New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-07
CANADIAN NEGOTIATIONS.

= We are glad to see that leading men in both
Canada and the United States have come to
express the opinion that was set forth In these
columns weeks ago, that the Joint High Com
mission was not altogether failure and that
the attempt TO settle various matters at issue
between Canada and the United States has not
been abandoned. II will be remembered that
when the Commission adjourned for the sea-
son, to meet again late in the summer, there
was a widespread ululaton over its utter fail
ure." We were told II had settled nothing, and
would settle nothing, nor even make progress
toward settlement. From our point OF view
there seemed to be no ground for those pes
siinistic lamentations. We believed that much
valuable progress had been made. and that
there was fair prospect OF reaching settle
mcnt on some points-not on all; no one, prob
ably ever expected that-when the Commission
reassembes That hopeful belief Is now
strengthened by what we may term expert
testimony from both sides Of the border
We printed the other day an utterance upon
the subject by Mr.. John Charlton. member
OF the Commission and of the Canadian Parlia-
ment His intimate knowledge OF this country,
as well as of his own. makes him an excep-
itionaIly shrewd observer and sound authority.
And II Is noteworthy that he takes almost ex-
lactly the same view Of the case that we long
ago expressed. The work before the Commits
sion. he saws was too great TO be disposed OF
/ In few weeks but goodly share Of IL was
done Tentative agreements were reached upon
n number of topics. The chief stickng-point
was the boundary Of the Alaska panhandle and
II NAV be that the Commission will not be able
TO come 10 any agreement thereon. But 1t does
not by any means follow that no treaty Will be
negotiated on other points. Indeed. Mr.. Charl-
ton evidently expects one will be negotiated,
and be reckons IL an admirable plan to have
the Commission take its present recess and
como together again just in time to lay the
conclusion of its work before Congress when
Congress meets next fall
II is 10 be observed from our dispatches that
official opinion at Washington is substantially
in agreement with Mr.. Charlton. II is realized
there that there are some points on which the
Commission may not be able to agree. and some
on which important concessions may have to
be made. The general sentiment is decidedly
favorable 10 a friendly understanding though
II is maintained that all the concessions cannot
be ON our side AS Mr.. Charlton himself re-
minds his Canadian countrymen. the 6Ooo0o
of Canada cannot bring the 100000 of the
United States to their knees. Neither, we may
confidently add do the 100000 wish to HUI
initiate or TO wrong the 100000. Our Cana
dian friends doubtless dislike to be shut away
from the Pacific Ocean north Of the 55th paral
lei. But so did our people dislike TO surren
der to them the Pacific Coast north OF the 49th
parallei ur 10 54:40. And il the Canadians are
thus debarred from the Pacific, II will be part
lv nv the operation of one Of the very rules
which they forced upon us In the case Of Beh'
ring Sea.
What is we'll 10 be taken to heart is Mr.
Charlton's reminder that too aggressive spirit
Of jingoism exists In certain quarters on both
sides Of the line, and that on both sides there
are some who are deliberately. for Interior ard
I selfish purposes, trying to foment trouble be-
! tween. the two nations and to prevent them