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 LESTER BURRELL SHIPPEE

186

54 degrees 40 minutes had not been claimed. He asserted as 29 Such information, confidently that there would be no war. to express the of taken from was the State, Secretary coming sentiments of the Administration and could not

fail to

have

was undoubtedly fortunate for the Nevertheless effect. United States that the offer from Great Britain was sent as A new ministry was in office, with Lord Palmerston it was. it

of imperialistic tendencies as Foreign Secretary, when the treaty as ratified in the United States was received in London ;

would have been passing strange if such a ministry would not have held out for the demands first formulated by Canning had it seemed expedient to do so. As it was the treaty had been submitted to the Senate by the time England had received news of the outbreak of hostilities with Mexico. On June third Buchanan received McLane's letter forecasting the British offer. "If Mr. McLane is right in the character of the proposition which is to be made, it is certain that I cannot accept it, and it is a matter of doubt in my mind whether it

it

be such as

advice,"

I

ought

to

submit to the Senate for their previous President. 39 But he submitted the

commented the

Buchanan inclined to subletter to his Cabinet the next day. mitting the offer to the Senate, for, as he pointed out, if free navigation of the Columbia was only for the period of the existing charter of the Hudson's

the point

not be

also thought

Bancroft, should be submitted. vital.

Bay Company Marcy and Mason

would it

On June sixth the formal proposition from Pakenham was before the Cabinet where the discussion was largely over the proposed navigation concession. Buchanan had changed his mind and thought it doubtful whether the right would terminate in 1859 when the existing charter of the Company ex^Webster to Haven. 28 May. Speeches and Writings, XVI, 454- 'Nevertheonly two weeks before this Buchanan had urged Polk to allow him to send to the ministers of the United States in foreign countries along with the announcement of the war a statement that in going to war the object of the United States was not to dismember Mexico. When Polk refused Buchanan said "You will have war with England as well as Mexico and probably France, too, for neither of these powers will stand by and see California annexed to the United' States." less

Polk, Diary, I, .397-8. 30 Polk, Dutry, I, 444-8; 451-62 passim.