New-York tribune., 1899-06-08
AMERICAN OFFICIALS HOPEFUL
THEY SAY, HOWEVER, THAT A COMPLETE Il
AGREEMENT is NOT YET ASSURED.

THEY SAY, HOWEVER, THAT A COMPLETE Il
AGREEMENT is NOT YET ASSURED.
Washington June Late in the day the
officials here learned the details Of the latest
Alaskan boundary negotiations in London ana
Secretary Hay and the British Charge q Al
faires Mr. Tower held conference on the SUD
iect The details OF the proposition were not
made public.
II is known that the arrangement OF monus
vivendi to govern the relations OF the Ohiteu
States and Canada on the Alaskan boundary
is receiving a great deal Of Ambassador Cnoate
attention The basis for the temporary oerm-
itation OF the boundary in the neighbornooo OF
the passes leading into the Klondike from the
Lynn Canal viii, If the present EFFORT succeeuS'
be on White Pass on the east and on ChliKoot
Pass In the middle at the points where the
Canadian custom-houses were established about
eighteen months ago. On the Dalton tran the
point has not yet been selected and as the
pressure toward the sea on this westernmost
trail by the Canadians has been more severe
than at any other point great difficulty Is natu-
rally experienced in reconciling even tempo
rary the conflicting claims TO Jurisdiction
While Pyramid Harbor is not insisted upon at
this juncture by the Canadians as part OF the
temporary arrangement. they desire TO get as
near 10 tidewater as possible, and their cialrh
in this quarter includes the important md
ian village OF Klukwan, town thst nus
long been under the protection OF the
United States. and which this Government
is ndsposed to surrender. even tempo
rarly. into Canadian control II this DIM
Guilty can be solved. and divisional point To-
Gated on the Dalton trail. there is no doubt that
a modus vivend will be the outcome. This
would remove the chance Of hostile collisions
on the border, and postpone until calmer reel
ings prevail the permanent settlement. win
the Alaskan boundary controversy removed from
the subjects for consideration by the Joint High
Commission. there is every reason to believe
that treaty can be framed satisfactory to both
parties in time for submission TO the Senate at
its next session.
II Is said however that too much assurance
should not be felt that complete accord is GER
tain The officials here agree with the London
view that the outlook is rather brighter. because
negotiations are on again. but they qualify this
by saying that the agreement is not yet con-
cluded and when concluded II will leave much
TO be settled by future negotiations.
WHY THE COMMISSION FAILED.
In view of the fact that the protocol record
ing the proceedings Of the Joint High Com
mission in Washington on February Is has been
made public in the Canadian Parliament. while
an abstract OF its contents has also been pub
lshed in London as well as in this country, the
State Department has deemed IL proper TO make
the entire protocol public.
This particular protocol is regarded by the
Department as of great Importance, for 1t
marked the failure of the Commission under
peculiar conditions. The record shows that the
Commission met at 10 o'clock that morning;
that the British side proposed arbitration, and
that the Americans accepted the proposition In
general, using il a basis for treaty. as
offered by the British. II is shown however
that when the Americans offered amendment
the British side promptly refused to accept IT,
and without afording further opportunity for
the negotiation Of an arbitration treaty stopped
the negotiations and referred the matter TO their
own Government, Notwithstanding the Ameri-
can side urged that the Commission at least
conclude the negotiations on the remaining sub
Jects
These facts were rhe basis OF the American
contention that the Canadians had not afforded
a real opportunity for arbitration and were re-
sponsible for the failure Of the Joint High Com
mission. The points Of the British arbitration
proposal and also Of the proposition put forward
by the Americans amendment have al
ready been indicated in cable dispatches and
the following points given those on
which Importance is laid by the American side
In putting forward their proposal the British
side said: They therefore made the following
as a basis 70 be proceeded upon in framing
treaty" The attitude Of the Americans this
is given as follows: The Commissioners Of the
United States announced that they accepted the
proposals made the basis OF adjustment but
desired an amendment in relation 70 the ar
bitral tribunal. and a modification Of Rule to
make IT conform to the present local conditions
in Alaska"
The British objections to the American coun-
ter-proposal have also been published, and the
record on that point reads Holding these
views, the British Commissioners Of the
opinion that no useful end would be served by
further pressing at the present time the negotia-
tions. and must refer the matter TO their Gov
eminent"
ANOTHER SCANDAL AT HARRISBURG.