e
could not come to an agreement upon it,--the British Government
claiming that it should be run through the Rosario Straits, and the
Government of the United States that it should be run through the Canal
de Haro. If the line should be run by the Rosario Straits the Island
of San Juan belonged to Great Britain; if by the Canal de Haro the
island belonged to the United States and formed part of Washington
Territory. It was now agreed in the Treaty of Washington that the
question should be left to the Emperor of Germany, who was "authorized
to decide finally and without appeal which of these claims is most in
accordance with the true interpretation of the treaty of June 15,
1846." The question thus submitted to his Imperial Majesty was purely
a geographical one. Its decision either way could scarcely wound the
susceptibilities of either party, however it might affect National
interests. It also relieved the august arbitrator from the
consideration of all the political prejudices and pretensions which
had marked the long line of boundary discussions between the two
countries, and the jealousies and misunderstandings between the two
countries, and the jealousies and misunderstandings which had proved so
troublesome during the period of joint occupation of the Oregon
territory. The Emperor referred the detailed examination of the
subject to a Commission of eminent experts both in law and science, and
in accordance with their report decided in favor of the claim of the
United States that the line should be run through the Canal de Haro.

The Government of the United States was fortunate in having its rights
and interests represented before the Umpire by its Minister at Berlin,
the Honorable George Bancroft. He was a member of President Polk's
Cabinet during the period of the discussion and completion of the
treaty of 1846, and was Minister at London when the San Juan dispute
began. With his prolonged experience in historical investigation, Mr.
Bancroft had readily mastered every detail of the question, and was
thus enabled to present it in the strongest and most favorable light.
His success fitly crowned an official career of great usefulness and
honor. His memorial to the Emperor of Germany, when he presented the
case, was conceived in his happiest style. The opening words were
felicitous and touching: "The treaty of which the interpretation is
referred to Your Majesty's arbitrament was ratified more than a
quart