Wodehouse to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)
27 June 1860
I am directed by Lord John Russell to transmit to you, for the information of The Duke of Newcastle, Copies of Despatches and their Inclosures from Her Majesty's Minister at Washington relative to the question of the claims of the Hudson's Bay Company in Oregon, and respecting some recent proceedings of General Harney in reference to San Juan.
I am etc.
Wodehouse
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Elliot
Two subjects are dealt with in these Papers— 1st General Harney's extraordinary recent conduct in the San Juan affair, and 2ly The claims of the H.B.Co in Oregon.
With respect to the first topic—which thus far is satisfactorily disposed of by the Govt of the U. States—we shall now have the means of ansg Governor Douglas despatch which arrived a few days ago. But I presume that despatch will still be communicated to the For: Office, and perhaps with an enquiry how much or how little of these Papers Lord J. Russell wd wish that we should convey to the Govr.
2. The Hudson's Bay claims in Oregon is a matter which is arranged exclusively by the For. Office & the information imparted to us in this correspondence is merely sent to keep this Office apprized of the state of the case.
ABd 28/6
Put by?
TFE 29 June
CF July 2
N 4
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Lyons, British Minister at Washington, to Russell, 7 June 1860, forwarding copy of a letter from General Cass relative to recent aggressive acts by U.S. military authorities on Hudson's Bay Company property in Oregon.
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Cass to Lyons, 7 June 1860, advising that orders had been sent to the military commander in Oregon to prevent further interference with the company's servants, and that compensation would be made for any losses sustained.
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Lyons to Russell, 7 June 1860, forwarding copies of correspondence relative to the orders issued by General Harney to Captain Pickett, commander of the U.S. forces on San Juan.
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Pickett to Captain George Bazalgette, Royal Marines, 30 April 1860, advising that he had taken over the command of the U.S. forces from Captain Hunt and enclosing an extract from his letter of instructions.
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Extract, A. Pleasonton, Acting Assistant Adjutant General, to Pickett, 10 April 1860, instructing him to recognize the civil jurisdiction of Washington Territory over San Juan.
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Lyons to Cass, 6 June 1860, forwarding copy of the orders issued to Pickett and pointing out their inconsistency with the language and terms of the arrangement made with General Scott.
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Lyons to Russell, 8 June 1860, forwarding copy of Cass's response to his letter of 6 June.
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Cass to Lyons, 8 June 1860, reporting the president's "surprise and regret" at the tenor of the orders and advising that they would be revoked, and that General Harney had been recalled and ordered to report at Washington.
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Lyons to Russell, 9 June 1860, forwarding copy of his response to Cass.
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Lyons to Cass, 9 June 1860, expressing satisfaction with Cass's letter of 8 June and advising that he had communicated the substance of it by telegram to Rear Admiral Baynes.
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Lyons to Russell, 9 June 1860, forwarding copy of a letter to Cass relative to settlement of the Hudson's Bay Company's claims in Oregon, and reporting his conversation with Cass on the subject.
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Lyons to Cass, 8 June 1860, acknowledging his letter of 7 June and expressing his eagerness to get on with the negotiations for the amicable settlement of the company's claims.