LESTER BURRELL SHIPPEE
52
offer as a basis for compromise, or, if that could not be done, how a new proposition from the British side would be received. 43
sidered
Finally he submitted to Buchanan a note to be conor not according to the answer it would re-
offijcial
44
Polk insisted that Pakenham must name the charand then an answer would be made; he repeated a statement which he had already made to his official family, that if a British proposition should be made he would, according to its nature, submit it to the Senate for previous advice or reject it at once, but he was convinced that no satWith great reluctance isfactory proposal could be made. Buchanan left the President's office, found Pakenham and asked him to state whether the note was official or not, adding that it could hardly be expected that the United States would abandon the position already taken. Then Pakenham withdrew his note. "I think it unfortunate," Polk wrote in his Diary, "that he (Buchanan) made any remark to Mr. Pakenceive.
acter of his note
ham
that indicated to
him what
think that Mr. Pakenham's note
my &
settled decision was, as I
answer should have been
official."
The relation between the Oregon and California situations was already beginning to show itself during this time when Pakenham was finding it difficult to struggle out of the deadInformation that the Hudson's Bay Comlocked position. in the south began to reach Washington. work was at pany The United
States Consul at Monterey reported that it apand money had been furnished by an agent arms that peared of the Company to the Californians to aid them in driving out it was the same Company which an backed of Mexican expedition financially troops to be sent north to quell the disturbances. It looked threatening, and the
the Mexicans, although later
43 When Me Lane's letter was received the Cabinet discussed it at length, and Buchanan again urged Polk to allow some intimation that the United States was willing to negotiate further; Polk stuck to his position and said that Great Britain must take the next step, although he was sure no acceptable offer would Buchanan to McLane, 13 Sept., Sen. Doc. No. be made. Polk, Diary, I, 62-4. 489.
The 44 Buchanan to McLane. 28 Oct., Works of Buchanan, VI, 285-6. Cabinet discussioni is given at length by Polk, Diary, I, 62-82, passim. Buchanan McLane, 5 Nov., Sen. Doc. No. 489.
to
