The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-08
NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.

a correspondent of the Record Union,
whose communication appeared yester-
day, expressed good deal of fear that
American rights are being forfeited in the
matter of the Alaskan boundary dispute,
because, while the authorities are srrang-
ing settlement, the British are occupying
territory claimed by the United States.
Our correspondent thinks the American
Government is sleeping in this matter.
If our correspondent ia correct in his
assertion that pending the settlement of
the boundary dispute Canadians are
planting their possessions on our side of
the line aud building forts on the disputed
strip. we do not even then understand
how we can lose any right that in the set
Element may be decreed TO be ours. If
these possessions are found to be on the
wrong side of the line as finally agreed
upon, ali that will happen will be the re-
moxal of the occupants, unless they
choose to remain and become American
citizens. OF course, if they should resist
American authority, that would be SIM
ply case necessitating the employment
Of force. There need be no apprehension
that the two nations are going to war.
over this Alaskan strip. Therefore what
ever rights are established as ours we
Will be possessed of in due time. There
is nothing then to become nervous over.
Prior to our requirement Of Russian
America there Wac an established line
/ between Russian America and British
/ America. The treaty of 1925 between
Russia and England recognized that
! boundary, and no question OF dispute
arose concerning it until 1887, when the
discovery of gold mines on the Yukon
/ led to some contention as to the jurisdic-
ton of American and Dominion authori-
! ties. The latter then and since announced
! that the old maps and the treaty failed to
| properly describe the courses of the true
/ boundary. But inasmuch as the bound
ary was first named in the treaty, and
! prior to that had no existence of record,
! could claim that it was incorrectly de-
fined. The Russian and the English
! Commissioners must have known what
/ they were about in 1925. and have ex-
pressed in the treaty precisely what they
! intended.
| From all that We can ascertain concern
/ ing the matter the Yukon River miners
| raised the question as to the true courses
/ of the line being laid upon the official
maps, because of the acts of jurisdiction
over them by Dominion authorities. This
/ led TO examination of the calls of the
! treaty. When that was done different
/ interpretations were given to the bound
/ ary definitions in the document, and
| hence the necessity for the survey. and
now tor a commission to settle the mat
excite alarm, or to cause any one uneasi-
ness regarding the loss of any rights We
/ have in the premises. But there does
anpear to have been delay by our Coast
! Survey parties IN running lines and re-
norting 10 our Government. while the
/ British survey expedition has pushed lis
work very diligently and has reported.
ENGLAND undoubtedly desires to obtain
/ foot,ng for a naval station inside the
chain of islands along the Alaskan Gulf,
ond If tho true line according TO the calls
of the treaty gives it to her We will have
no reason To complain.