New-York tribune., 1895-10-31
ENGLAND AFTER GOLD.
THE ALASKAN AND VENEZUELAN BoUN-
DAIRY DISPUTES
SoxE STRIKING POINTS OF SIMILARITY BErwEEl
THEM-THE MOTIVE OF GREAT BRITAIN
THE SAME IN EACH CASE

soxE STRIKING POINTS OF SIMILARITY BETWEEN
rHEM-rHE MOTIVE OF GREAT BRITAIN
THE SAME IN EACH CASE
Washington, Oct 3o.-The points Of similarity
between the Alaskan and Venezuelan boundary
disputes are so marked a to indicate strong
probability that both will have to be settled In
the same manner either by arbitration or by Great
Britain In each instance usurping valuable terri
tories to which the titles were indisputaby con-
Gdered American until recently. It IL significant
In both cases that the discovery OF gold has been
the immediate cause OF Englands extending her
claims. and that in North as we'll as in South
America the contention Is based a north and
south line instead OF one parallel to the equator
neridians OF longitude always being unsatisfactory
ARTIFICIAL boundaries account OF the extreme
difficulty OF fixing them with any degree OF salts
faction In ancient times.
In Alaska. as we'll as Venezuela, the British
policy has been that Of delay in specifically adopt;
ing territorial limits. IN order to as much
time a. possible for encroachments by her
advancing colonization methods. In Alaska the
United States secured from Russia by the treaty
OF 1857 in consideration OF T.9Oo0o0 in gold.
definite amount " territory as geographical
science In 1926 was able to specify. In 1895 Russia
and Great Britain ratified boundary treaty. fixing
the geographical limits OF Alaska and the North
west Canadian territory. at that time practically
urexpiored BY It's terms the dividing line began
the FS SeeTs.. Of fnss Ge Ss1s
@ two who:e % degrees gre Of longitude being due to the
s ssc: .eend saas TS aas
much practical nicely as Is oStansele , ,s to-day
Portland channel along which sscs It asSended north
s M Ai OF .ns ns them se
NIT Of mountains parallel TO the coast as far "a. as
sSs Ss
1t was undoubtedly the idea OF the Riseians IN
nSrtheTy '"s on the the Continent Which would cons
tuta 4 definite natural boundary to their posses.
drained into the Pacific ocean or sli the country
unexplored mountain chain,
Another clause OF the treaty between Russia
ever the summit Of the mountains parallel TO the
from IS north TO the snsss, a: ~ %ss
from the ocean. the limit between British pos
the winding Of the coast, which shall never ex,,
This is the characteristicaly British clause of the
convention on which all the succeeding troubles
The word continent. in the first clause threw
out the possibility Of Englands ever successfully
westward to the islsnds' which abound along
s: S Of Bss nss pSS
peg on which to support the British pre;ensons
Of the nord. Of Alaska extend 50 far inland
mineral lands. to which. until recently. the Cana
dians have made no pretens.ons OF possession In
into these fords, dispute arises as 10 where the
river ends and the aOrd begins in order TO estab,
hsh the coast line from which the ten-league line
is to be struck The British plan locates the river
mouth as far westward possible, especially in
the neghborhood OF Chilkat Pass. where paying
gold fields have been discovered, and here there is
a disposition the part of Great Britain to con-
tend that the coast line is really at the mouth OF
the ford. or. in other words that the ford does
not constitute the coast line
The United States has made repeated efforts in
the past TO fix the artificial boXdary bYfore land
was considered 10 have any particular value but
that gold discoveries have arisen to complica e
the negotiations the prospect for securing a favor
able adjustment with Great Britain becomes much
moro remote.