The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-02-15
CONCESSIONS At SkAGWAY.
AMERICAN COMMISSIONERS WILL
GIVE CANADIANS RIGHTS.
Original Demand for u Cession at
skakway or u Substantial Part
OF Its Water Front Is Rejected
by the American Com missioners.

CHICAGO. Feb. IA special TO the
TTmes-Hera.d from Washington says;
Great Britain and the United States are
10 have a closer bond Of friendship. The
joint high commission. which came peril
ously near breaking up In a rupture Nom
day. will probably conclude IA treaty after
all.
The United States commissioners instead
of presenting an ul,imatun, as the Cana
dians expected, submitted q memorandum
conclliatory in tone Offering certain rights
at SKagway, and suggesting further nego-
tiations. The possibility OF efecting an
agreement was also advanced by a cable
gram received by Baron HerS>hei from
Joseph Chamberlain England's minister
for the colonies. directing the Canadian
commission to exhaust every effort to
reach an aInicable agreement keeping in
mind the Importance of promoting the
present cordial relations between the I'M
ted States and Great Britain.
After brief session the joint high com
mission adjourned until noon today and
the Canadian commissioners retired 10 con-
slider the memorandum Of the United
States. AS result. the Canadian mei.-
bers, who were yesterday packing their
trunks preparatory 10 going home. said
that they might stay In Washington an
other week. and that only Baron Herschel
could tell when the Canadians would 60
Mr.. Kasson. of the United States com-
mission. and Mr. Hay. secretary of state
both say that the meeting this afternoon
will be of the greatest Importance. II lis
Believed that fnal agreement viii be
reached and that the only work left un-
done will be the drafting Of the treaty.
Though all the points at issue will not
be settled, the agreement viii be bene-
fetal and satisfy the United States and
the Dominion. II can be stated on good
authority that the United States has
agreed 20 concede some rights to Canada
at Skagway.
The original demand for a strip ~ land
along one side OF the Ch.icat river from its
mouth 10 Canadian territory. a distance of
thirty miles, Is dismissed as unreasonable.
The next demand for a cession Of Skag-
way or substantial part OF its water
front for Canadian docks and customs
houses is also rejected without cons.Iera-
;ion.
The United states however. agrees 20
give Great Britain certain rights a Skas
way not involving the cesSion of territory
or the surrender oe sovereignty or one foot
of United States soil. These. the Canadians
as a hast resort ard in tha interest of
arli;y and friendship, have agreed 10 ac-
oept.
II is difficult 10 learn. owing to the diplo-
matte character Of the negotiations. Jsst
what these rights are, but is Is believed shat
they include the rights on the part Of Can
ada 10 establish and maintain at Skagway
for period OF years a. customs house: ,ha,
the United States agrees 10 exsend 10
British shsEs the right TO carry.
from other than United States
ports. goods destined "a the Cana
dian KIondike. for entry through the port
o. Skagway and tina; such goods and such
ships are 70 dock and discharge their car
goes without Interference from the United
States customs authority AZ Skagway end
the goods are TO bs exempt from the pay
B2eut of duty 10 the Omitted States. In
other words. Great Britain ia - enjoy a.
Skagway thirty miles from her frontier the
privileges she now cajoys only a; her owa
boundary.
Under the bonding privilege accorded na-
ss0us by international iaw. Great Britain
csn nov sass goods through the pert 81
Skagway 70 thA klondike in band without
Payment ~ duty 20 the United States, Her
cgrnu1{ {SsIoners complain, however, tnat tHs
7ettv anuoyaaces o. United STATES officers
~ SkaEway are unbesrahle ard that IL Is
20 avosa them that these special righis ara
desired
The Pacific coast navigation Interests.
w8!ch. ief ~ Senator Perkins of Casi;or-
ma have al along fought the skaEway
concessions. are p.acafe6 BY tas provision
tsa. the British ships can take shipments
e Sksxway under This scheme from sor
elEu parts only. They cannot enter the
trade from san Francisco. Portland. Seat
-. Tacoma. Povt Townsend or Other 1-nlt-
81 states ports unless Trey carry goods
under .he od arrangement. AMI are prae-
t.ca1y limited IN this privilege - goods
embarked at Vancouver ar Victoria.
The Canadians claims this viii rot
Yiosse.y interfere with Pacific coast uay ga
ton interests
As reetlt = 49,. negotiations the
Tinted States has scored i great victory
aa tha Alaskan boundary dlapufe -
cenapIe.e - ii that the Canadians wisl
scarreEy atfai3 aow taas there vas ever a
boundary dispute The United States ~eu
ty dymness - the outset waIna
~-as absolutely appalling - the Jana
a.ara In the brief - ths United State
written AT I5e3ae snS pHt ir type th@re.
tne United States cornEn ->a37nera deelaTea
taac -.he }ta@Ggary question w&@ ene for
Surveyors arb not fo~ diplomats
They declare that under tne treaty -
Is1s sh@ United states &nt British terri
tory was divided bv iine from ths s9FTg-
rrsf 81 Noun, s. FssIas - ths heaG of
Portland e=wef following tEe efnuos3s.es
90 She sasz, IRE 81 a distance eE thirty
rats au7 -Nat - 3~fssTBssse shis ae3F-d-
art Il Vs. eecesssry 20 s@fFaT z2eE a &H@.
to- position aas h-ees1 mainland Is she
United states and conceded IL totS ~ tsse
BRITISH commissioners