The record-union., 1899-07-30
The Principal Topic Of Comment
With London Journals.
Heated Discussion Over Question That a
Harhor Should Be Leased TO Canada.
Compromise as a General Basis
for a Friendly Arrangement to
Settle the Existing Troubles.

Settle the Existing Troubles.
Copyrighted 1899, by Associated Press)
LONDON, July %. The Alaskan
boundary dispute again looms large in
the newspapers, and a heated discus
sion is raging for and against the last
suggestion that harbor should be
leased to Canada. The official view
seems to favor this compromise as A
general basis for a friendly arrange
ment. 1t is pointed out that as the
United States, Canada and Great Brit.
ain have to live as neighbors, and in
their hearts desire to live as friends.
neither side can afford to assume
nonpossimus attitude, or act as If 1t
was the last transaction to be ar
ranged, and as the main question at
issue, though almost lost to view
among the multitude of irritating side
issues, was a means of easy access TO
the Klondike, the lease of a harbor
would seem to be the practical need of
Canada
On the other hand. the Saturday
Review voices the feeling of a CON
siderable section of the people in
pointing out that by accepting the sug-
gested settlement Canada debars her
self from again raising the question of
territorial right, and becomes a mere
licensee, where she claims to be the
owner in fee simple.
Many think the proposed compromise
would lead to endless complications,
annoyances, acts of retaliation and at
tempts on one side to exceed their own
or restrict the other sides rights I'M
der the proposed compromise.
The Saturday Review thinks Can
ada ought in no event to surrender her
rights in International law, unless She
concurrently receives considerable coz
cessions from the United States on
other questions before the Commits
sioners.
The Saturday Review proceeds to
claim that Canada now suffices for her
SELF both politically and economically,
and has no further need of the United
States; that only the most factious
policy on the nart of Great Britain
could revive the annexationist party in
Canada, and asks what possible rea-
son the Canadians could have for i'll
volving the country in the gravest in
ternational questions.
The article concludes: with thou
sands of Americans slaughtering the
Filipinos. whom they want to free,
while the truth is concealed from the
public by methods worse than Rus
sias as an instance of external ag-
gression and with a reign of terror IN
Cleveland where a tramway strike is
conducted with itro-glycerine bombs,
as an example of internal CONFUSION,
there is realized the grave question of
what Will happen when the present tide
of prosperity turns. Therefore, to urge
Canada to go beyond the bounds OF
reasonable concession would be good
neither for her nor the empire.
Thomas B. Reed, former Speaker OF
the House of Representatives, greatly
enjoyed his run on the continent. Mr..
Reed said to the correspondent of the
Associated Press to-day: Il spent three
weeks in Brussels and was there dur
ing the recent acute crisis. Belgium
has yet other crises to meet, but her
tremendous resources will enable her
to come out on top.
In Berlin l met many leading states
men. One learns much from such men,
and obtains a point of view totally
different from that of America. |
found everywhere on the continent evil
dences Of a continued and growing
goodwill in the best circles, and among
those whose opinion every American
values.
Il spent a month in Paris. and
watched the French and the French
legislation with wonderment. The IN
finite wit of the French, the casual
view they take of things which we
tenacity. make them a most fascinating
study.
Naturally. I cannot betray opinions
of home politics. The United States
and the Administration are now tack
ling a field of foreign politics never
presented to or dealt with by any
former Administration. Time will
straighten out this tremendous problem
presented to US. All I can say is that
we will solve it we'll and honorably."
Mr.. Reed went on to say that he
had noticed many changes in England.
There had been. he said, a great revo-
luton in institutions and the inter-
national education of the people. They
know Americans better. On every side
Mr.. Reed said he saw signs that Great
Britain was on the crest Of wave of
prosperity. America was enjoying a
similar experience. Everything" Mr..
Reed concluded points to the continu-
ance of this prosperity. We only want
to get foreign difficulties enied quickly,
and internal prosperity will continue
for Il long period"