The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-04
CITY OFFICIAL PAPER.
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SEATTLE, AONDAY, SEPT. 4.
A CRITIC AxswERED.


from q reader In Victoria an editorial
clipping from the colonist, with re-
quest to reply from a broad stand
point, not the narrow traders argu-
ment" The Post intelligence Ia good
natured. and will waive the natural
question as to whether anything from
the Colonist IL worth noticing or an
swering, and endeavor briefly to COM
ply. The Colonist reprints with warm
appreciation a two-column article from
the London Times. presenting the Cana
dian view OK the boundary dispute. and
says the statement is the ''clearest and
best It has yet seen" An assertion that
the British Russian correspondence
leading up to the treaty of 1875 shows
that his Britannia majesty was not pre-
pared to accept any line which would
deprive him of the sovereignty Of the
small bays and inless under discussion
receives emphatic Endorsement from the
Victoria journal. and IL also calls espe-
cial attention to the following para
graph In the Times article:
Canning tthe premier) In a dispatch on
the subject written In July. 1924. after
stating that the line OF the Russian bo,in-
dairy should run parallel to the windings
Of the coast. stipulates that IL shall do
30 In such way as never TO give To the
Russian strip OF coast "A greater breadth
than ten marine leagues from the ocean.
and specifically explains that this provi-
40 must be inserted In order TO prevent
the lire from being too far inland"
The Colonist's comments on this lum-
nous sentence are a trifie yague-which
Is not surprising. considering their
source--but II seems 20 revive the alb
surd and luliy-exploded Canadian con-
tention that the boundary line should
not be on the continent. but ten marine
leagues from the outer coast OF the
chain OF Islands.
II may be Of profit TO our Canadian
correspondent. IA well as to all others
interested In this momen,cus ccntro-
versy. 10 refer them to the able. ex-
haustive and palnstaking article on the
Alaska boundary by William II. Lewis
In the August number OK the Review OF
Reviews, Mr.. Lewis goes thoroughly
into the negotiations prior 10 the RUS
sian British treaty ~ 1926.
In all the correspondence relating 70
the ten marine leagues from the coast.
Russia insisted that these marine
leagues should be- ''on tile continent &"
She emphasized the point that the ten
marine leagues In width were not to be
Of islands. but Of terra tlrma. England
cndeavored 10 secure q compromise. but
Russia refused 20 yield Negotiations
were broken cfy for time. On their re-
sumption Russia insisted upon her
point. and II was admitted on both sid -
tina. the boundary line was TO give her
ten marine leagues "un the continent. q"
1t was also understood that the propos a
line should run along the mountains
which follow the sinuosi,ies Of the coast.
On the iath Of July. isei. Mr.. Canning.
for the British government. directed the
reopenIng II the negotiations ana In
closed draft 81 treaty which would
be acceptable 10 Great Britain. This ac-
cepted the line ~ demarcat!on proposed
by Russia, except that II provided tha,
the tine should follow the "sinuosl.i.s ~
the coast along the base or TIE mount.
aims nearest the sea" The Russian
r'enipo'entiaries Submitted counter
draft Of the treaty. In witch the ae
scrtp;ion az she boundary tine Differed
from that suggested sv Great Britain
only In that II prescribed an a. itrarv
width cf ter marine leagues regardless
Of the mountains.
In December. ises. british env y
went - ST Petersburg 20 conclude and
sian the treaty With she Russian gov
eminent liis Instructions were 81 oe-
pose Russia's plan - making tha coa~;
strip ten marine leagues In Ni1ta re
ssrsless - ths mountains 81 abarsic u
the former contention 81 tha Sri,isS
government Cor ,he sfawsrf base - 80
mountains 50 the boundary Nr~ :,
agree 20 the Summit, as Suggested g.
along BY Russia. The Russian wrver~.
rnens ssiil insisted ca the sen-leaG %
clause. A, last. Ga February - lsst
the treaty was agreed upen and signed
the portions dsaiinx with sA~ BOUNDARY
tine helmx these proposed ~ Russia n
the BEGINNING. \ issie later TIRE llnt
Was nnArret eslt by Russia and MAS Ac'
copied by GreA; Britain.
IN the negotiations. Eagsan! made a