The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-04
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
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the Alaskan boundary, which
contour of the coast from
sSineS sonthernnOst point Of, Prince of
Island until 1t strikes the one
@hundredsRn Sforty-tirst meridian Mt or
sS near p summit of Mount st. Eiins,
SAaYaiteS further necessary a%pproprla-
SSS1onssWhtch is urgently recommended.
SsFR:I survey was undertaken under
a provisions Of the convention entered
aSSintoebyfthis country and Great Britain
sSJuly q. 1892, and the supplementary
SgsSohvention of February 3, 1894.
MAG ito the remaining section of the
%ssAiaskan boundary, which follows the
zone hundred and forty-frst meridian
q northwardly from Mount st. Elias to
theHfrozen ocean settlement. Of which
M 4nYolSeS the physical location of the
ssRmeridian mentioned, no conventions
agreement has yet been made. The as
s8Certainment of a given meridian at a
t8~rartiCular point Is q work recurring
much time and careful observations
and surveys Such observations and
ks9uryeys were undertaken by the United
estates Coast and Geodetic Survey in
:ssA1Ss0 and 1891, while similar work in the
~ same quarters under British auspices
are believed to give nearly coinoident
n results, u these surveys have been
Independently and no inter-
- ~ ~ sfo' -
u any other parts of the one hundred and
S~SSforty-1rst meridian by permanent mon
uments has yet been made In the
VI meantlme the Valley OF the Yukon Is
~ becoming a highway through the hith-
ii erto UNEMPLOYED wil6s of Alaska, and
y abundant mineral wealth has been dis
covered r. that region, especially at
a or near the junction of the boundary
81 meridian with the Yukon and its tribu-
Mtaries. In these circumstances II is ex-
n pedlent, and, indeed, imperative, That
1.-The. jurisdictional limits of the respec-
tive governments in this new region
Il be speedily determined. Her Britannia
Majesty's Government has proposed
"a joint delimitation of the one hundred
and forty-frst meridian by an Inter
& national commission of experts. which
# IL Congress. will authorize 1t and make
r due provision therefor, can be accom-
plished with no unreasonable delay. 1t
L is impossible to overlook the vital i'm
n p%ortance of continuing the work al
read entered upon, n experimenting
It by further effective measures looking
to the exact location OF this entire
boundary line.
Canadian Fishing Question.
I call attention to the unsatisfactory
1 delimitation Of the respective Jurts-
d~iotions of the United States and the
I Dominion of Canada in the great lakes
Mt the approaches to the narrow waters
that connect them. The waters In
question are freQuented by fishermen
OF both n~ationalities and their nets
are there used. Owing to the uncer-
>ainty and ignorance as to the true
81 boundary, vexatious disputes and In
1 juriolt3 seizures of boats and nets by
s&r Ear san cruisers often occurs while
any positive settlement thereof by an
y accepted standard Is not easily reach
i ed "A joint commission to determine
81 the line in those quarters on IL oracti-
ii cal basis by measured courses following
range marks on shore Is a necessity for
immediate provision should be
u made.
B~cnogueiian boundary Dispute
It being apparent that the boundary
d dispute between Great Britain and the
tgRepublic of Venezuela, concerning the
AiIlmits Of British Guiana was approach
ling All acute stage, n definite statement
gof the Interest and policy of the United
Estates as regards the controversy
~ seemed'to be required both on It's own
N account and In view Of Its relations with
3the, friendly powers directly concerned.
July last, therefore, q dispatch was
addreSsed to u ambassador at Lon
a&sdony for communication to the British
~ Government, in which the attitude of
III the United States was fully and dis
tinctly set forth.
The, general conclusions therein reach
ed and formulated are In substance
thai the traditional and established
policy Of this Government Is firmly
Z opposed to a forcIble increase by any
European powers of its territorial pos
u sessions on this continent; that this
policy Is as well founded in principle
as II Is strongly supported by numerous
p~recedents, that as a consequence the
United States is bound to protest
gains the enlargement of the area Of
British Guinea in deroEatlon of the
" rights and against the will Of VeneZu-
Ella; that considering the disparity in
ntrength of Great Britain and Vene-
zuela, the territorial dispute between
/ them can be reasonably settled only
friendly and impartial arbitration,
M that h resort to such arbitration
should include the whole controversy
and Is not satisfied If one OF the powers
n concerned is permitted to draw an arbi-
frary line through the territory in de-
bate, and to declare that it will submit
TO arbitration only the portion lying on
\ one Side of 1t. In view of these CON
illusions, the dispatch in question call
ed, upon the British Government for n
2Gdefinite answer to the question whether
1t would or would not submit the terri
s torial controversy between itself and
in it's entirety to impartial
n nrbitration. The answer of the British
q Government has not yet been received
a but is expected shortly, when furthe,
81 communications o n the subject iwilI
probably be made to the Congress.
The Uprising I'm Hawaii.
Early in January last an uprisin,
against the Government of Hawaii wa:
promptly suppressed. Martial law wa.