The Portland daily press., 1899-06-05
BOUNDARY NOT SETTLED.
Great Britain Claims we Ask Too
E Much.


London, June 3.-Ths foreign office it
sued parliamentary paper tonight CIV
Ing In detail the proceedings OF the joint
high commission In Washington ON Febru-
airy 18th relating to the British propo-
sails for arbitration on the Alaskan boun-
Diary. IL says the British co nmissioners
proposed the immediate appointment
of an arbitral tribunal to determine the
boundary between Alaska and Canada
from the southernmost point at Prince
of Wales island TO Mount ST. Elias In
accordance with the Anglo Russian
treaty of February 2s. 1926, the tribunal
to consist Of three jurisss. one nominated
by the privy council. one by Presiden
Mckinley and the third TO be selected by
the two nominees. The rules governing
the abitrators were as follows:
"A-Adyerse holding of prescription
during a period of 90 years shall make
good the title The judges may deem ex-
elusive political control Of the district as
we'll as settlement thereof, sufficient to
constitute adverse holding or make Ire-
scriptive title s tS
"B-The arbitrators may recognize and
give effective rights to claims resting on
any other grounu valid according to in
ternntional law or principles Of interna.
tional law that the arbitrators may deem
applicable to the case which are not in
contravention Of rule A.
Gin determining the boundary IL
the territory OF ons party shall be found
| by the tribunal to have been at the date
OF this treaty 10 occupation Of these sub
jects or citizens Of the other party such
effect shall be given to such occupation
reason, justice, the principles of inter-
nationl law and the equities Of che case
require"
The other articles provide for q meeting
90 days after the printed articles are SUBJ
mittedi that all questions. including the
final Judgment shall be determined by
majority Of all the arbitrators, the de-
cision, II possible, TO be rendered within
three months of the close OF arguments
and the employment Of necessary assis-
tance OF scientific experts each govern.
ment to pay Its own expenses and the
other expenses to he equally divided.
The concluding articles provide that
the high contracting parties shall engage
to consider the result of the proceedings
as full, perfect and final settlement
of all questions referred TO the arbitra-
tors.
The Americans accepted the proposals
as the basis Of adjustment but proposed
in addition to the Anglo ussian treaty
that the boundary should be defined In
accordance with Russo-Amsrican treaty
OF cession or as the same shall be estab-
lished by the tribunal, under rules here
matter provided, the tribunal to consist
| of six impartial jurists Of repute, three
TO be nominated by the privy council and
three by the President Of the United
States. The Americans also proposed
an amendment as follows:
A'ln considering the case referred
60 in said treaties, IL 10 understood
that the coast Of the continent is intend
ed and that all towns and settlements on
tide water.settled under authority of the
United States and under jurisdiction of
the United States at the date of this
treaty shall remain within the territory
and jurisdiction OF the United States
The British commissioners regretted
that they were absolutely unable to ac-
cept the suggested modification TO their
proposition, because the suggested Anne
rican tribunal did not provide tribunal
which would necessarily and, in the pos
sible event OF differences of opinion, final
ly dispose Of the question and because
the amendment to rule @ was a marked
departure from the rules of the Vene-
zuelan boundary reference which left all
such questions to be determined by the
tribunal and because the words added
by the United States claim that an effect
| should be given to their occupation of
and In British territory which Justice,
reason and the equities of the case do
not require.
The British commissioners also objs ct
cd that the language used with refer.
| ence TO the coast was open to miscon-
struction. They were Of opinion that Ii
| was useless to further press the negoti-
ations at present and that they must re-
fer the matter to their governments for an
exchange of views In respect to the con-
stitution of the tribunal.
The Americans inquired whether the
British commissioners had considered the
question OF selecting an umpire from the
American continent. The British menu
| hers replied in the affirmative adding
that they thought 1t most objectional in
view of the policy long maintained and
recently re-asserted by the government
of the United States toward other ma
tions on the said continent. The seiec.
ton Of an umpire by any such nation
would not offer guarantees OF imparti-
ality. which was the first qualification
requisite.
| The Americans then proceeded to set
tie the remaining subjects, as they thought
90 nearly concluded. Several subjects
were 40 far advanced as to assure the
| probability of a settlement. II, then all
differences except one could now be ad-
1 justed. would 1t not be most commendable
TO advance neighborly friendship and
could not the respective governments be
trusted to settle the principal remaining
differences by direct negotiation.
| The British commissioners replied that
all questions should be deferred until the
boundary was disposed OF, either by
agreement or by reference to arbitration,
because the manner in which they wers
prepared to adjust some other Important
matters must depend upon whether il
| would be possible TO arrive at q settle.
meut of all questions which might al
any time occasion acute controversy and
even conflict. 81.