The state herald., 1899-07-28
ALASKA BOUNDARY.
CANADA'S ATTITUDE ON THE
QUESTION:.
Sir Wilfried Laurier's Statement That Has
Caused so Much Comment VIII Nos
Brighten the United states.

Chicago, July 2G-The Chicago Rec
ord says:
In the Canadian House of Commons
on Saturday, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the
premier, declared that the Alaskan
boundary dispute was beyond the hope
of compromise, and that there re-
manned but two methods of settlement
arbitration or war. He added that
no one would thinS Of war. He said
both parties agreed that there should
be arbitration, but could not agree as
to who should be the arbitrators.
The Alaskan question is simple
enough. In 1926 the British govern
ment conceded Alaska to Russia. and
United States. No question as to the
boundary arose between England and
Russia or between the United States
and Canada until 1884. Up to that
time British maps delimited the terri
tory according to the present claim of
the United States. The disputed terri
tory extends in the form of II pan
handle down the Pacific coast. The
Canadians contend that this pan
handle should end at the Behm canal:
the Americans hold that 1t runs to the
Portland canal. Another dispute is as
to the width of this panhandle. The
Anglo-Russlan treaty provided that the
line should follow the coast mountain
range, but IL the range was more than
ten marine leagues inland then the line
should be at the ten-league limit. In
order to make n diplomatic case the
Canadians have raised all the Ques-
tions that the issue affords. Divested
of these the case is simply that, discov-
ering the value of Alaska, Great Bri-
nt inI ,,-la
aggressive, encouraged Canada to
make claim to a portion of Alaska held
by the United States.
Rival Canadian politicians have
made the promise of recovery of this
territory n stepping stone TO popular
favor. and. ns at present. the party
which is out of power has always
taunted the party in power with its
failure TO make its promise good. At
the time Great Britain encouraged
Canada to make this claim the moth
or country's feeling toward the United
States was not amiablc. Now Great
Britain is seeking friendship and IA
vor at Washington. Thus Canada finds
Its claim on Alaska but feebly sup
ported by Great Britain. That claim
is preposterous at best. Sir Wilfried
Laurier's declaration of possible means
OF settlement amounts to surrender. II
is easy for him to bite his thumb at Tn
Gle sam, because the responsibility
for action rests with Great Britain,
and he knows that neither the mother
country nor the United States wants
war over the Alaskan boundary qucs-
tiun.
To Americans there seems 10 he no
merit In Canada's contention MS to
where the boundary line should run. II
is put forth with vigor because the
Canadians are very eager To have an
outlet 10 tidcwater. from which they
are excluded by the boundary line as
now recognized. If the Canadians
want this outlet so badly, which II
would not injure the United States
materially 10 couccds them. why not
grant them one without yielding the
main question MS to the boundary line!
In return for this great favor we could
secure from Great Britain some valu-
able concession elsewhere-as, for cN-
ample. a Modification OF the Clayton
Bulwer treaty so rs to remove obstn-
cles now In the way Of constructing
the Nicaragua canal. II Is not n bad
plan TO he a good ncighbor particular
ly when the opportunities for getting
benefits In return are excellent.