The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-25
WHAT SHE OFFERS NOW
TO YIELD MUCH DISPUTED
GOLD COUNTRY.
IN RETURN FOR A SEAPORT SHE NAMES
She Must Get this Seaport Before she VIII
Agree to Arbitrate the Boundary Line.
Skaguay and Dyea fer
Pyramid Harbor.

YdiIlIu ttdI DUit
london, Oct. 24.-The Associated
Press is enabled to give authoritatively
Canada's final proposition for perma-
nent settlement Of the Alaska dispute
" is very different from her former de-
mands, and was delivered to United
States Ambassador Choate by the Ca
madam Minister of Marine and Fisher
les, Sir Louis Henry Davies, late to-
night before the latter sailed and dis
patched today to Washington by the
officials of the United States Embassy.
1t is as follows:
That the boundary line be arbitrated
upon terms similar to those imposed by
the United States and Great Britain
over Venezuela particularly those pro-
visions making fifty years occupancy
by either side conclusive evidence of
title, occupancy of less than that period
to be taken as equity allows under in
ternational law.
THAT, as Il condition precedent and
absolutely preliminary to arbitration,
Skaguay and Dyea would be conceded to
the United States without further claim
If Canada received Pyramid Harbor.
f'In other words, ,srnada gives up
Ancli OF the disputed gold country III
return for a seaport but stipulates that
she must get the latter before she agrees
to arbitrate the boundary line"
SHE ACTS UNDER PRESSURE.
London, October 1.-The propositions
of Sir Louis Henry Davis were made
privately and were. apparently, the re-
suit Of an unexpected communication
from his Government, for Sir Louis the
day previous had no inkling that he was
empowered to make such sweeping pro-
posals. The Canadian statesman, here
tofore. has insistently denied the Uni
ted States contention that Dyea and
Skaguay must first be ceded to the Uni
ted States before treating on the sub
Ject, and his sudden change of front
and the concession of two such impor-
tant points are apparently intended as
a coup and Mr.. Choate was found, to
certain extent, unprepared. The only
reply he could make was that he would
Inform the authorities at Washington
and await their adyices as his in
structions did not contemplate such a
change of base by Canada.
The Associated Press is reliably in
formed that Canada's new position was
greatly influenced by imperial pressure
and it can be stated definitely that Mr.
Chamberlain advised concession as much
as possible in order to gain Il port of
entry free from United States control,
with the professed reason that COM
mercial advantages would accrue there
from But it is said that the ulterior
motive is to increase British nava
strength by making Pyramid Harbor a
strong naval base.
Regarding the probable action of the
United States in these altered condi-
tions. British official opinion is that the
United States, having been granted
Dyea and Skaguay cannot refuse to ac-
cept the identical form of arbitration
they compelled England to take toward
Venezuela. This course is contingent
upon the United States deciding that
the old Behring country is more valu-
able than Pyramid Harbor
SETTLEMENT YET REMOTE.
Washington, October 24.-It is said at
the State Department that the PROPOSE
ton as to permanent Alaskan boun-
Diary laid down by Sir Louis Davies is
nothing more nor less than summary
Of claims heretofore preferred. When
the commission was in session last spring
and the Canadian proposition was made
to settle the boundary question by arb
trati0n, the American commissioners re-
piled with an offer to accept arbitration
with the proviso that no point occupied
by Americans for Il specified term of
years should be submitted to the arbi-
tration. In other words the term was
so fixed that by no possibility could the
title to Skaguay, Dyea, or any other
place that the Americans had occupied
for period represented by the dis
eovery of the Klondike field be called
into question by the arbitration.
This was one of the final propositions
rejected by the Canadian commissioners
which caused the failure of the joint con
erence. Since that time there have been
several suggestions IN the nature OF
COMPROMISES and included among these |
was one like this embodied IN Sir Louis
Davies propositions, namely; That the |
United States should confirm the IAnu' |
dian tide 10 Pyramid llarhor IN return
for Canadian confirmation OF the Ainefla |
can title 10 Skaguny aud nNen
II II not possible to accurately Fore
east the view that the state peWft
ment win take of thia laA proposition, |
hut il may be- proper to recall the faet |
thai IN The opinion of the Departments |
Cannda has 40 more claim 90 Pyramid !