The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1895-12-26

privilege the United States Ind obtained
tpy TINS convention Of 1874. also presented
her case to the Russian government with
2, view to forming a treaty similar TO
that just negotiated by the United States.
consequently the next year, in 1875. ne.
EQUATIONS were entered into by a conven-
!ion called the convention of February.
$50, which met at st. Petersburg. Eng.
Land was represented by the Right Hon
stratford Canning, while Russia's repre-.
sentatives We're Count de Nesselrode and
Pierre de Poletica. This convention II
Was that settled, or was supposed 10 havp
settled, the boundary of Alaska, for the
portion OF this convention which described
the boundary was copied word for word
IN the treaty. by which Russia coded
Alaska 10 the United States in 1857.
A COMMERCIAL AGREEMENT.
The whole trouble seems to arise from
the fact that this convention vt St Pc
torsburg between Russia aud Great Bril-
ain WIS formed for the diplomatic pur.
poses of England in behalf of her Hudson
Say company, and those of Russia in
behalf of her Russian-American com.
pany. At the time the matters of the
most moment We're the interests of Eng.
land and Russia in the trade and fish
cries. The main objects of the mission
of the diplomats We're: first, trade ana
resources and incidentally the boundary
Nancouvers business was to make a
map pt the coast, 80 that what he did Of
the archipelago, though accurate us far
us IL goes, was very Incomplete. Cen
/ erdi X. II. Cameron of British Columbia.
who examined the treaty for his govern.
ment, las rendered the opinion that the
! BRUSH line should 20 directly nortn from
! the southernmust point, and he says:
! 1t is obvious that you can't proceed
north from the southcrnmo,t poiut' md
60 up the Portland channel. 20 stated in
the rnird and fourth articles of the coli-
vtntion. The words Portland channel.
therefore. are pnlpnbly an error" The
point which Great Britain holds 10 full
Ill the description OF the convention is
| Cape Chacon, for it also is between the
lost and 1l3d degrees of west longitude
from Greenwich and about ~ degrees 10
minutes north latitude. The difference
in latitude between Cape Chacon and
Cape Muzon according 10 he latest
coast and geodetc survey map llS9o) Is
about two miles, Cape Mu2on being to
the south, The sentence, the said line
shall ascend TO the north along the chan
mel called Portland channel MS far as
the point of the continent where it
strikes the Goth degree of north latitude
is most indefinite in sense. As matter
of fact the Portland channel or canal
does not extend as far north rs the 1Gth
degree of north latitude The pronoun
1T may refer either to fine" or Port
land channel" In the latter case the
description of the treaty is sadly Mt fault,
and IN any eyont the sentence is most
awkward and difficult To- understand.
OTHER DISPUTED POINTS.
There are several points more in re-
gard to this southern portion Of the dis
pute which should be brought out. The
purchase of Alaska by the 'uted States
was made in 1867. In 1868 Great Brit
ain sent surveying party to Portland
channei.
In 1891 congress Get apart Annette
Islands, IN Benin canul, for the use OF
the Meilakatia Indians, 1t Is nov n
prosperous place, whore the Indians catch
fish saw lumber. and even have hras'
hand. To turn these Islands over L
Great Britain, looking at it from senti
mental point Of view, would certainly bt
unjust TO Duncan and his Indians. WITH
IN the last six weeks party OF English
miners came upon the islands Win the
nI'owcd intention Of settling. Duncan
went 10 them and argued with them, ask
ing them 10 leave but at last accounts
, they were prospecting, and had moi
r moved.
REALLY \ BLUFF.
MIR. Baker cited certain statements ii
regard to the protests and claims which
! the Dominion of Canada viii make IA
= TO the southern end of the boundary jus
$ described, us being but n diplomatic ruse
or in plain English. a bluff, TO conceal !
la,... .,,,1 ,,nrn vitu1 uttrnas, As vii