and, indeed, imperative, that the
jurisdictional limits of the respective Governments in this new region
be speedily determined. Her Britannic Majesty's Government has proposed
a joint delimitation of the one hundred and forty-first meridian by an
international commission of experts, which, if Congress will authorize
it and make due provision therefor, can be accomplished with no
unreasonable delay. It is impossible to overlook the vital importance of
continuing the work already entered upon and supplementing it by further
effective measures looking to the exact location of this entire boundary
line.

I call attention to the unsatisfactory delimitation of the respective
jurisdictions of the United States and the Dominion of Canada in the
Great Lakes at the approaches to the narrow waters that connect them.
The waters in question are frequented by fishermen of both nationalities
and their nets are there used. Owing to the uncertainty and ignorance as
to the true boundary, vexatious disputes and injurious seizures of boats
and nets by Canadian cruisers often occur, while any positive settlement
thereof by an accepted standard is not easily to be reached. A joint
commission to determine the line in those quarters on a practical basis,
by measured courses following range marks on shore, is a necessity for
which immediate provision should be made.

It being apparent that the boundary dispute between Great Britain and
the Republic of Venezuela concerning the limits of British Guiana was
approaching an acute stage, a definite statement of the interest and
policy of the United States as regards the controversy seemed to be
required both on its own account and in view of its relations with the
friendly powers directly concerned. In July last, therefore, a dispatch
was addressed to our ambassador at London for communication to the
British Government in which the attitude of the United States was fully
and distinctly set forth. The general conclusions therein reached and
formulated are in substance that the traditional and established policy
of this Government is firmly opposed to a forcible increase by any
European power of its territorial possessions on this continent; that
this policy is as well founded in principle as it is strongly supported
by numerous precedents; that as a consequence the United States is bound
to protest against the enlargement of the area of British Guiana in
derogation of the rights and against the will