The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-02-18

New York Com Gsrcial Advertiser.
NO item Of he agreement American and
Caaa&-an commissioners at WAshlngiog.
are trying % make Is 20 important that
relating % the Alaska boundary. Agree
nien;s on al other subjects. however
weaghiy. wfM not De irr-vocahae, but tho
settlement % the boundary VII D. perma
nfsI2t ard Interchangeable. This uskeS u the
supreme matter IN contention, though the
present subject II dispute seems ~ .sht-
In THIS, AZ In other matters. there -
likely 10 b. no friction between The United
States and Great Britain. Both aopToaca
the sssb3ec, in a spirit OF reason. II not OF
concession, and neither wishes any more
than it's right under ths treaties Tbs
makes agreement on an actual boundary
merely matter Of Interpretation OF
treaties ard determine ton Of physical Lines
by survey. In one case The treaty is said
to require al imposes bic line. owing TO the
ignorance Of its trainers. II requires tha,
the line stall run from the south point OF
named k.aaf. north 20 the head Of GER
tain channel. entrance 10 which really is
south OF the island. This can be inter
preted oy is intent which is clearly that
ali islands south Of that named should be
British and ali coasstl.ne north OF the chan
nei named Russian. in Is25. AMI now
American. Fer the Canadian conien ton
that the boundary line thirty mics from
the coast Is TO be measured from the outer
edge Of the coast islands. il Is not to De
considered, and Great Britain never will
press Il The Canadians do not mean II
seriously. but put IL forward "a an ex-
trsme claim and a basis OF comprnmise.
Everywhere Canada IS putting forth real
or imaginary rights based on old treaties
70 trade for new commercial concessions.
The compensation she wants in this case
Is a port on our Alaskan coast and access
over the ribbon-like strip or American ter
ritory to the klond!ke country.
Now, this IS serious matter. II is Ike
the demand Of Argentina that the bound
airy treaty with Chile should be so inter
preted as 10 give her a port on the Pa
ciffc. In each case the effect would be To
tntrude a wedge of foreign territory be-
tween two separated parts OF the national
domain. II would cut the lower part Of
Alaska from the rest. and leave IL wholly
surrounded by the Dominion. The Amer
lean people is in good humor With Canada
and would do anything in reason to con-
tent her, but Il would not endure such an
Alienation Of territory as this. II would b<s
far worse than surrender CT the southern
peninsula between the two disputed chan
rels. That would be ACKNOWLEDGMENT, but
not separation.
Il may be said that Canada does not
want cession OF territory, but only a port
and route across the strip. open 10 her
shipping and trade-a sort OK treaty port
on the Chinese plan. This would not be
more acceptable. and the bare hint Of II
has put the Pacific coast IN fury. Cam
ada q ira ie to the Klondike has free pass
age TOW, under the bonding privilege. but
il must Use American shipping when IL
comes from American ports. To admit
foreign ships 20 this trade would be Ike
admitting Canadian ships TO trade between
the South and Boston on the plea that the
destination OF the trade was Montreal II
~szrs
them. the more as the greater part Of the
Yukon valley. reached by this route, Is
American. Canada viii have TO be salts
fed III some other way.