Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-22
4 rEMp0RARI ADJrSruEyr.

4 TENIDRiRl lIlJ = LINEN I,
The perpleXing Alaskan boundary
question has been temporarily adjusted
and the danger of serious friction he.
tween American and Canadian interests
in Alaska for the time being removed.
According to report from Washington
the agreement temporarily defining the
boundary makes no concession detli.
mental to American interests, while at
the same time being essentially fair to
Canada. 1t is admitted by the repre-
sentative of the Canadian government
in London that the provisional arrange.
ment is fair to both sides and insofar
ms it will prevent local friction, salts.
factory. 1t is stated that the effect of
the modus is to give the United States
control of the tidcwatcrs, the British
being fifteen miles above; to maintain
the American control to the new ana
important Porcupinc country ana to
save the rights of all American miners
the line.
This result of the protlactcd ncgotia.
tions, which for Il time promised to he
futile by reason of Canadian objections
and obstruction, will be welcome TO all
those people in both countries who de-
sire that Il settlement of all the differ
enccs between the United States and
Canada shall be effected with the least
possible delay. There is every reason
to think that but for the obstinate
course of Canada the irritating bound
ary question would now he disposed of,
opening the way to Il satisfactory adj
iustment of the other matters in dis
pute When it is understood that the
claims made by Canada in connection
with the boundary question are of re-
cent date, that prior to the discovery
of gold in considerable quantities the
Canadian government had never seri-
ously indicated desire to occupy ter
ritory it now demands or questioned the
boundary line agreed upon between the
Russian and British governments in
1925, the motive of that governments
late persistence in demanding the sur
render of American territory in Alaska
is obvious and hardly of a character to
| reference to the line agreed upon by
Russia and Great Britain, Prof. j. b.
Moore, formerly assistant secretary of
state, says: "Until Il recent period the
| line, as it was then understood by both
! governments remained unQueStioned.
1t appeared on all the maps, including
those published in England, as the
United States now maintains 1t, follow
| ing the sinuositieS of the coast and run
ming around the heads of the inlets, in
cluding the Lynn canal, and giving to
Russia an unbroken strip of the main-
land up to Mount st, Elias" The
United States simply insists upon ad-
herring to the general principles of the
| boundary as settled by the agreement
between Russia and Great Britain
three-quarters of century ago, while
| Canada on the other hand urges diff
! ferent principle for settling the bound
ary line and one involving the sacrifice
of territory in possession of the United
States since it's purchase of Alaska.
The provisional agreement will doubt
less terminate negotiations for time,
but rs both governments are anXions Tor
q permanent settlement of the question
q resumption of negotiations at no very
remote date is probable. AS to the
prospect for permanent solution a
member of the Canadian government
who is in LONDON expressed the opinion
that it is not bright, which may mean
that Canada will not accept the tem-
porary adjustment as basis of final
settlement.