Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-02-23
FAILURE Of JOINT
HIGH COMMISSION
Negotiations Broken Off Because o.
Inability to Agree on Alas
kan Boundary.
STATEMENT BY THE cHAIRmEh
Senator Fairbanks and NJ. Laurie,
Explain How Things Stand---
May Not Reasscmble
Again.

i
After nearly eight months deliber-
alton in Quebec and Washington the
Anglo-American high joint commits
sion, appointed to settle the questions
in dispute between the United STATES
and the Dominion of Canada aH3sto
frame Il treaty, adjourned .%al.out
having accomplished anything. .,,..
Nominally the commission nd
journed until August 2, to enable tho
Canadian members of the cabinet. to
return to Ottawa and take part in the
parliamentary session, which is soon
to be called, but as matter of fact it
was we'll understood by the members
of the commission that there will be no
reassembling unless in the meantime
an agreement has been reached be-
tween the governments regarding the
Alaskan boundary.
1T was because of the failure to agree
on the Alaska boundary that the nego-
tiations have been broken off. 10
break the fall as much as possible it
was provided at the final session that
the commission might reassemble
prior to the I'd of next August on the
call of both governments. This call is
not expected to issue except in the
contingency mentioned.
While twelve questions all OF con-
siderable Importance as affecting the
amicable relations between the United
States and the largest of Great Brit
Jams possessions We're submitted TO
the commission, it was recognized
from the outset that only three were
of the first magnitude, on which hinged
the success or failure of the commits
sioners' deliberations. These three
We're, in the order of their Importance,
the ILLUMINATION of the Alaska
boundary, the rights of American fish
ermen in the waters of the north At
lantic, and reciprocal trade arrange
ments. Inability to agree on the first
question has resulted in the negotia-
tions proving abortive.
The boundary line between Canada
and the United States has been in dis
pute ever since Alaska was coded to the
United States by Russia. The line OF
demarkation, as described i'll the
treaty of cession, was vague, and, al
though efforts have been made from
time to time to definitely establish the
line, the question has not yet been
pressed. The opening of the Klondike
to the world two years ago for the first
time made it of vital Importance that
the line be definitely located.
While the Nlondike region is unques-
tionably in Canada, the entrance to
the new gold fields is through Amer
lean territory. AT least such has all
ways been the general belief, until the
the sessions of the commission, set UP
the claim to Dyeu and skaguay as
Canadian territory.
The American commissioners assert
they did everything in their power to
bring about a settlement and Went
further than perhaps the senate would
have sanctioned, so anxious were they
toconclude a treaty. on the other hand
tn Canadians say they made all the
concessions, but as the Americans re-
fused to yield anything it was fruit
less to prolong the discussion.
Several of the minor questions-th
suspension of pelagic sealing among
others-were practically settled, but
as it was the determination of the Ca
nadians to settle nothing unless every
thing is settled, all the questions
which have so many years been such
frequent source of annoyance be-
tween the two governments are still
open and may at any moment lead to
friction.
Statement by the Chairmem.
On behalf of their respective COM
missions, Senator Fairbanks, the
chairman of the American board, and
Sir Wilfrid Lau1er, acting chairman
III the absence of Lord IIerschell, of
the Canadian board, who is i'll, have
made the following public statement
respecting the action taken:
The commission adjourned to meet at
Quebec on August 2, unless the chairmen
of the commits 'ions shall agree on anoth-
er date
The commission has made substantial
progress in the settlement and adjustment
of many of the questions on which it has
been earnestly engaged. But it has been
unable to agree on the e settlement of the
been complicated and difficult one. and
the commissioners, acting In the utmost
friendliness and cordality, have been I'M
able to agree ON a satisfactory adjust
ment.
The difficulties. apart from the imme-
diate delimitation of this boundary by tho
commission itself, arise from the condi-
tons under which 1t might be referred tc
arbitration The British commissioners
desired that the whole question should bu
referred on terms similar to those pro-
vided, in the reference of the Venezuela
boundary line. and which by providing an
umpire would insure certainty and final
lily. The United States commissioners
on the other hand, thought the local con-
ditions in Alaska so different that some
notifications of the Venezuela boundary
reference should be introduced. They
thought the reference should be made to
six eminent iurists three chosen by each
OF the high contracting parties, without
providing for an umpire, they believing
mat fnality would be secured by Il ma
5ority vote of the jursts SO chosen. They
uld not sec any present prospect of agree
ing to European umpire. to be selected
IN the manner proposed by the British
commissioners, while the British commits.
sioners We're unwilling to agree to the Sc
lection of an American umpire in tho
manner suggested by the United State,
commissioners.
The United States commissioners fur
lher contended that special stipulations
should be made in any reference to arbi-
tration that the existing settlements on
the tide waters of the coast should in any
result continue 10 belong to the United
States. To this contention the British
commissioners refused to agree.
IL was therefore deemed advisable to
ADJOURN TO q convenient date in order to
enable the respective governments to fur.
ther consider the subject with respect to
"hich no conclusion has yet been reached,
AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE.