§ VISCOUNT MILTONsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, What was the result of the original occupation of the Island of San Juan by General Scott or by Officers under his order in or about the year 1249 18; whether there is any objection to give the whole of the Correspondence which passed between the British Embassy in America and the English Government, with the various Enclosures relating thereto, referring to the occupation of the Island of San Juan; why the question of the Water Boundary was included in the last Correspondence (of which a Return was made to the House) with the question of the Extradition Treaties; the Alabama Claims; and the subject of Naturalization; whether the Government is aware that evidence exists and is in the possession of Government, by which it appears that the Islands of San Juan, Orcas, &c, have been acknowledged by the American Government to be part of the British possessions in those regions; what has been the expense to which the English Government has been put by the joint occupation with America of the Island of San Juan; and, why the Correspondence respecting the Island of San Juan, presented to both Houses of Parliament in 1860, was so short and selected?
MR. OTWAYSir, the series of Questions of the noble Lord refer to a matter upon which for many years past there have been differences of opinion between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States. During last November a Protocol was signed by Lord Stanley and Mr. Reverdy Johnson, by which it was agreed to refer the question to the arbitration of the President of the Swiss Confederation. That Protocol was converted into a Convention and signed by Lord Clarendon on the 14th of January, and this Convention was submitted to the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Senate of the United States, and has been recommended by them for ratification. But the consideration of the matter is deferred until the meeting of Congress in December next. Her Majesty's Government desire and hope that this question and all questions in controversy between this Government and that of the United States may be settled on a fair and equitable basis, and in a manner honourable to both countries. Under these circumstances I hope the noble Lord and the House will excuse me if I refrain from replying to the points which are in controversy between the two nations. But with regard to other parts of the question I would simply say, that I 1250 presume the Government of 1860 submitted to Parliament those Papers which they thought proper to communicate; and although we believe we are in possession of full information, we shall be happy to receive any special information j with respect to the British claims and the line of boundary of which the noble Lord may be in possession. As to the expense to the Government of this country of the joint occupation of San Juan we are unable to state the amount, but it is utterly insignificant in comparison with the advantage derived from avoiding collisions, which would inevitably have taken place if it had not been for the arrangement made by General Scott that the Island of San Juan should continue in the joint possession of a like number of British Royal Marines and troops of the United States. I do not think it would be desirable at present to lay the Correspondence on the table.