218 ANDREW FISH
Russell definitely authorized Lord Lvooa to negotiate on this
basis. The central channel would fit the language of the treaty, and it would be a useful compromise as to the islands, leaving only one important island to Great Britain San Juan This offer was made in a spirit of accommodation it was pointed out; the British government would not acknowledge that its claim to the Rosario straits was not valid.
The offer was refused and the commission, having done what it could, and being still unable to agree on interpreta- tion, adjourned proceedings in 1867. The Civil War had intervened and San Juan had been pushed into the background by considerations of much greater moment. Much more serious differences had arisen between the two governments that over the "Alabama" being the most thorny. Other sub- jects of dispute were naturalization, fisheries, and reciprocity with Canada. A convention was signed on January 14, 1869, by Mr. Reverdy Johnson and Lord Clarendon by which it was agreed to submit the case to the arbitration of the Presi- dent of Switzerland. However, in 1871, the matter was still unsettled and among other questions was submitted to the Joint High Commission between the United States and Great Britain. Again the old offers were made, again without suc- cess. Britain then proposed arbitration. The United States agreed to this if the arbitrator was to be instructed to deter- mine whether the boundary should go through the Rosario or Haro straits, and refused to accept the proposal that he should have the right to compromise on some other channel. The acceptance of this limitation was a distinct diplomatic victory for the United States and was probably decisive in getting a favorable award later. The German Emperor, fresh from thrilling scenes in Paris, was chosen arbitrator. He was to determine "finally and without appeal which of those claims is most in accordance with the true interpretation of the Treaty of June 15, 1846." Fortunately for the United States her representative at Berlin was pre-eminently fitted to conduct
