§ Sir R. Peelwished to be informed what was the precise position with the United States of America in reference to the question of the North-Eastern boundary? A report by two commissioners had recently been published; they had been appointed 760 by this country to examine the boundary between the State of Maine and the possessions of Great Britain. On the publication of that document, had any steps been taken by the two governments in concert for the purpose of bringing that long litigated question to an end?
§ Viscount Palmerstonreplied, that the present situation of affairs was this: Great Britain had first proposed a draft of a convention for the appointment of a commission to settle the boundary. That draft had not been accepted by the United States and a counter draft was sent over by that government. It was not one to which Ministers in this country could accede, and in the early part of last year they made another proposal. They thought that it would have been agreed to by the American cabinet; but that cabinet had despatched to Great Britain another proposition, which had not received assent on this side of the water. The survey on which a report had been made, had taken place independently of the pending negotiation, in order to save time and to secure as much information as possible relative to the geographical interests of Great Britain. Of course what had been done was only on the ex parte statement of the British commissioners, and could not be binding (nor was it, of course meant to be so) upon the other party. The United States had also sent commissioners of their own to inquire, in the latter part of last summer, but he believed they had not made any material progress.
§ Sir R. Peelhad referred to the report of Colonel Mudge and Mr. Fetherstonhaugh, which had been made without concert with the government of the United States, and by the recommendations of which they were of course in no way bound. He wished to know whether there had been no joint commission —no proceeding in concert between the two governments in order to bring the question to adjustment. All that had been done seemed to be, that certain proposals had been made on both sides which had been reciprocally rejected.
§ Viscount Palmerstonsaid, that such was not precisely the case. The two governments had agreed to appoint a commission, but they had not agreed to the details of the arrangement. Colonel Mudge and Mr. Fetherstonhaugh had been employed by the British government alone, 761 but the American government had been informed of the intention to send them.
§ Sir R. Peelinquired if the American government had agreed to the appointment of a commission which should have the power of deciding the matter at issue?
§ Viscount Palmerstonreplied, that at first a commission of one kind had been proposed by the United States, and the British Government had agreed to a modification of the arrangement. The United States had then proposed a commission of a different kind, to be connected with an arrangement for arbitration in case of difference. The first commission proposed was not connected with any arrangement for arbitration, but merely to collect information. Great Britain had agreed to that, but the government of the United States changed its mind: and thought that the course events had taken, made it desirable that the commission should be one coupled with an arrangement for arbitration. To that Great Britain had also agreed, and so far the two governments were in accordance. He could not enter into the particular points upon which the two governments had not yet agreed; but he might say, that the difference was not one of principle, but merely as to the mode in which the principle was to be carried out.