The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-08-09
A Canadian AfterthOught.


ada wishes to reconstruct the treaty OF
1925, between Russia and Great Brit
ain, defining the boundary southeast
from Mount St. Elias, between the
Alaskan "pan handle" and British
Columbia. She wishes to reconstruct
the treaty and resrrange the boundary
in the light of recent developments as
to the value and importance of this
strip of Alaskan territory Up to with
in quite recent times Canada had never
disputed the meaning of the language
of the treaty defining this boundary
line; and her own maps aud geogra-
phies show that she had been constru-
ing it in the light of the meaning of the
plain English of the phraseology of the
instrument, and the spirit and purpose
of the original negotiators. Her recent
construction of the treaty is plainly an
afterthought, inspired by the rich gold
discoveries in Alaskan territory, and
the desirability of having sea port in
the disputed regions.
At the northern extremity of the
Span handle" is an arm of the sea
called Lynn canal, some six miles wide,
extending northerly into the land. AT
the head of this branch of the sea is
Pyramid Harbor, and there are Dyea
and Skagwa, towns founded and occu
pied by Americans. Here is the be-
ginning of the overland trails 70 the
Klondike, and here will be the starting
place of the railways that will be built
to the gold regions. Canada very nat
urally would like to possess the terri
tory in which this important terminal
port must be.
To secure possession she seeks to
place upon the boundary treaty of 1926
q construction that makes new treaty
of that document. Under its terms,
1.-THE line of demarkation shall follow
the summit of the mountains situated
parallel to the coast. Wher
ever the summit of the mountains
shall prove to be more than ten ma
rine leagues from the ocean, the line
shall be formed by line parallel to the
Windings of the coast, and which shall
never exceed the distance of ten ma
rine leagues therefrom."
Canada began her reconstruction of
the treaty by interpreting "the coast"
ha ohnra IF ha OF vl nd ht,t
as the outer coast OF the islands firing
ing the mainland. In order now to
bring the head of Lynn canal within
her territorial limits she is insisting
that the ten marine leagues shall be
measured from line drawn from
headland to headland across the sea
end of Lynn Canal, whereas the lam
guage of the treaty is that the boundary
line inland 'shall be formed by line
parallel to the a0indjngS of the coast"
This phraseology seems to have been
selected for the express purpose of Sc
curing to Russia the seaports along
this strip of territory thirty miles wide.
Great Britain recognized this intent
of the treaty at the time it was nego.
tiated, and in making leases of terri
tory had since recognized this clear
and simple meaning, up to the time
when the United States acquired
Alaska.
The United States cannot recognize
Canada's absurd and childish claim as to
the meaning of the language Of the
treaty, nor can such an absurdity be
submitted to arbitration. The bound
~ treaty must stand, in its plain intent
and meaning. The question for diplo-
macy is not the determination of the
boundary line, but whether it is for the
interest of the United States to sell OF
lease to Canada port at the head Of
Lynn canal.To sell is against wise ma
tional policy; to lease, with proper anc
adequate safeguards, may be observing
both the Golden Rule and respecting
the requirements of internationa
comfy, which may be at this tim'
somewhat more binding upon thu
United States than in the past-in re
spect of its relations with Great Britain
however, rather than with the obstrep
erous colony which is making all thi
trouble between the principals to tn
dispute.
But Canada has once declined to con
slider proposition to lease port il
the disputed region; and the Unite
States claims that any question of tn
nature of the sum of two and two
which the question of the meaning c
the treaty would be-is altogether to
simple to be submitted to arbitration
Thus stands this matter at presen
Ultimately Canada will have to es
very humble pie. In the end Englan
will speak her imperial command.