Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-08
Hopeful View Regarding the Alaskan
Boundary Deadlock.
EXISTENCE OF A FACIF ACRE EMENT
Spirit of Mutual Concession
Indicated.
AWAITING CHOATE'S REPORT

Mr.. Choate has not communicated to the
State Department the result of any repre-
sentations he has made to Lord Salisbury
in London respecting the Alaskan moduS
vivendi, under his instructions of yester-
day. Even at the best these negotiations
move slowly, owing to the multitude Of I'M
portant foreign questions requiring the per
sonal attention of Lord Salisbury. Besides,
the latter comes to London from his Hat
field home only once each week, necessi-
tating adroit management on the part of
the ambassador to secure speedy communi-
cation with him.
Now, although it is believed that it Is
almost hopeless to expect a successful out
come of these direct negotiations with Lon
don. 1t is not regarded here as inevitable
that a hostile clash will follow the failure
to secure a modus, as has been intimated.
1t is admitted freely that the situation is
serious, but confidence is expressed in the
sufficiency of the present arrangements,
backed by the sound, common sense of the
officials of the United States and Canada,
now in the disputed territory in Alaska,
to prevent collision
An .InformaI MOdus Vivendi."
As a matter of fact, as heretofore indi-
Gated in The Star the two nations, the
United States and Great Britain, have been
actually working under a tacitiy under
stood modus vivendi, though this has never
been reduced to terms or taken formal
shape. The existence of an understanding
on this point is manifested in the ready ac-
quiescence by the United States government
in the suggestion by the British foreign
office that it might tend to prevent trouble
if the War Department abandoned Its plan
of sending a garrison of troops 10 pyramid
Harbor. On it's part the British govern
ment showed its disposition to maintain the
status quo and prevent encroachments by
quietly but firmly restraining the Canadian
customs officers and mounted police, who
were greatly harrassing American miners
passing over the trails.
If that spirit continues to be exhibited on
both sides there is little reason to fear that
the failure of the London negotiations Will
result in anything more serious, so tar as
the mining communities are concerned,
than another long and disagreeable post
ponement of the final settlement or the
boundary question. There may be other
consequences affecting some of the i'm
portant issues that figured before the joint
high commission, and whose settlement
depends upon the adjustment of the boun-
dairy question but 1t is too early yet 10
predict what steps our government Will
take to bring the Canadians to reason ac-
cording to that view.
British Embassy Without Advices.
The British embassy is similarly without
advices from the foreign office as to the
direction of the recent negotiations in Lon
don, and the officials here positively de-
cline to discuss any phase of the Alaskan
question. Until recently Secretary Hay
and Mr.. Tower, the British charge, shaped
/ the negotiations in Washington, which
| later took formal shape in London, but
within the last three weeks the neSotia-
| tions have been removed entirely to Lon
| don, and the embassy officials here have
not been called into discussion. The gen.
| eral view has prevailed from the first in
| British quarters that a satisfactory ad-
/ justmant would ultimately be reached and
| that the delays and doubts arising from
| time TO time were merely ups and downs
l in the adjustment of a difficult diplomatic
situation. There continues to he this hope
| full view of an ultimate adjustment.
| 1t is believed now that the two govern
| ments have come to a point where it must
| be admitted that their present representa-
| tives must abandon their efforts to agree
| upon a boundary line, even though the lat
| ter be but temporary and subject to cor
| rection by subsequent negotiation. Whether
| or not arbitration will be the last resort
| cannot be foretod; at present that remedy
| has not been offered in such shape to be
1 acceptable to our government, and 1T is
| feared that the effort to arrange the limita-
| tions of an arbitration would be beset with
| as grave difficulties as those in the way OF
| direct negotiation.