The evening times., 1899-06-19
TREATY With. CANADA
NOT Yet IMPOSSIBLE
Senator Fairbanks Hopeful Of
an Agreement.
Others Who Are Not So Sangaine
of That Result.
Dominion Comm iss toner's Alleged 10
Re Responsible for the Rup-
ture in Negotiations.

Diplomatic circles are more than ordi-
aarily interested in the question as TO
whether negotiations between the United
States and Canada in regard to the settle
ment of the disputed International ques
tions are to be resumed Senator Fair
banks. a member Of the Anglo American
Joint High Commission. has gone to Alas
ka to investigate for himself as far as pos
sible the puzzling questions of the boun-
dary. He is still sanguinc as to the out
come Of the negotiations, which he consid-
ers by no means at an end. Others inter-
ested, however. take different view of
the situation and expect no practical re-
suits from the effort to resume the ses
sions of the Commission.
According to one who is well informed
on the subject, the whole fault of breaking
eff the negotiations lay with the Canadians.
Il think those who look for a renewal OF
the sessions of the Commission" he said.
ARE inclined TO take too sanguine view
of the matter. Al all times the Ameri-
cans were willing to meet the canadians
half way and many times were willing 10
concede more than they should, but on
the session adjourned with the treaty
NO further advanced.
Il believe the main trouble TO have rest
ed with the members of the Commission
who insisted on arguing the case in long
winded speeches in the same manner as
they would try case in court or argue
point before a parliamentary body. Di-
plomacy is not conducted on these lines.
When diplomats meet to construct treaty
they usually know just what they want
and how far they are willing 10 concede
territory or other points in dispute to the
other party to the treaty. They say, What
do you want? You can have this or that
and we will take this or that
But the Canadian Commission was con-
Quoted on different lines. Neither side
knew exactly what it wanted. but on one
point each was determined, and that was
in regard TO the boundary line of Alaska.
Still. the Canadians misrepresent the situa-
ton when they claim they asked certain
things of us to which we replied with an
ultimatu There was no ultimatum given
and it was OF their own accord the Cana
dians broke of the conference. They di-
rectly declined to submit the boundary dis
pute to the arbitration of any American.
The American Commissioners never
pressed the matter so far as to say they
would not submit the case TO an European
arbitrator. All we wanted to know was
II they would agree to a resident of Mexico
Or some other country in North or South
America. There are many able constitu-
tiOnal lawyers in Mexico and South Ameri-
Ca. They made us a proposition to which
We replied with counter suggestion. This
did not necessarily mean we rejected in
toto their first proposal Ii meant we were
willing To consider the point in dispute and
reach a conclusion regarding it if possible.
md fn nd tr.A tai ith hn tor
proposition.
The Canadians affected to take ii as an
evidence that We no longer wished to con-
time the conference, and they according
ly withdrew. AS matter of fact they had
been seeking pretext for breaking of the
relations for some time. At every con-
ference something or other the fisheries,
the lumber, and so on, would come up as
the most important matter before the Com
mission. After arguing and debating the
point at issue until further debate was i'm
possible. il would be suddenly passed over
and drop almost out of sight. while its po-
sitions as the most important question
would be assumed by one of the other mat
ters on which the two countries are at
variance. All this tended to make the re-
gotiations exceedingly difficult, and when
We finally reached the kernel in the nut.
the boundary dispute. they showed their
hand and quit.
Il believe the dispute between the Unit
ed States and Canada could be easily set
tied if We could reach il in the ordinary
lIethods of diplomacy but all our negotia-
tons have to be conducted in such a round
about manner as to make me, at least. de-
spair of ever concluding them successfully.
for long while at least. Eventually the
Canadians will see they have nothing TO
gain and much to lose by rejecting our
friendly overtures. and they will be ready
to talk business