The record-union., 1897-02-27
For Settlement of the Long Disputed
Question.
The Convention Has Yet to be Rati.
fled by the President of the United
States, by and With the Consent
of the Senate, and by the Queen of
Great Britain, the Ratification to
be Exchanged Within Twelve
lOnthS of the Date Thereof.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-The follow
ing is the ull text of the treaty for
the determination of the Alaskan boun-
| dary, signed on January 80, 1897, by
Secretary Olney and Sir Julian Paunce-
fote
Article Each Government shall
appoint one Commissioner, with whom
may be associated such surveyors. as
tronomers and other assistants as each
Government may elect. The Commits
sioners shall, at as early a period as
practicable, proceed to trace and mari
under their joint direction, and by joint
operations in the field, so much of the
Hist meridian of west longitude as is
necessary to be defined for the purpose
of determining the exact treaty between
the United States and Russia of March
80, 1861.
"Inasmuch as the summit of Mount
st. Elias, although not ascertained to
lie upon said 141st meridian, is partly
coincident herewith that ii may con-
veniently be taken as q visible land
mark whereby the initial part of said
Commissioners, should they conclude
that it is advisable so to do, may de-
fleet the most southerly portion of said
line so as to make the same range with
the summit of Mount st. Elias, such de-
Election not to exceed more than twenty
geographical miles northwardly from
the initial point
Article 2-The date relating to the
determinations already made at this
time by either of the two Governments
concerned, of points on or near the 141st
meridian, for the purpose of fixing its
position, shall be submitted by each
Government to the Commissioners, who
shall decide which of the results of the
determinations shall be adopted by
them. In case of disagreement between
the Commissioners as to the correct
geographical coordination of one and
the same point determined by the other
two Governments separately, a posi-
ton midway between the two locations
in question of the Hist meridian shall
be adopted, provided the discrepancy
between them shall not exceed 1000
feet. In case of greater discrepancy,
new joint determination shall be made
by the Commissioners.
article 3-The location of the 141st
meridian, as determined hereunder.
shall be marked by visible objects, nat
ural or artificial, at such distances apart
as the Commissioners shall agree upon,
and by such additional marks as they
shall deem necessary, and the line when
and where thus marked in whole or in
part shall be deemed to permanently de-
fine for all international purposes the
141st meridian mentioned in the treaty
of March so, 1867, between the United
States and Russia In the treaty of Feb
ruary %, 1926, between Great Britain
and Russia. The marks shall be de-
scribed by such views, maps and other
means as the Commissioners shall de-
eide upon, and duplicate records of these
descriptions shall be attested by the
Commissioners jointly, and be deposited
by them with their respective Govern
ments, together with their final report
hereinafter mentioned.
Article Each Government shall
bear the expenses incident to the en-
ployment of it's own appointees and of
the operations conducted by them, but
the cost of material used in permanently
marking the meridian and of its trans
portation shall be borne Jointly and
equally by the two Governments.
Article 5-The Commissioners shall
diligently prosecute the work to its
their respective Governments from time
to time, and at least once in every cal
endar year, a joint report of progress
and a final comprehensive report upon
the completion of the whole work.
The present convention shall be duly
ratified by the President of the United
States of America, by and with the, ad
vice and consent of the Senate thereof,
and her Britannia majesty, and the rati-
fications shall be exchanged at Wash
ington or in London as soon as possible
within twelve months from the date
thereof.
I'm faith whereof, we, the respective
plenipotentiaries, have signed this con-
vention and ave hereunto affixed our
seals.
Done in duplicate in Washington,
the Both day of January, 1897.
RICHARD OLNEY,
JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE."