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LESTER BURRELL SHIPPEE
power of England, as a similar step on her part would put out of the power of the United States, to compromise on "I attach," added Everett, "the greater imany terms." these remarks because Lord Ashburton had lately to portance conferred with Lord Aberdeen on the subject." 32 To Aberdeen the Inaugural did present the appearance of "defiance and menace," for immediately upon receipt of a copy of it he prepared new instructions for Pakenham, and detained the American mail a day in order that they might 33 Said he, the be received at the earliest possible moment. on a serious character our actual "has impressed very speech relations with the United States; and the manner in which
it
(the President) has referred to the Oregon question, so different from the language of his predecessor, leaves little reason to hope for any favorable result of the existing negotiaIf the renewed offer of arbitration should be rejected tion."
on the grounds taken by President Tyler, i. e., that further discussion was desired, then the negotiation was to be considered as continuing; if, however, the offer was rejected and not accompanied by any specific proposition, the negotiation must be considered ended. In that case Pakenham was to offer to renew for ten years the terms of the convention of The 1818, a poor solution, but perhaps better than none.
language of the President led Aberdeen to conclude that the American government would renounce the treaty without delay, in which case local collisions would be likely to occur leading not improbably to war. "At all events, whatever may be the course of the United States Government, the time is come when we must be prepared for every contingency." The naval force in the Pacific had been ordered to go to
Oregon. Pakenham was told to "hold a temperate, but firm, language to the members of the Government and all others, and let it be known that the British Government was still ready to adhere 'to the principle of an equitable compromise; but we are perfectly determined to concede nothing to force 32 Everett to Calhoun, (received by Buchanan) 7 Mar., No. West 33 Btrlin Arb., 426. Cong. 3d Ses. Ex. Doc. I, pt. 6, 223.
Bound Arb.
