The times., 1899-11-06
MONDAY. NOVEMBER c. 1899.
IndrfensiI,Ie RrIti.h trrrcssinn.

The ECu. john ". Foster formerly Sec
Tetary Of State and row a member Of the
AnElo-American High Joint Commission.
has plaes1 his country under obligation by
presenting. in the form OF a lecture be-
fore The National Geographic Society. the
history and present public status OF the
Alaskan boundary dispute. The full taxi
OF t1i- startling exposition of Canadian
effrcEery and British official counivauce
ri.h the same, IS published in the Ma
iGIal Geographic Magazine for November
win E-Lyz E-rs Illustrating rae subject.
Tac=e offer cartoEraphic evidence Of tne
l-se-1==lezz of the adverse claim TO a val
r-b.e portion Of our Alaskan territory and
Cg-=r Every American who takes an in
t-l.lEe-l interest ia the preservation OF
oer uolaI domain in an ITS in.egri,,
s1cu.5 supply himself ulth O copy Of This
publication.
it Is pity that We cannot enter into a
discussion uf the Alaskan boundary dispute.
which. ID VIII ba seen. does net involve any
vital question. without a feeling Of deep in
jury and sNazU6ration. This IS the more
10 bz regretted az time Rlen cur Gov
erHU-rt and people are giving the most
g=nsrous evidence OF their gratitude for
EngieH1's good Offices during the Spanish
NAT bg in,erposlng al American veto uBoa
any European Interference in South Africa
CT any violent aggression upon England
elsewhere. while her hands are tied
Realizing the depth disiuterested1egs
and courage OF the position assumed h
The United States IL this respect. It IS i'm
possible 10 account for the action of ,ae
British Government in the Alaskan matter
on any reasonable theory: lis claims being
on th-ir lace absolutely uuteuabIe and. OF
course. known TO be so in the Colonial
aud Foreign Omces in London. 10, OILY
are these claims uIrelable. but the most
cuTzory Investigation @. their character will
satisfy the EXTREMIST Aaglcphua ia America
that they assaI the integrity Of our domain
without just cause or even the remotest ex-
cEse. and constitute a direct and serious af-
front 70 our national dignity. All this is
true 10 such an extent that. If We could fer
ge- tae Spanish war and its sentimental re-
suits. as wei as the present necessity 70.
llz tw0 AuELo-saIon powers 10 present
joint front in certain connections. TO The
Eest Of The world, il would be an ezaEgera-
lion TO ssy that public opinion in the
United States would compel our Executive
10 insist upon their formal and final with
draWal. accompanied by an apology or
falling in that-+o regard them as an i'm
psratve reason for ssye-ing diplomatic re-
lat-ous with the Court Of ST. James.
ia opposition 10 this view. it may BE-
held. on The other si5e that his cguutr,
ought 10 feel willing 10 make concessions
in return for past favors. But we are IS.
turning those favors fully, both in klac
and in degree, and. ID that respect are on
an entirely even keel Eith our cra1s-Atlauti
relatives. Even il WE were not. il must B.
remembered that The case ia point is one
where demand is made as Of right ana
does not represent q request for concession
in the nature Of al alt Of grace
We can only present a brief epitome O.
the Alaskan boundary dispute as it is
lumluOusly reviewed and auslyzed by Dr.
Foster. Practically the identical territory
occupied and owned by Russia and the
United STATES from 1888 10 the present time
was described generally ia the charter Of
the year mentioned 10 the Russian Ameri-
can Company. granted by the Emperor
Paul For a quarter of a century England
acqulesced in the Russian possession Of the
area in question. In 1921, the Emperor Of
Russia ISSUED q decree cIsi1fgErar ts,--I7rsf,-a
jurisdiction on the high seas for a distance
OF one hundred miles from the coast Of
Asia. above latitude IS degrees so minutes
north. and from The northwest coast Of
America above latitude j degrees north.
and prohibited al foreign vessels from
landing upon or trading with the natives
on any part Of the coasts indicated. Against
this assumption both England and the
United States protested. IN 1924 this coun-
Try effected an arrangement with Russia
by which th after disclalmed possession
Of any terri-o-. oa the American coast be-
low latitude 55 degrees north. and permit
ted American vessels TO cruise and trade
IN the waters and on the shores of Alaska
prohibited ia the ukase Of 1921
in 1921 Great Britain opened negotiation.
really for the surrender Of Russia's claim
20 contrul of the north Pacific as a mare
ciausum but osteusIbly for the deIlmita-
'loH = The Russian territorial claim on the
Alaskan mainland At that time the Hud-
aoH's Bay Company was JUST beginning 10
push IT'S cutDcsts beyond The Rocky Noun