The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-28
rlvLDA DEMANDS TOO MUCH.
LES CONDITIONS PRECEDENT To
ARBITRA ALTON.

~ she Must Have Pyramid HarbDr
md a strip on the Lynn Canal in
49,, t,vent-This Is What stopped
Negotiations-The Demand
c,nsed some NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
,,,,.t withdraw, If Negotiations
.. ia BE Resumed.
wellington, May 27.-To clear up mis-
| 7.rzrandings which appear TO exist both
london. and to some degree in this
.,,-,v. as to the exact status of the ne
..'.fious between the United States and
..t Britain respecting Canadian-Ameri-
shes. the following statement of the
.,.- that led up to the present condi-
,-. was secured from the best author
|p
when the commission adjourned some
.,,,tns AGO, it was because it had reach
u AIM apparently insurmountable obstacle
m the shape of the Alaskan boundary
question. After the adjournment the two
r.yernments took up this particular ques-
,ion with a view TO settling it and thus
removing it from the path of the many
o,bsr important issues involved.
There were numerous delays, owing to
the need of exchanging views between
rord5n. Washington and Ottawa, and the
authorities here became convinced that
an adjustment was hopeless.
HOW the Trouble Arose.
But the feeling in London was more
bopsrl, ana when Sir Julian Pauncefote
reached London on his way to The Hague,
h. held conferences with Lord Salisbury,
which resulted in definite proposal for
settling the boundary issue, and removing
il as am obstacle to the work of the COM
was that a separate tribunal of arbitra-
toa should pass on the boundary question
II was communicated to Ambassador
Ch5ate. and by him to the state depart
nent When the plan was received the
President was absent at Hot Springs, Va,
and il was felt desirable TO await his re-
turn before giving a final answer.
There was little or no doubt that the an
swer would have been favorable. Just as
tbe acceptance was about to be given the
officials here were surprised to have pre-
sented what they regarded as extraordi-
nary condition which Canada imposed in
connection with the submission of the
question to arbitration. This condition
was that in any event Canada should have
Pyramid harbor and a strip of territory
on the Lynn canal without reference to
the general conclusions reached by the
tribunal of arbitration. This port and
the strip of territory on the coast would
have carried also the back country leading
to the interior.
Caused Indignation.
This condition, coming after the arbitra-
ton plans, had been formally proposed
and were about to be accepted caused
not only surprise, but some degree of in
dgnation among the officials here.
After cauvassing the situation, the view
prevailed that Canada wanted arbitration
which would insure a favorable decision
on her side, or else, If the decision was
unfavorabe would give her rights in Pyr-
amid harbor and on the Lynn canal con-
rary to the general decision of the arbi-
uauon. Il was decided not to accept this
condition. and~a peremptory refusal was
given. Thus the matter stands.
There is every reason to believe that
there viii be no yielding of the officials
here TO Canada's condition. If il is with
drawn The arbitration may yet be arrang-
cd as means of settling the boundaries.
Inc opinion in the highest quarters seems
TO be positive that without such adjust
menJ of the boundary matter, the resump-
Ton Of the work of the joint commission
on The many other topics considered is
highly improbable.