The times., 1899-11-04

aTF question was gwen 44Si night ut-olL "
large audience in the First Congregational
Church by Hon. John ". Foster. the lee
ture being the first of the winter series to
De given 10y the National Geographic So
ciety
Mr. Foster is a member OF the Joint
High Commission. and his thorough famil-
iarity with the subject, together with the
excellent illustrations used. made the per
picking subject of the Alaskan boundary
a very simple one. As the speaker pro
cseded. showing the correctness OF the po-
sition CT the United States in the con-
troyersy, he received the appreciatiye ap-
pIause OF his auditors.
Mr. Foster began by saying that al
though the history Of this question had its
inception only three-quarters OF century
ago. yet few negotiations among nations
az such date, are accompanied by so
great a mass of concurrent documents and
facts to explain the motives and objects
the interested parties had in view.
The Russian Treaty.
The Alaskan boundary was first fixed, q"
Ia. continued, by the treaty Of 1925, be
tween Russia and Great Britain. This
treaty grew out Of the issuance by the
Emperor Of Russia Of an imperial ukase In
1921 the purpOrr Of which, briefly stated
was. first. q claim by Russia to exclusive
Jurisdiction on the high sea extending 100
miles from the coast Of Asia above lati-
fude A. degrees 30 minutes north, and
from The northwest coast OF America above
latitude 81 degrees north; and second, a
prohibition TO all foreign vessels TO land
h. Fure-1 HlF
part Of the coasts indicated. This Ukase
brought forth a prompt and vigorous pro
lest from both the United States and Great
Britain which was soon followed by nego-
tfatfons between Russia and the two latter
Governments j was early made known
that Russia was prepared 20 withdraw its
claim TO exclusive jurisdiction in the Pa
cihc Ocean and would not insist upon its
territorial claim to the coast Of America
below latitude 55 degrees. As the United
States was advancing no serious claim to
The territory north Of that line it found
little difficulty in reaching an accord, and
a treaty between Russia and the United
States was signed April Il, 1924 nearly a
year before an agreement was reached with
Great Britain"
After citing at some length the core
spondence and documents which constitut-
ed the basis Of the settlement between Rus
sia and Great Britain. Mr.. Foster said the
result established three facts:
First. that Russia was TO have a con
tiuuous strip OF territory on the mainland
around al The inists or arms OF the sea.
The purpose for which the strip was es-
tsblished would be defeated If it vas to
be broken IL any part Of its course by in
lets OF arms of the sea extending into
British territory.
Second, with the strip OF territory so es-
tabiished, ali the interior waters OF the
ocean above its southern limit became Rus
sian and would be inaccessible TO British
ships and traders except by express license
T. was because the Russian negotiators
refused 20 make this license per-
petual that the negotiations were
a second time broken OF, and only
renewed when Great Britain yielded on this
point
Third. the strip Of territory was to be
ten marine leagues wide in all its extent,
unless inside OF that limit chain Of noun
lsius existed which constituted a natural
boundary or watershed between the two
countries. The 'seawaFd base proposed by
Great Britain was rejected, and there is
10 Indication that isolated peaks were TO
constitute thz line.
The provisions OF the treaty In which
there are existing differences are in article
boundary provides that commencing from
The s0utherumost point Of the island
called Prince Of Wales Island which lies
ll the parallel Of - degrees 80 seconds
north latitude the said boundary
line shall ascend to the north along the
channel called Portland Channel as far as
The point 0f the continent where il strikes
tde 55th degree OF north latitude The
United States holds that under this pro-
vision the line starting from the ex-
tremify or Prince Of Wales Island shall
enter the broad. deep. and usually nayi-
gated opening Of Portland Canal or chan
uel ard pass up TO its head, and thence or
the continent 70 the Both degree OF latitude
The present contention Of Great Britain is
understood 10 be that the line fFeta- the ex-
irsmity OF Prince OF Wales Island should
enter the t0rtuous and narrow channel now
known on the British admiralty and amer
icau charts IS Pearse Canal. and thence uu
Portland Canal 70 the 56lh degree Of lati-
tG1a hus placing Wales. Pearse, and a few
small islands in British territory.
second Part OF the Disputes.
The second portion Of the line In dispute
b described in the treaty Is follows:
From -.is laz--1rautiaHad point CtLe Both de-
gree aHaFa tne head u Portland gauaD the ifue
,. a.i' '-f.at.aH shall follow tle summit of tie
p l..'- .i intersection ~ tla Ials- degree ot
W.. a-l.-.Han.- Whenever rEe summit g'
l.a mountains which extend .l q direction pafal
D.. ta t-Ie ea--l ssll prove 10 be q;
tae distance 81 moro tIaH fsH marine leagues
tr#El t-" ocean, faH llHG#t between tHa British
T..ss1---ilH- and She strip 30 coast rH5cH IS L.
H-.aEE ra Russia as above mentioned. shall D.,
fHrura hF IiHe parallel ta tie siuuasitias df lT.
r.--t ar1 H..lca shall never exceed tLe di-Lala,
q. r.H marine laaglls tEuretrom.
This language ol the treaty prazua
poses Lhsr there existed z defined mountain
chain. 10 repeat its terms, Situated parable
10 tEe coast or which extend 10 "a direction
parallel no the coast: bur the surveys O
lle region made since the territory o.
Alaska was ceded 10 the UlIted States hav,
established the fact that there is no sucl
defined Grain CT watershed within ten ma
riue leagues OF the sInuozitirs of The coas
except ~ TWO points, namely. White an,
Chlko0t passes hence The United State
claims that the boundary Of the sfrip +
placed tgu marine leagues from the c0as
~ all points except at White and ChHkoo
passes. and that the strip is an unhrokel
belt cf territory on the mainland. follow
ing me siEuositles of the coast around In
in.ets Cf the sea. On the other hand tbt
British claim is that the line from the ssh
degree rurs directly 10 the coast and follow
fhe mountains nearest 20 the outer shor
liue and crosses not less than ten or tweIy,
arms Of the sea CT inlets. thus breakiui
She strip Of mainland into as many S.feren
fecuons- and transferring al The water O
the bays and inlets 10 the British Bosses
slous
There is no claim or pretence thar tb