Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-03
Americas exposition Of the latest develop
ments of the worlds naval energy.

Our relations with Great Britain, always
intimate and important, have demanded
during the past year even a greater share
of consideration than is usual
Several vexatious questions were left un-
determined by the decision of the Boring Sea
Arbitration Tribunal The application of
the principles laid down by that august
body has not been followed by the results
they were intended to accomplish, either
because the principles themselves lacked in
breacth and definiteness or because their
execution has been more or less imperfect
Much correspondence has been exchanged
between the two Governments on the sub
ject of preventing the exterminating slaugh-
ter Of seals. The insufficiency of the British
patrol of Boring Sea, under the regulations
agreed on by the two Governments. has
been pointed out, and yet only two British
ships have been on police duty during this
season in those waters.
The need of a more effective enforcement
of existing regulations, well as the adop-
to-. of such additional regulations as ex-
perience has shown to be absolutely neces-
sary to carry out the intent of the award
have been earnestly urged upon the British
Government, but thus far without effective
results. In the meantime the depletion of
the seal herds by means Of pelagic hunting
has so alarmingly progressed that unless
their slaughter is at once effectively checked
their extinction within a few years seems
to be matter of absolute certainty.
The understanding by which the United
States was to pay, and Great Britain to
receive, lump sum of s425,0OO in full set
Element of all British claims for damages
arising from our seizure of British sealing
vessels unauthorized under the award of the
Paris Tribunal of Arbitration, was not con-
firmed by the last Congress, which declined
to make the necessary appropriation. l am
still of the opinion that this arrangement
was judicious and advantageous one for
the Government, and 1 earnestly recon-
mend that it be again considered and sane
tened. If. however, this does not meet with
the favor of Congress. it certainly will hard
ly dissent from the proposition that the Gov
ernment is bound by every consideration of
honor and good faith to provide for the
speedy adjustment of these claims by arbi-
tration as the only other alternative. A
treaty of arbitration has therefore been
agreed upon, and will be Immediately laid
tefore the Senate. so that in one of the
modes suggested final settlement may be
reached.
Notwithstanding that Great Britain orig
mated the proposal to enforce international
rules for the prevention of collisions at sea-
tased on the recommendations of the Mari
time Conference of Washington, and con-
CURED in suggesting March l. 1895, as the
date to be set by proclamation for carrying
these rules into general effect, Her Majes-
tvs Government, having encountered oppo-
siton on the part of British shipping inter-
ests, announced it's inability to accept that
date. which was consequently cancelled
The entire matter is still in allegiance, with
cut prospect of a better condition in the near
future.
The commissioners appointed to mark the
international boundary in Passamaquoddy
Bay according to the description of the
treaty of Client have not yet fully agreed.
The Alaska boundary.
The completion of the preliminary survey
of that Alaskan boundary which follows the
contour of the coast from the southernmcst
point of Prince. of Wales Island until it
strikes the one hundred and forty-first
meridian at or near the summit of Noun.
ST. Elias awaits further necessary appropri-
alton, which is urgently recommended This
survey was undertaken under the provisions
of the convention entered into by this coun-
try and Great Britain July 30, 1892 and the
supplementary convention of February g.
1894.
AS to the remaining section of the Alas
kan boundary, which follows the enc hun
dred and forty-first meridian northwardly
from Mount st. Elias to the Frozen Ocean,
the settlement of which involves the phys
ical location of the meridian mentioned,
no conventional agreement has yet been
made. The ascertainment of given me-
ridian at particular point is a work re-
qufring much time and careful observa-
tons and surveys. Such observations and
surveys were undertaken by the United
States Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1880
and 1891, while similar work in the same
quarters under British auspices is be-
lieved to give nearly coincident results
but these surveys have been independent:
conducted and no International agreement
to mark those or any other parts of the
one hundred and forty-first meridian by
permanent monuments has yet been made
In the meantime the valley of the Yukon
Is becoming highway through the hither-
to UNEMPLOYED wiids of Alaska, and abun-
dant mineral wealth has been discovered
in that region, especially at or near the
junction of the boundary meridian with
the Yukon and its tributaries. In these
circumstances it is expedient, and, indeed,
imperative that the jurisdictional limits
or the respective Governments in this new
region be speedily determined. Her Britain
mic Majesty's Government has proposed
joint delimitation of the one hundred and
forty-flrst meridian by an international
commission of experts, which. If Congress
will authorize 1t and make due provision
therefor, can be accomplished with no I'M
reasonable delay. 1t is impossible to over
look the vital importance of continuing
the work already entered upon. and supple
menting it by further effective measures
looking to the exact location of this entire
boundary line.
1 call attention to the unsatisfactory
delimi tation of the respective jurisdic-
tons of the United States and the
Dominion of Canada IN the Great
Lakes at the approaches to the narrow
waters that connec. them. The waters in
question are frequented by fishermen of
both nationalities and their nets are there
used. Owing to the uncertainty and ig-
norance as to the true boundary vexa-
lions disputes and injurious seizures of
boats and nets by Canadian cruisers often
occur while any positive settlement there
Of by an accepted standard is not easily
to be reached. A joint commission to de-