The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-04


= the Awards. have been earnestly urged
oDon the British government. bat thus far
without effective results. In the mean
time the depletion ~ the seal herbs hy
means of pei2gic huntinZ has - harmfuIlv
progressed that. unless their slaughter =
az once checked. their extinction within
2 iew years seems 70 be a matter Of alb
Sointe certainty
The Sealers' Damage Claims.
Tn understanding by which the United
states MIS- To- paw, n Great Britain 80
receive, a lump sum OF Sts5.Caa in fan set
tie:1ent OF all British claims for DAMAGE
arising from our seizures Of British seal
ing vessels unauthorized under the award
81 the Paris tribunal Of arbitration. was
not confirmed by the last congress. which
declined 10 make the necessary appropri-
alton. ! am still Of the opinion that this
arrangement was a judicicus and advan-
taseous enc FOR the government. and |
earnestly recommend that IL be agaia con-
Sidered and sanctioned. II. however. this
does not meet With the favor Of congress,
tt certainly VIII hardly dissent from the
proposition thar the government is hound
by every consideration Of honor and good
faith TO provide for the speedy adjustment
ct these claims by arbitration. the only
other alternative. 4 treaty Of arbitration
has therefore been agreed upon and viii
be Immediately laid before the senate so
N#t 49, AHANH&ENNht - AAAfAA
settlement may he reached.
Notwithstanding that Great Britain or
iginatei the proposal TO enforce Internal
tional rules for the prevention Of collisions
az sea, based on the recommends lions Of
the maritime conference Of Washington
city. and %concufre3 in the suggestion that
March + iS9. be the date 10 he set BY nro-
ciamation for carrying these rules into
general effect. her maiesfy's government.
having encountered opposition en- the part
Of British shipping interests. announced
its inability 20 accept the agreement.
which was consequently Cancelled. The
entire matter is still Ia allegiance. without
prospect of a better condition in the near
future.
The commissioner appointed 70 mark
the international boundary in passama-
duoddy hay according 10 the description of
the treaty OF Client have not fully agreed.
The Alaska boundary.
The completion of the preliminary sur
veys Of that Alaskan boundary which fol-
lows the contour OF the coast from the
southernmost point OF Prince Of aies ISL
and until IL strikes the iilst meridian at or
near the summit OF Mount ST. Elias.
awaits a further necessary appropriation.
which Is urgently recommended This sur
vey was undertaken under the provisions
OF the convention entered into by this
country and Great Britain on July -. 1Sa2.
$500
ruary 3. tNpi.
As TO tho remaining section Of the Alas
kan boundary, which follows the I4ist
meridian northwardiy from Mount 81.
Elias 10 the frozen ocean, the settlement
OF which involves the physical location OF
the meridian mentioned. no conventional
agreement has yet been made. The ascer-
tainment Of a given meridian at a partie-
ular point is a work requiring much time
and careful observations aud surveys.
Such observations and surveys were un-
dertakcn by the United States coast and
reodetic survey In 1880 and 1891, while sim
liar work IN the same quarters under Brit
18Th auspices are believed 20 give nearly
coincident results, hut these surveys have
been Independently conducted. and NO In
ternational agreement to mark these or
any other parts OF the Hist meridian by
permanent monuments has yet been made.
In the meantime. the valley OF the Nu~
kon IS becoming a highway through tho
hitherto unexpiored Willis Of Alaska. and
abundant mineral wealth has been diseov-
erred In that region, especially ut or near
the junction OF the boundary meridian
with tho Yukon and It's tributaries. In
these circumstance II is eXpodient. indeed
Imperative. that the lurisdictional limits
he fixed. The respective governments
have proposed a Joint delimitatiou OF the
1fist meridian by an International COM
mission Of experts. which. " congress viii
authorize II and make due provision there
for. can be accomplished with no unrcas-
enable delay, It is impossible TO overlook
the vital Importance of continuing the
work already entered upou and supplies
meuting II by further effective measures
looking to the exact location OF this entire
boundary line.
The Lake Fisheries Dispute.
] call attention to the unsatisfactory de-
limitation Of the respective jurisdictions
OF the United States and the Dominion OF
Canada in the great lakes and the ap-
proaches TO the narrow waters that con-
meet them. The waters in question are
~frequented by fishermen Of both nationals
ties. and their nets are here used owing
TO the uncertainty and ignorance as 10
the true boundary, veNafious disputes y
injurious seizure OF boats and nets by
Canadian cruisers often occur. White any
positive settlement thereof by AZ accepted
standard lis not easily % be reached. n
ioint commission 10 determine the line In
these charters pa = practical basis. by
measured courses following range marks
on shore. Is q necessity for which imme-
diate provision should be made.
The Oppression Of Ncne1uelR.
n being apparent fhat the boundary dis
pute etwce Great Britain and the rupub-
liz Of Venezuela concerning the limits OF
British Guiana was approaching an acute
stage. a enu statement Of the Interest
and policy OF the United States as regards
the controversy aratd 10 he required.
both on SIS own count and In Views Of tts
relafi0us with the friendly powers direct
IS concerned. I'm July last. therefore, a
dispatch was addressed 20 our amhassa-
dor az London for mmuuication 30 The
British government, IN which The attitude
of the United States was fully AMI dis
tinctlv set forth. The general conclusions
therein reached and formulated are ia sub
49, 49, ~.Ff4FTs4af 1nH eHfntffahEH
policy ~ this government ts opposed 10
increase by any European power ~ its
territorial possessions 0n these contineutSs
that this policy is "a ~ei founded ia pfin~
cipie MS 81 is strongly supported by Hdm-
ernIF presidents, that as a consequences
the United states is bound 20 protest
AGAINST the enlargement 81 The area of
british Guiana in d~eroRaflon - the rights
and against the viii OF venezuela. that,
CONSIDERING the disparity ln strength Of
Great Britain ard Venezuela. the terri
torfst dispute between them cam be Teaa-
onahIv settled only ty friendly, impartial
arbitration. and the resort 70 such arbitra-
tiqn should inClude the whole c0htr0NefHys
and 81 not satisfactory If one ~ the lowers
concerned ia permitted 10 draw an arbi-
trarv line through the territory tn debate
and 10 declare that IL viii submit 20 ar
ritrstlau only the portion lying on ore side
81 h. In view 81 those conclusions. the
disuatch liz question called upon the Brit
tsh Government for "A definite answer 70
mo question whether n would not submit
the territorial controversy between Itself
and Venezucis in its entirety 70 impartial
.~httraffgr The answer Of the British
aoverument has not yet heen received. but
is expected shortly. when p further COM
w+rtratinn on the subject viii probably
bee made TO the congress.
Tie Rebeili0n ia Hawaii