The age-herald., 1899-05-28
STATEMENT HAS
 BEEN ISSUED To Clear Up Doubts As to Anglo American Negotiations. THE ALASKAN BOUNDARY Was Apparently An Insurmountable Obstacle, and it Seemed That An Adjustment of the Question
 Was Hopeless.
THE ALASKAN BOUNDARY

Washington, May 27-To clear misunder- standings which appear to exist both in London and some degree in this country as to the exact status of the negotiations be- tween the United States and Great Britain respecting Canadian-American issues, the following statement of events that led up to the present conditions was secured from the best of authority. When the commis- sion adjourned some months ago it was because 1t had reached an apparently in- surmountable obstacle in the shape of the Alaskan boundary question.
 After the adjournment the two govern ments took up this particular question with a view to settling 1t and thus remov- ing it from the path of other important is- sues involved. There were numerous de- lays owing to the need of exchanging views between London, Washington and Ottawa and the authorities here became convinced that an adjustment was hopeless.
 But the feeling in London was more hopeful, and when Sir Julian Pauncefote reached London on his way to The Hague he held conferences with Lord Salisbury which resulted in a definite proposal for settling the boundary issue and removing 1t as an obstacle to the work of the com mittee.
 The main point of this proposal was that a separate tribunal of arbitration should pass on the boundary question. It was communicated to Ambassador Choate and by him to the state department. When the plan was received the president was absent at Hot Springs, Va, and it was felt desira- Die to await his return before giving final answer. There was little or no doubt that the answer would have been fa- vorable.
 Just as the acceptance was about to be gwen the officials here were surprised to have presented what they regarded as an extraordinary condition, which Canada i'm posed in connection with the submission Of the question to arbitration This condi- ton was that in any event Canada should have Pyramid harbor and a strip of terri tory on the Lynn canal, without reference to the general conclusions reached by the tribunal of arbitration.
 The port and strip of territory on the coast would have carried also the back country leading to the interior. This con dition, coming after the arbitration plan had been formally proposed and was to be accepted, caused not only surprise, but some degree of indignation among the of ficials here. After canvassng the situati the view prevailed that Canada wanted ar bitration which would insure a favorable decision on her side, or else if the decision was unfavorable, would give her rights in Pyramid harbor and on the Lynn canal contrary to the general decision of the ar bitration.
 It was decided not to accept this condi- tion. and peremptory refusal was given to the proposition. Thus the matter stands.
 There is every reason to believe that there will be no yielding of the officials here to Canada's condition. If it withdraws the arbitration may yet be arranged as a means of settling the boundary. The opinion in the highest quarters seems so positive that with some such adjustment of the bounda- ry matter the resumption of the work of the joint commission on the many other topics considered is entirely improbable.