The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-25
And Presented to Ambassador Choate
at London for Transmission tn
Col. Hay at Washington.
WILL PROBABLY BE REJECTED
ADMINISTRATION Is OPPOSED To
CEDING ANY PORT IN ALASKA.
Great Britain Said To BE Anxious tn
and Make LIZ N Naval station.

LONDON, Oct. 4.-The Associated Press
is enabled to give authoritatively Canada's
final proposition for permanent settle
ment of the Alaska dispute. Ii is very
different from her former demands and was
delivered TO United States Ambassador
Choate by the Canadian minister OF marine
and fisheries Sir Louis Henry Davies. late
the night before the latter sailed and dis
patched to-day to Washington by the offi-
cials of the United States embassy. 1t fol-
lows:
That the boundary line be arbitrated on
terms similar 10 those imposed by the
United States and Great Britain over
Venezuela, particularly those provisions
making fifty years occupancy by either
side conclusive evidence of title. occupancy
of less than that period to be taken az
equity allows under international law.
That as a condition precedent and abso-
lutely preliminary to arbitration Skagway
and Dyea would be conceded to the United
States without further claim IL Canada re-
ceives Pyramid harbor. In other words
Canada gives up much Of the disputed gold
country in return for seaport. but stipu-
lates that she must get the latter before
she agrees 10 arbitrate the boundary line.
The proposition of Sir Louis Henry
Davies was made privately and was APP
parently the result of an unexpected CONS
munication from his government, for Sir
Louis the day previous expressed no ink
ling that he was empowered TO make such
sweeping proposals. The Canadian states
man heretofore has insistently denied tho
United States's contention that Dyea and
Skagway must first be ceded to the United
States before further treating on the SUBJ
ject, and this sudden change OF front AMI
the concession of two such important points
are apparently intended as a coup. and Mr..
Choate was found to certain extent un-
prepared The only reply he could make
was that he would inform the authorities
at Washington and await their advices, az
his instructions did not contemplate such =
change of base by Canada
The Associated Press is informed that
Canadas new position was greatly In
fiuenced by imperial pressure. and II can
be stated that Mr.. Chamberlain advised
concession as much as possible In order to
gain a port of entry free from United
States control with the professed reason
that commercial advantages would accrue
| therefrom. But 1t is said that the Interior
motive is to increase British naval strength
by making Pyramid harbor a strong naval
| station.
| Regarding the probable action OF the
| United States I'm these altered conditions
| British official opinion is that the United
| States having been granted Dyea and
| Skagway, cannot refuse to accept the identi-
| cal form Of arbitration they compelled Eng
| land to take towards Venezuela. This
| course is contingent upon the United States
| deciding that the old Bering country is
more valuable than Pyramid harbor. Ex-
| Congressman James ii. Lewis, who con-
! ferred with Messrs. Davies and Choate re-
garding the claims OF the American miners
involved I'm the disputed territory. opposed
giving up Pyramid harbor. He pointed out
| to Mr.. Choate that Canada would have an
important depot for storehouses and ship
| ping, whence she could seriously underselI
the United States and injure her trade I'm
| the Orient. and also that Great Britain
would secure invaluable strategicai advan-
tages. AT the commissions next sitting
Major Davies strongly opposed the claims
which he represented being considered In
conjunction with the boundary dispute, and
Mr.. Choate upheld this view, though Mr..
Lewis has succeeded In securing the assur-
ance that they will be treated in conjunc-
ton with Canada's claims for seal destruc-
tion.
Mr.. Lewis said TO a representative OF the
| Associated Press: II am satisfied with the
/ success of my mission. II is sure the
! American miners will now get Justice" Mr..
Lewis has been seriously III, but recovered
sufficiently TO attend the conferences before
! Mr.. Daviess departure. He has been hon.
ored by tine British officials, receiving
courtesies in the House OF Commons. and
he attended the opening OF the law courts
| I'm company with former President Ben
jamin Harrison and Mr.. choate- He viii
sail with Mr.. Harrison for home on
| wednesday next.