States agreed to urge upon the State governments to secure the same privileges for British subjects upon the various State canals as those enjoyed by Americas. The United States agreed that American citizens and British subjects should be treated alike in their use of the St. Clair Flats canal.[1] Article XXVIII provided for the opening of Lake Michigan to British subjects for a term of ten years after passage by Congress of the proper legislation. Congress did not and never has passed this legislation; consequently this article remains inoperative. Articles XXIX, XXX, and XXXIII provided for the reciprocal transit of goods in bond and for a slight modification of the coasting trade regulations. These articles terminated on July 1, 1885, on notice given by the United States.[2] Article XXXI specified that New Brunswick could levy no duty on lumber or timber cut on American territory “watered by the river St, John and its tributaries,” when floated down that river and destined for the United States.
The remaining articles, except the one on exchange of ratifications, pertained to the settlement of the San Juan boundary dispute. This was submitted to the Emperor of Germany for arbitration. The United States was fortunate in choosing for its representative the eminent historian and statesman, George Bancroft. The British representative was Admiral James C. Prevost, who, like Bancroft, had personally participated in the history of the controversy. Emperor William decided on the Haro Channel which gave San Juan and numerous other islands to the United States.[3]
In the number of issues involved, issues big with danger, and in the number of questions of long standing dispute put to rest, the Treaty of Washington ranks easily as one of the most important in American history. The enunciation of the principles of international law relating to the obligations of neutral states made the treaty take rank as one of the first in the world’s history. The treaty has in every war since 1871 influenced the
