Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-21
and the present president OF the council
will head the delegation from this country.
CORDIAL, BUT CAN'T AGREE
High Joint Commission Locks Horns
on boundary Questions and Ad-
iourns to August =.

WASHINGTON, Feb 20.-The American
Canadian Joiut High commission, after a
session today, adjourned to meet at Quebec,
August 2, unless the chalrmen of the re-
specive commissions agree on another date.
From a statement made public with the
sanction OF the two commissions Il appears
there were serious differences of opinion be-
twceu them regarding tue important matter
Of the delmitation OF the Alaskan boundary,
the Canadians in this connection being anN-
ious to obtain a seaport ca the Lynn canal,
so that its shippers would not be subjected
to The petty annoyances which they asserted
they experienced at the hands OF United
States officials.
Then the time for the meeting of the
Canadian Parliament, at whith the presence
of members of the commission from that
country is desired, is overdue and the latter
are anxious to return as socu as possible.
1t also became apparent that there was
little likelihood of the ratification by the
united States senate at its present session
OF any treaty which might be framed, which
also probably figured in the decision to ad-
journ.
Senator Fairbanks, chairman OF the Ameri-
can commission, has repeatedly stated there
was no basis for the reports of a rupture
in the relations of the two bodies and to-
night supplemented this by saying that they
were on the best of terms.
On behalf of their respective commissions,
Scoator Fairbanks, chairman OF the Ameri-
can board. and Sir Wilfrid Laurler, acting
chairman in the absence OF Lord Herschell
of the Canadian board, who is i'll, made the
following public statement respecting the
action taken today
The commission adjourned to meet at
Quebec August ., unless the ohairmen OF
the respective commissions shall agree upon
another date.
The commission has made very substantial
progress in the settlement and adjustment
of many of the questions upon which 1t has
been earnestly engaged, but 1t has been un-
able to agree upon the settlement of the
Alaskan boundary question.
The difficulties, apart from the immediate
delimitation of this boundary by the COM
mission itself, arise from the conditions
under which it might be referred to arb
tration. The British commissioners desired
that the whole question should be referred
on terms similar to those provided in the
reference of the Venezuelan boundary line,
and which by providing umpire would
insure certainty and finali;y.
The United States commissioners, ON the
, other hand, thought the local conditions in
Alaska so different that some notifications
of ,the Venezuela boundary reference should
be introduced. They thought, the reference
chosen by each of the high contracting par
ties, without providing for an umpire, they
believing that finality would be secured by
a majority vote of the jurists so chosen
They did not see any present prospect OF
agreeing to an European umpire, to be Sc
lected in the manner proposed by the British
commissioners, while the British commits
soners were unwilling to agree TO the
selection of an American umpire in the man
ner suggested by the United States com
missoners.
The United States commissioners further
contended that special stipulations should be
made in any reference to arbitration that
the existing settlements on the tide waters
of the coast should in any result continue
to belong to the United States. To this con.
tention the British commissioners refused
to agree.
1t was therefore, deemed advisable to
adjourn to convenient date in order TO
enable the respective governments to further
consider the subject, with respect to which
no conclusion has as yet been reached.