204 ANDREW FISH
bell before acting. (He had not done so.) It should be made clear to the British authorities that the action was not an attempt to pre- judge the question of sovereignty.
It was decided that Lieutenant-General Winfield Scott, Commander-in-Chief, be sent "to assume the immediate com- mand, if necessary, of the United States forces on the Pacific Coast." This act in itself showed that the issues involved were very important ; also that the government was not satis- fied that Harney was equal to the occasion. The attitude of Washington was correct in every particular, and the instruc- tions given Scott show a wide difference between the view of Harney and that of the President. Much, of course, must be left to the discretion of Scott as he would have much fuller knowledge when on the spot than the government could possibly have.
I "His (the President's) main object is to preserve the I peace and prevent collision between the British and Amer-
- ican authorities on the island until the question of title
can be adjusted by the two governments . . . The President perceives no objection to the plan proposed by Captain Hornby, of her Majesty's ship "Tribune," to Captain Pickett; it being understood that Captain Pick- ett's company shall remain on the island to resist, if need be, the incursions of northern Indians on our frontier set- tlements, and to afford protection to American residents thereon." 36 (It will be recalled that Hornby's proposal was to institute a joint military occupation. This had been refused by Harney.)
If hostilities should have broken out before Scott arrived? "In that event, it would still be your duty, if this can, in your opinion, be honorably done, under the surround- ing circumstances, to establish a temporary joint occupa- tion of the island, giving to neither party any advantage over the other. It would be a shocking event if the two nations should be precipitated into a war respecting the possession of a small island, and that only for the brief period during which the two governments may be peace- fully employed in settling the question to which of them the island belongs."
..' r i? ~ r T <
36 Ibid, p. 27.
