John Baird: Canada's freedom agenda - Diplomat Magazine

More documents

Recommendations

Info

DELIGHTS|canadianaThe big Pig WarBy Laura Neilson BonikowskyBellevue Sheep Farm’s “Home Prairie” establishment on San Juan Island was a gathering place for British and Americans alike in the1850s. An artist’s depiction shows a San Juan Island camp in its heyday in September 1859, at the height of the Pig War crisis.The boundary between Canada andthe United States was a matter ofdispute between 1783 and 1872,when the issue was arbitrated by GermanEmperor Wilhelm I. The last portionof the boundary had been ambiguouslydetermined by the Oregon Treaty of 1846,which extended the 49th parallel “to themiddle of the channel which separates thecontinent from Vancouver’s Island, andthence southerly through the middle ofsaid channel, and of Fuca’s Straits, to thePacific Ocean.”However, the “middle of the channel”could have applied either to RosarioStrait, to the east of San Juan, Orcas andLopez islands, or to Haro Strait, to thewest of the islands. San Juan Island, whichwas claimed by both Britain and the U.S.,was a strategic military position; the countrythat owned the islands would dominatethe waterways connecting the Strait66of Juan de Fuca with the Strait of Georgia.The Hudson’s Bay Company hadclaimed San Juan Island in 1845 and establishedsalmon curing stations alongthe western shoreline by 1851. In 1853,the U.S. claimed the three islands aspart of the new Washington Territory. Inresponse, the Hudson’s Bay Companyestablished Bellevue Sheep Farm in December1853. In only six years, it grewfrom 1,369 sheep to more than 4,500 onstations across the island. A boundarycommission established in 1856 failed toresolve the issue satisfactorily for bothsides. By the spring of 1859, Americantroops had been stationed on the islandand 18 Americans had staked claims onprime sheep-grazing land. The British consideredthem squatters and their claimsillegal.On June 15, 1859, the tense situation exploded.An American farmer, Lyman Cutlar,found a big pig rooting in his garden,eating his potatoes. Cutler shot and killedthe pig, which was owned by CharlesGriffin, who ran Bellevue Farm. Cutlaroffered Griffin $10 in compensation, butGriffin wanted $100. Cutlar argued thathe shouldn’t have to pay for the pig at allbecause it had trespassed on his property.When British authorities threatened toarrest Cutlar and evict his countrymen,American settlers demanded militaryprotection from Brigadier-General WilliamHarney, in command of the Departmentof Oregon. The anti-British Harney dispatched64 soldiers to San Juan Island toprevent British ships from landing. JamesDouglas, governor of Vancouver Island,concerned that American squatters wouldoccupy the island if not kept in check, sentthree warships and ordered Rear AdmiralRobert Baynes to land marines on theisland and engage the Americans. BaynesWINTER 2012 | JAN-FEB-MAR
canadiana|DELIGHTSOffering ExclusiveRates For <strong>Diplomat</strong>s-This map shows the final boundary betweenCanada and the U.S. at Haro Strait.declined, citing the foolishness of involving“two great nations in a war over asquabble about a pig.”By the end of August, there were 461American troops in place with 14 fieldguns and eight 32-pounder naval gunsopposing five British warships carrying 52guns. The Americans dug in and the Britishfired practice shots into the bluffs alongGriffin Bay. Commanding officers wereordered not to fire the first shot, but todefend themselves if necessary, instigatinga battle of taunts and insults as each sidetried to goad the other into aggression. Itwas amusing for tourists arriving