her Majesty's Minister at Washington,stating
stating that the
clause which had been inserted in the General Appropriation
bill, empowering the President to make the necessary
arrangements for proceeding, in concert with Her Majesty's
Government, to lay down the Boundary between Vancouver's Island
and the United States, was objected to by the Senateand
and has
been expunged from the Bill.
stating that the
clause which had been inserted in the General Appropriation
bill, empowering the President to make the necessary
arrangements for proceeding, in concert with Her Majesty's
Government, to lay down the Boundary between Vancouver's Island
and the United States, was objected to by the Senateand
and has
been expunged from the Bill.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
As the Governor of VanCouver's Island & the Company have not yet been apprized by us of the intentions of the British and American Govts to take measures for establishing the Boundary in the Canal de Arro, it will naturally follow that we say nothing of this abortive attempt of the American Govt, in the Senate. I apprehend that this must be put by.
As the Governor of VanCouver's Island & the Company have not yet been apprized by us of the intentions of the British and American Govts to take measures for establishing the Boundary in the Canal de Arro, it will naturally follow that we say nothing of this abortive attempt of the American Govt, in the Senate. I apprehend that this must be put by.
ABd
1 Sepr
The drafts referred to had better be cancelled. But the Govrs
Despatches should be acknowledged, and if the F.O. see no
objection, I would approve of his proceedings, and Authorize him
to continue to treat the Islands in the Canal de Arro as part of
the British Dominions. [Marginal addition: See Govr 6359.]
The draft might be sent to the F.O. with reference to their
letter of 19 Augt.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to Hammond, 11 September 1854, forwarding
the draft to Douglas below, approving his actions, for consideration.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
John F. Crampton to Lord Clarendon, 13 August 1854,
reporting the U.S. Senate's refusal to pass the boundary settlement clause in the
appropriation bill.