The evening times., 1899-09-05
ADJUSTING THE BOUNDARY.
Great Britain md America Practi-
cally Agree ON the Alaskan Line.

ca1ly Agree ON the Alaskan Line.
Great Britain and the United States
have practically agreed upon a temporary
line defining the boundary between Alaska
and Canada. Negotiations now in progress
relate only to minor questions growing out
of the definition of the line. One of the
unsettled questions relates to the status
of mines owned by Americans, which may
lap over into territory which has been un-
der the control of Canada. The prospec
tive settlement of the boundary question
is due to concessions made not on,y by
Great Britain, but by this Government
also
Secretary Hay has won in the matter
of excluding Canada from the Lynn Canal,
but a port of entry on the canal Will be
given should the final settlement fail to
give Canada a permanent harbor. The
Secretary has also been successful in
keeping the British to the north OF the
village of Kluckwan, though, it is said.
he has agreed to the placing OF the line
just above the village instead Of for
miles beyond, as originally demanded.
Secretary Hay laid the correspondence in
the controversy before the Cabinet at its
session. yesterday. 1t is expected that the
modus vivendi will be settled in few
days unless Canada should again assume
hostile attitude. At present Its attitude
is conciliatory.
AS result of the prospective agreement
between Great Britain and the United
States in the matter OF the Alaska boun-
dairy, no further trouble is anticipated in
securing the conseGt OF Lord Salisbury to
Ion sNf hn 1nt rfflr- In Ilxt-nr.
treaty. The report that the government
of Colombia proposes to inaugurate a
movement in England with view to con-
tinuing the treaty Is not viewed with alarm
in official circles. 1t is said by officials OF
the State Department that there is a boun-
dairy dispute between Colombia and Mic.
aragua over a strip of territory which is
said to take in the Atlantic terminus of the
proposed waterway, but Nicaragua holds
that there can be no doubt of her right to
the territory.
Moreover, it is pointed out that Lord
Salisbury agreed last December to abro-
gate the Clayton-Bu Bulwer treaty, and that
the negotiations for such abrogation were
practically completed when Great Britain
presented exorbitant demands in the Alas
ka boundary controversy and declared that
this dispute would have to be settled be-
fore she would conclude the Clayton Bull
Wet ucSOiidtiOuS- Inc aulnOrltleS appTe-
ciated that. in making this announcement
Great Britain was actuated by the hope
that the United States, in return for the
abrogaticn of the Nicaraguan Canal con-
yention. would be willing to make conces-
sions in the boundary matter.
Whether the Clayton Bulwer treaty is
abrogated or not depends entirely. accord
Ing to the official view. upon Great Britain
and any representation made by Colombia
will probably have little effect upon the
final decision OF the British Government.
No arrangement has been made for an
other meeting Of the British American
Joint High Commission, and it is probable
that the differences between this country
and Great Britain concerning the Alaska
boundary will be settled through ordinary
diplomatic means without the necessity of
calling the Commission again. The latest
propositions of the United States are Ie-
garded as exceedingly liberal. They have
not been answered by Great Britain, but It
is believed here that the British Govern
ment and the Dominion authorities cannot
afford to reject them. 1t is the purpose
of the United States to adhere to these
propositions and not to make any more
concessions. A favorable answer may come
from Great Britain al any time. A direct
rejection is not expected.