The record-union., 1899-10-25
The Latest Proposition Which
Canada Has Made
Very Different From the Demands Which
Were Formerly Made.
The Dominion Government Now
Willing to Give Up Much of the
Disputed Gold Country in Re-
turn for Sea Port in the
Northern Territory.

LONDON, Oct 24.--The Associated
Press is enabled to give authoritatively
Canada's final proposition for per-
manent settlement of the Alaskan dis
pute. 1t is very different from her
former demands, and was delivered to
United States Embassador Choate by
the Canadian Minister of Marine and
Fisheries, Sir Louis Henry Davis, late
the night before the latter sailed, dis
patched to-day to Washington by the
officials of the United States Embassy.
1t is as follows:
That the boundary line be arbitrated
upon terms similar to those imposed
by the United States and Great Britain
over Venezuela, particularly those pro-
visions making fifty years occupancy
by either side conclusive evidence of
title, occupancy of less than that period
to be taken as equity allows under m
ternational law.
That as a condition precedent abso-
lutely preliminary to arbitration, Ska
quay and Dyea would be conceded to
the United States without further claim
if Canada received Pyramid Harbor. In
other words, Canada gives up much of
the disputed gold country in return for
a seaport, but stipulates that she must
get the latter before she agrees to arbi-
trate the boundary line.
The propositions of Sir Louis Henry
Davies We're made privately, and were
apparently the result of an unexpected
communication from his Government,
for Sir Louis the day previous ex-
pressed no inkling that he was en-
powered to make such sweeping pro-
posals. The Canadian statesman here
tofore has insistently denied the United
States contention that Dyea and Ska
quay must first be ceded to the United
States before further treating on the
subject, and his Sudden change Of
ground and the concession of two such
important points are apparently in
tended as a coup, and Mr.. Choate was
found to a certain extent unprepared.
The only reply he could make was that
he would inform the authorities at
Washington, and await their advices,
as his instructions did not contemplate
such a change Of base by Canada.
The Associated Press is reliably in
formed that Canada's new position was
greatly influenced by imperial press
ure, and it can be stated definitely that
Mr.. Chamberlain advised concession as
much as possible, in order to gain &
port of entry free from United States
control. for the reason that commercial
advantages would accrue therefrom
But it is said that the ulterior motive
is to increase British naval strength by
making Pyramid Harbor a strong naval
station.
Regarding the probable action of the
United States in these altered condi-
tions, British official opinion is that the
United States, having been granted
Dyea and Skaguay, cannot refuse to
accept the identical form of arbtra-
ton they compelled England to take
toward Venezuela. This course is con-
tingent upon the United States deciding
that the old Behring Sea country is
more valuable than Pyramid Harbor
Ex-Congressman James H. Lewis,
who conferred with Messrs. Davies and
Choate regarding the claims of the
American miners involved in the dis
puted country, opposed giving up Pyra-
mid Harbor. he pointed out to Mr..
Choate that Canada would have an i'm
poA lc1Al uCpOl LII 0lOl anu SHIP
ping, whence she could seriously un-
dersell the United States and injure her
trade with the Orient, and also the
Great Britain would secure invaluable
strategical advantages.
AT the commissions next sitting Min
lister Davies strongly opposed the
claims, which he reported beiag con-
sidered in conjunction with the pound
ary dispute, and Mr.. Choate upheld
this view, though Mr.. Lewis has stated
in securing the assurance that they will
be treated in conjunction with Canada s
claim for seal destruction.
Mr.. Lewis said to a representative of
the Associated Press: Il am satisfied
with the success of my mission. Tt is
sure the American miners will now get
Justice
Mr.. Lewis has been seriously ILL but
recovered sufficiently to attend the con-
ference before Minister Davies DEPART
ure. He has been honored by the Brit
ish officials, receiving courtesies in the
House of Commons from the Speaker
and attending opening of the law
courts in company with former Presi,
dent Benjamin Harrison and Mr..
Choate, sailing with Mr.. Harrison for
home on the American liner st. Paul
Saturday.
WASHINGTON, Oct PIT is said
at the State Department that the prop
osition as to a permanent Alaskan
boundary laid down by Sir Louis Da-
vies is nothing more nor less than a
summary of claims heretofore prefer
red. When the commission was in ses-
sion last spring and the Canadian prop
osition was made to settle the boundary
question by arbitration, the American
commissioners replied with an offer to
accept arbitration with the proyisc,
that no point occupied by Americans
for a specified term of years should be
submitted to the arbitration. In other
words, the term was so fixed that by
no possibility could the title to Skag-
uay, Dyea or any other place that the
Americans had occupied for a period
represented by the discovery of the
Klondike fields be called into, question
by the arbitration.
This was one of. the final propositions
rejected by the Canadian commission
ers, which caused the failure of the
joint conference. Since that time there