The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-25
NO ALARM AT WASHINGTON.
still Hope of an Amicable solution of
the boundary Dispute.

Washington, July Ex-senator Fair
banks. chairman of the American li-
vision of the joint high commission,
made brief call upon the president to-
day, before starting for his home in
Indiana. He declined to discuss the
speech of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, or to re-
mark upon the situation with refer
ence to the boundary dispute. He con-
tirmed the report already given out
that there will be no meeting of the
join commission on Aug. 2, saying that
he and Sir Wilfrid Laurier had last
Friday agreed upon a posponement for
an indefinite period. The senator would
not hazard surmise as to when an
other meeting might be held. Direct ne
gotiations respecting the Alaskan
boundary are now in progress between
Secretary Hay and Mr.. Tower, the
British charge here. The negotiations
are directed towards an adjustment of
the issues by cable arrangement with
the parties, though on somewhat diff
ferent lines from those pursued during
the spring and summer.
The principals are not without hope
that success may attend their efforts,
and then there is arbitration yet in re-
serve in case of failure upon the pres
ent lines. The officials here are in no
wise alarmed at the recent develop
ments at ottawa. feeling confident that
Sir Wilfrid Laurer's utterance in which
ne mentioned the word war as an al
tentative to arbitra ton, was given a
meaning not intended by the Canadian
premier.
The strong language attributed to Sir
Charles Tupper is not credited to the
GA madam government, and it is real
ized that great latitude may be allowed
in viewing the utterances of members
of an opposition party.
Inasmuch as the Canadian officials
have laid stress upon the refusal of the
United States to accept fair arbitra-
ton of the pending question, 1t may be
proper to explain the reason for refusal
as pointed out to-day by a high official.
In the first place. our government, it is
contended. is absolutely certain of the
soundnesS of its claims in the matter
of the boundary. That would seem to
be a good reason for submitting the
matter to arbitration on the ground
that good cause had nothing to fear
from a fair arbitration, but our govern
ment holds that arbitrators are almost
all subject to the fatal weakness Of
compromising. In our case a compro-
mise would amount to the loss of our
whole contention, for once Canada Is
admitted to the Lynn canal we would
be deprived of the only weapon which
we now possess for the protection of
our miners going into the Klondike
pulsion. 1t was for this reason that
Secretary Hay rejected the Canadian
proposal to arbitrate attended by the
condition that in any case Pyramid
harbor should be bestowed upon
Canada.
Then. too it is realized that any
agreement to arbitrate might be eX-
tremely unpopular in the West, so that
the officials will be glad to adjust the
matter without resorting to arbitration
if possible This has caused a revival
of the project to allow Canada free
port privileges at some specified ports
on the Lynn canal, Dyea, Skaguay or
Pyramid harbor, perhaps, while allow
ing sovereignty over them to remain in
the states, and this is one of the propo-
sitions that is now engaging attention
1t is realized that this plan would
meet strong opposition from that ele-
ment which favors no concessions
whatever to Canada, but under such
, an arrangement American miners
might reasonably expect to benefit a
good deal from the construction of the
proposed railroad running from a free
Canadian port on the Lynn canal
straight through to Dawson, in the
heart of the Klondike.