Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-05-06

the war, but at the same time add to the
firmness and extent of our preparations
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U.
S. AND GREAT BRITAIN.
The Alaskan bill, involving as it does
the relations of Great Britain and Can.
ada with this country-owing especially
to the present crisis-is one of the most
important measures pending in congress.
1t has been in conference for several
weeks, during which time some very
delicate diplomatic conferences have
been had between Senator Ha%nsbrough,
chairman of the committee having the
bill in charge, and Sir Julian. The con-
ferees have agreed and Lacey has re-
ported to the house, which body will
act first. There were two bills-one
passing the house, the other the senate,
and then both went to conference COM
mittee. The bill as agreed upon will
pass in a few days.
The story is one of great interest, in.
terwoven, as it is, with the diplomatic
developments of the Spanish situation,
and is told by the Washington Post.
Some two months ago, when an innocent
bill granting privileges to proposed rail.
ways through Alaska and extending the
homestead laws in that Territory, passed
the house and came before the senate,
it became the vehicle for some sharp re-
taliatory legislation. The Canadian cab.
met council had given a monopoly to a
Canadian railroad to build it's track to
the Klondyke region. It so happened,
however, that the road was to begin at
Glencora, on the Stickine river, in Brit
ish Columbia, and to get to that point
from Vancouver the Canadian miners
would have to proceed to Fort Wrangell,
in Alaska, and then travel up the Stick.
inc river through American territory to
the beginning of the road. It was
claimed by the British government that
this could be done without let or hind
rance, because a section of the treaty of
Washington insured to subjects of Great
Britain the ''free navigation" of the
Stickine river. This was argued to
mean that English goods, wares and
merchandise carried up the river by
Englishmen paid no duty.
The senate took an entirely different
view of the matter. Senator Hans
brough of North Dakota, the chairman
of the committee on public lands, saw
at once that the Importance of st.
Michaels, Dyea and Skaguay would at
once be diminished by this arrangement,
besides which Vancouver, the terminus
of the Canadian Pacific road, would be-
come the headquarters of parties outfit
ting for the Klondyke. 1t was also evil
dent that if the same road enjoyed the
monopoly Of steam transportation to the
Klondyke, American miners would have
to pay exorbitant rates. In ~self-defense,
therefore, Senator Hansbrough pro-
posed, and the committee and the sen.
ate adopted, a clause which provided
that no Canadian goods should pass in
bond between Fort Wrangell and the
United States boundary unless Canada
permitted the construction of competing
lines of transportation. More than this,
the bond privilege was not to be granted
unless the New England fishermen ship
ping their cargoes through Canada to
this country we're allowed to send the
fish through in bond, and not be COM
PEELED to pay duty to Canada, as has
been the case.
Immediately on the passage of this
vigorous legislation the British govern
ment manifested the liveliest interest.
Sir Julian P%auncefote made several hur-
ried visits of protest to the state depart.
ment, and had personal interviews with
Senator Hansbrough. The lower house
of the Canadian parliament confirmed
the grant of monopoly, but Sir Julian
brought great influence to bear upou
the Canadian senate. The correspond.
ence with Toronto was exceedingly fire..
quent and emphatic, the result being
that the senate defeated the scheme by
a vote Of "a to IA.
Almost at the same time the Spanish
situation began to grow extremely crit
ical. 1t became absolutely essential 70,
this government to know the attitude
which Great Britain would hold TOWARD
the United States in case of war. Thu
response Of the English government wa.
most satisfactory. In addition to this
when the powers attempted to influence
the United States with a peremptor,
and almost belligerent note. the British
ambassador refused to sign his name t.
the document, and it was due to hin