The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-28
Sir Wilfrid Iaurier Explains His
Recent Remarks.
HE FAvORS ARBITRATION
FIGHT OVER ALASKAN CUES
TON WOULD BE CRIMINAL.
Says There Ought to Be the Most Cor
dial Intercourse and Closest Com
mercial Relations Between the
United States and Canada-The
Contentious of the Latter Country.

New York, July pa special to the
Herald from Ottawa says: And war
is not to be thought Of" said Sir Will
frid Laurier in the Canadian parlia-
ment in qualifying his statement that
inasmuch as negotiations for the set
tlement of the Alaskan boundary had
failed, the only two possible ways OF
! settling ii We're arbitration or war.
! The Canadian premier today gave to
| the Herald an explanation OF the con-
tention of Canada.
las a member of the commission and
a participant in the negotiations" he
replied, Il am not at liberty to give to
| the public any more than l have al
ready done, information bearing on the
| difference between us and the United
! States. l think l can say this much in
! explanation, however:
| Practically the whole dispute now is
! circumscribed to the question of the
| establishment of the boundary line in
! the region of the Lynn canal. The pub
/ lie is aware that the Canadian conten-
/ ton is that the line crosses the Lynn
| canal near its entrance, whereas the
| American contention is that the line
! goes around the Lynn canal, leaving
/ the entire canal in American territory.
If the contention were reduced to the
! exact location of the line l think the
/ solution might prove to be of compare
( tive ease. But the Americans have es
| adjustments at Skagway and at Dyea.
/ our view is the Americans at that
! point are on British territory, but we
have to recognize the fact that they
are there all the same.
Could Not Agree.
'At one time we thought we could
! have made the compromise and ar
ranged that boundary by conventional
agreement and mutual concessions. l
am betraying no secret when l say
! that the commission could not agree on
such a compromise. Therefore, as we
cannot agree among ourselves we must
ask the assistance of friendly arbi-
traitors. The points to be submitted to
the arbitrator might be the following:
First, which is the right interpreted
| ton of the treaty in regard to the loca-
ton of the boundary line on the Lynn
canal? Is il the Canadian or the Am
erican contention?
Second, in the event of the arbitrat-
ors declaring that the Canadian con-
tention is the right one, then the sub
sidiary consideration would have to be
decided. What disposition shall be
made of Dyea and Skagway, which are
American settlements? We think that
the Venezuelan treaty offers a prece-
dent for the solution of that question.
l am aware that the American authori-
ties contend that there is difference
between the Venezuelan precedent and
the case now to be disposed of in this,
that as they allege Canada never pro-
tested against the American occupation
of Skagway and Dyea.
I'VE do not admit this contention in
point of fact. But even if it We're found
ed on fact, the arbitrator would have
TO consider what equities might arise
therefrom and decide accordingly.
| Though l have strong views on this
point myself for obvious reasons re-
frain from expressing them.
In case this matter cannot be sub
mitted to arbitration, is Canada in ia
vor of settling 1t by war;" Sir Wilfrid
was asked.
Nobody Wants War.
Nobody wants war" he replied
quickly. L distinctly said, when call
ed attention to the fact that the nego-
tiations had failed and that the ques-
ton could only be settled by arbitration
or war, that war was out of the ques-
ton and not to be thought of. 1 will go
further and say that war over this or
any other question would be criminal.
We ought to have the more cordial
intercourse and the closest commercial
relations with the United States. We
think we dc not always get commercial
justice. Though a small nation. we
buy more from you than you buy from
US. But some day we will turn the
tables on You and viii get the best of
the bargain, and that is all the revenge
we want from you"
DO you know whether the initiative
is being taken by Great Britain looking
TO making d proposal TO arbitration?"
The premier repealed the question.
You must not ask me-" he said.
will you discuss the old proposition
now coming forward again that Can
ada be satisfied with a free port, say al
Pyramid harbor, the entire Lynn canal
remaining under United States sover-
eignty?"
4 know nothing about that?" he re-
piled.