The record-union., 1899-08-06


Russia in February 1926. The Eng
Ilish contention is that the Russian in
depreciation of the treaty is error. and
that the true boundary line should run
very much nearer to the coast and give
the British several ports which she can
reach by traversing her own territory
only.
The boundary line is described in the
treaty referred to in this manner,
emitting the verbiage:
From the southernmost point OF
Prince of Wales Island, which point lies
in the parallel of "a degrees 40 minutes
north latitude and between the l3lst
and 133d- degrees west longitude
Greenwich, ascend to the north alonS
Portland Channel to the point of the
continent where it strikes the 56th de-
gree north latitude. Thence follow the
summit of the mountains situated par
allel to the coast as far as the point
of intersection of the 141st degree OF
west longitude, and from said point OF
intersection north, etc. 1t is under
stood
First-That Prince of Wales Island
shall belong wholly to Russia.
Second-That wherever the summit
of the mountains which extend in
direction parallel to the coast, from the
Seth degree north latitude to the point
of intersection of the 141st degree of
west longitude, shall prove to be at
distance of more than ten marine
leagues from the ocean, the limit De-
tween the British possessions and the
line of coast which is to belong to Rus
STA as above mentioned shall be formed
by line parallel to the windings (sin-
uosities) of the coast, and which snail
never exceed th& distance of ten ma
rine leagues therefrom.
Mr. W. H. Lewis in the Review of
Reviews has very clearly expressed
the issue concerning this line. The
British claim is that Portland Channel
does not mean what we now call Port
land Canal. but what is known as
Benin Canal which they hold was in
1926 known as Portland Channel. That
while the Russians ran the line uni
formly ten marine leagues from the
coast as though there were no ranges
of mountains parallel to the coast, the
fact is that there is a range of noun
tains parallel to the coast, the crest
of which ought to be followed. That
where there is no range of mountains
the leagues should be measured not
from the salt water line, but from the
outer coast line of the islands or from
the ocean. that being meant as the
coast. That even if there We're no dis
tinct range of mountains and the line
was accepted as ten marine leagues
from the coast, it should be ten leagues
from a meandered coast line, and cut
across the mouths Of the inlets and
channels indenting the Alaskan Coast,
leaving the harbors at the head of
these inlets in British possession.
The United States claims that these
contentious and interpretations are
ill founded and give the claimant no
standing in justice. But the British
offer to concede something of their
claim if there is on our part concession
of the claim to certain ports or even
one port at salt water. This we re-
fuse to grant.
Mr.. Lewis points out that what was
intended is best shown by the official
correspondence appearing in British
records leading up to the adoption of
the treaty of 1926. This correspond
ence shows that Russia in asking to
have the line follow the Portland Canal
intended to secure strip of land oppo-
site Prince of Wales Island; that she
described that canal as at the hight
of Prince of Wales Island in order to
indicate that the mouth of the canal
was opposite the southern extremity of
the island, and 1.-The origin in the in
terror between 55 and Sc degrees north
latitude This describes Portland not
Benin Canal.
As to the English contention about
the line following the crest of the
mountains nearest to the coast, there is
no distinct range of mountains along
the coast, but they are in patches and
groups, on the islands and on the main
land. and where there are ranges they
run at right angles, and not parallel
to the coast. Hence the claim of right
to run the line from crest to crest so
as to give Canada the heads of the
bays and inlets is without secure foun-
dation.,
AS to the English claim that the ma
rine leagues must be measured from
the outer coast line of the islands the
records show that Russia insisted upon
leagues of terra f1rma,' on the con-
tinent, and not ten marine leagues in
width of island possessions.
Finally as to the fourth contention
of the British for meandered line, we
hold that the parties to the treaty ex-
pressed precisely what they meant,
meaning just what they said when they
described the "sinuosities'' of the coast,
and did not mean a line running over
bays, creeks and inlets.
In support of this view there is cit
ed the letter of the Russian Prime Min
lister sqS23) to Count Lieven at Lon
don, giving an account of the inter-
view between himself and the British
ambassador. This clearly sets forth
the Russian position:
*s* That the line of the 9th de-
gree Of north latitude should consti-
tute the southern boundary of the
states of his imperial majesty, that on
the continent toward the east that line
should run along the range of noun