Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-11-07
tary Canning in his instructions to the

tary Canning in his instructions to the
duke of Wellington, where he says:
"Enlightened statesmen and iurists
have long held as insignificant all titles
of territory that are not founded on
actual occupation, and that title is, in
the opinion of the most esteemed
writer's on public law, to be established
by practical USE"
The American Position.
With this as basis Mr. Foster made
the following strong presentation of
the American position regarding the
boundary:
There is no claim or pretense that the
British authorities or subjects ever occu-
pied any of the territory now in dispute
except under the lease cited, or ever eX-
ercised or attempted to exercise any acts
of sovereignty over the strip or waters in
closed by 1t.
First. Soon after the treaty of 1925 the
Russian government published map
claiming the strip of territory and all the
interior waters of the sea inclosed by 1t.
Second. The Russian-American COM
pany established forts and trading posts
within the strip.
Third BY virtue of the lease cited,
which was a recognized assertion of its
sovereignty, Russia temporarily trans
ferred these forts and posts to the British
company.
Fourth At the termination of the ex-
tended lease it reentered and took posses
sion and remained in possession till the
cession of Alaska to the United States.
Fifth. 1t received the allegiance of the
native Indians inhabitng the strip and eX-
ercised supervision over them.
sixth. Immediately after the cesson in
J.-l.o
forth the bounds of Alaska in accordance
with the treaty of 1925. and the same claim
as to the strip was thereon made as by
Russia in its map of 1927.
Seventh. Upon the transfer of Alaska
a portion of the United States army was
dispatched to occupy the territory and a
detachment was stationed for some time
on this strip of the mainland
eighth Since the cession post offices
and post routes have been established and
maintained at various points on the strip
Ninth Custom houses have likewise
been established and duties collected there
in.
Tenth Government and mission
schools have been maintained, and notably
SO for near 20 years at the head Of Lynn
canal.
eleventh. The revenue vessels of the
United States have continuously since the
date of the cession patrolled the interior
waters surrounded by the strip to enforce
the revenue and other laws of the United
States.
Twelfth The navy and revenue vessels
of the United States have for the same pc
riod exercised acts of sovereignty over the
Indian tribes inhabiting the strip and es-
pecially about the lead of Lynn canal and
the latter have yielded unquestionable al
legiance to the United States.
'Thirteenth In the census of 1880 and
1890 all the Indian tribes inhabting the
strip were included in the population OF
the United States and so published in the
official reports.
Fourteenth The territorial government,
of Alaska has exercised various and re.
peated acts of sovereignty over the STRIP
and interior waters inclosed by it, and the
writs of the United States courts have rur
throughout its whole extent.
Fifteenth Under the territorial claim
of the United States and the protection O,
the government citizens of the United
States have entered and eccupied the strir