on excursionboats from Victoria and the officersfrom both sides who shared whisky andcigars at Charles Griffin’s home.When news of the situation reachedWashington and London, shocked officialsset about defusing it. President JamesBuchanan sent General Winfield Scott tonegotiate with Governor Douglas. Theyreached a settlement in November, agreeingto reduce their presence to no morethan 100 men on each side, with the Britishcamp established at the north end ofthe island and the American camp at thesouth. The two camps had an amicablerelationship for 12 years until the matterwas turned over to Kaiser Wilhem I. Hereferred it to a committee of three thatmet in Geneva for most of a year beforedeciding in favour of the United States onOctober 21, 1872, establishing the marineboundary through Haro Strait.Laura Neilson Bonikowsky is the associateeditor of The Canadian Encyclopedia.At Accu-Rate Corporation ourteam of highly experienced currencytraders and foreign banking partnersallow us to negotiate currency priceslower than any other currency dealeror commercial institution.Accu-RateCorporationForeign Exchange & International Payment Serviceswww.accu-rate.casayso longto browfurrowsandcrowsfeet‘just for you’Accu-Rate Corporation2573 Carling Ave.(613) 596-5505For your personalconsultation please call:Marie BoivinManaging Director613-596-5505 ext. 101marie@accu-rate.caWorld Exchange Plaza111 Albert St.(613) 238-8454BOTOXDavid JordanMedicine Professional CorporationM.D., F.A.C.S., F.R.C.S.(C)613-563-3800301 O’Connor, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1V6®diplomat and international canada 67
Page 4 and 5:
THE FIVE DIAMONDGOURMET EXPERIENCER
Page 6:
The projectthe worldis watchingBoun
Page 9 and 10:
The World in CanadaPUBLISHERDonna J
Page 14:
DIPLOMATICA|verbatim“Reconstructi
Page 17 and 18: DEBATE|DIPLOMATICAThis is definitel
Page 19 and 20: Foreign Affairs|DIPLOMATICAF. de La
Page 21 and 22: QUESTIONS Asked|DIPLOMATICAwhich we
Page 23 and 24: QUESTIONS Asked|DIPLOMATICAand rape
Page 25 and 26: NOTES FROM THE FIELD|DIPLOMATICA$25
Page 27 and 28: good deeds|DIPLOMATICAPlaying defen
Page 29 and 30: diplomatic agenda|DIPLOMATICACanada
Page 31 and 32: TRADE WINDS|DIPLOMATICATanzania: tr
Page 34: Di spatches|Canada-U.S. relationsA
Page 37 and 38: FOREIGN AFFAIRS|Di spatchesJohn Bai
Page 39 and 40: FOREIGN AFFAIRS|Di spatchesThe UN i
Page 42 and 43: Di spatches|FOREIGN AFFAIRSNATOLiby
Page 44 and 45: Di spatches|FOREIGN AFFAIRSOn the p
Page 46 and 47: Di spatches|The NEW FLEETCourtesy C
Page 48 and 49: Di spatches|MICROSTATESMonaco, pict
Page 50 and 51: Arctic CircleDi spatches|MICROSTATE
Page 56 and 57: ctic CircleDi spatches|MICROSTATESB
Page 58 and 59: Di spatches|MICROSTATESSince indepe
Page 60 and 61: Di spatches|refugeesDabaab’s dile
Page 62 and 63: DELIGHTS|BOOKSHow Anglo-American di
Page 64 and 65: DELIGHTS|BOOKSJohn Graves Simcoe ou
Page 66 and 67: Library and Archives Canada, Raymon
Page 70 and 71: DELIGHTS|ENTERTAININGCrêpes morph
Page 72 and 73: DELIGHTS|WINEPinot Noir: From Burgu
Page 74 and 75: DELIGHTS|residencesall photos Dyann
Page 76 and 77: DELIGHTS|residencesall photos Dyann
Page 78: DELIGHTS|envoy’s album1.2.3.1. Cu
Page 81 and 82: National days|delightsCelebration t
Page 84: diplomatic contactsAFGHANISTANEmbas
Page 87 and 88: SENEGALHis. Ex. Amadou Tidiane Wone
Page 89 and 90: THE VOLVO DIPLOMAT PROGRAMINTRODUCI
Page 91 and 92: destinations|DELIGHTSand to wait fo
Page 93: destinations|DELIGHTSindividual far
Page 96: Look cLoserYou’re not seeingthe w
show all

John Baird: Canada's freedom agenda - Diplomat Magazine

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?