Colonial Despatches

Mr Merivale
See your Reservations on 859/60.

Mr Fortescue
See 859. With all respect for Gen. Cass, the first part of his despatch seems "logomachy" only. Of course what Ld JR meant was, not that we would never cede S. Juan if the Amn right to it was established, but that we would never make the cession of San Juan any part of a compromise. All that we seem to have to do in the matter is to point out to the For. Office that this was the sense in which we understood his Lordship, and that by his Lordship's declaration, so understood, we think the British Government ought to abide?

The observation about the comparatively minor importance of San Juan in consequence of the deep water of the channel is not without its weight, but it comes from the enemy.

I confess I think the U.S. Govt has some reason to object to Lord J.R.'s language in entering upon this negociation.

Ld J.R.'s meaning (desp. of Augt/59) was that the offer of compromise was made, as the Lawyers say, "without prejudice"—that, if rejected, we should revert to our claim of all the Islands—and that we should never cede S. Juan by compromise. Answer as proposed.

Lewis Cass to G.M. Dallas, 4 February 1860, discussing the current state of the San Juan negotiations and objecting to certain of Russell's assertions.

Draft, Merivale to Hammond, 12 March 1860, suggesting that government should adhere to Russell's declaration.