The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-02-21
THE JOINT HIGH COMMISSION
ADJOURNS TO MEET At QUEBEC
AUGUST e.

4DJOURNS TO MEET At QUEBEC
| AUGUST 2.
Much Progress Made with Number of
Important Questions but No Agree
Question Giving Trouble but There
Has Been No Rupture.
Washington, Feb. 2O.-The American
Canadian joint high commission after
a session to-day adjourned to meet at
Quebec August 2, unless the chairmen
of the respective commissions agree on
another date. The joint commission
first began it's labors nearly six months
ago in Canada and has, with the eX-
ception of probably a month, been earn
estly at work endeavoring to effect an
agreement with a view to the forna-
ton Of treaty covering many perplex-
ing questions of differences affecting
the business interests of the United
States and Canada. Several reasons
prompted the action taken to-day.
There were serious differences Of opin-
ion between the two commissions re-
garding the limitation of the Alaskan
boundary, the Canadians being anxious
to obtain a seaport on the Lynn canal
so that its shippers would not be SUBJ
jected to alleged petty annoyances at
the hands of United States officials
Then the time for the meeting of the
Canadian parliament, at which the
presence of members of the Canadian
commission is desired, is near.
1t also became apparent that there
was little likelihood of the possibility
of the ratification by the United States
senate at its present session of any
treaty which might be framed. A doz-
en- important questions were referred
to the commission, and the commission
ers assert that substantial progress in
the settlement and adjustment of many
which have given the most serious trou-
BILE and proved a stumbling block to
a final agreement on all have been the
two relating to lumber and the Alaskan
boundary, on both of which the Cana
dians have demanded concessions
which the Americans felt it would be
prejudicial to the best interests of the
United States to grant. 1t was also felt
that en- adjournment for a few months
might result in a better prospect for
harmony and disposition on the part
of Canadians to agree to propositions
made to them from the American COM
missioners. Senator Fairbanks, chair
man of the American commission, has
repeatedly stated that there was no ba-
sis for the reports of a rupture in the
relations of the two bodies, and tonight
he supplemented this by saying they
were on the best of terms. On behalf
of their respective commissions Senator
Fairbanks, the chairman of the Ameri-
can body, and Sir Wilfred Laurier, act
ing chairman of the Canadian body
made the following statement:
'The commission adjourned to meet
at Quebec August 2, unless the chair
men of the respective commissions shall
agree upon another date. The commits
sion has made very substantial progress
in the settlement and adjustment of
many of the questions upon which 1t
has been earnestly engaged. But 1t has
been unable to agree upon the settle
ment of the Alaskan boundary. This
problem has been a complicated and diff
ficult one, but the commissioners, acting
~, ,,f.~ ct frto al
ity have been unable to agree upon a
satisfactory adjustment. The differ
ences apart from the immediate delim-
nation of this boundary by the COM
mission itself arise from the conditions
under which it might be referred to ar
bitration The British commissioners |
desired that the whole question should |
be referred on terms similar to those |
provided in the reference of the Vene-
zuelan boundary line and which by pro-
viding an umpire would ensure certainty |
and finality. The United States COM
missioners, on the other hand, thought |
the local conditions in Alaska so differ
ent that some modification of the Vene-
zuelan boundary reference should be in
troduced They thought the reference
should be made to eminent jurists, three
chosen by each Of the high contracting |
parties without providing for an umpire,
they believing that finality would be Sc
cured by a majority vote of the jurists
so chosen.
"They did not see any present pros
pect of agreeing to a European umpire
to be selected in the manner proposed
by the British commissioners while the
British commissioners were unwilling to
agree to the selection of an American
umpire in the manner suggested by the
United States commissioners. The Unit
I'd States commissioners further con-
tended that special stipulations should
De made in any reference to arbitration
that the existing settlements on the tide
waters of the coast should continue to
belong to the United States. To this
contention the British commits soners re-
used to agree. 1t was therefore DEEM
ID advisable to adjourn to a convenient
late, in order to enable the respective
governments to further consider The
subjects to which no conclusion has as
yet been reached
NOT TO PROSECUTE COZ. TANNER.