Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-09-05
NAY AGREE ON Alaska
Temporary Adjustment Of Boundary
Question Said to Have Been
Arrived At.
Negotiations Making Satisfactory
Progress Towards a Modus vi
vendi-Gain For Canada.
Dyea and Skaguay to Be Part
Of the American Ter.
ritory.

Washington, Sept. 5.-The United
States and Great Britain are on the
point of concluding modus yiyendi
covering the disputed boundary of
Alaska.
Men who have consulted the president
on this subject since his return have
come away with the impression that the
arrangement would be closed within a
few days. One one or two instances
they have been directed by the presi-
dent to see Secretary Hay at.once, and
little time to lose.
Secretary Hay admits that negotia-
lions are making satisfactory progress
but he automatically limits himself tc
saying he has strong hopes" of arrang-
ing modus vivendi.
The indications all point to the con-
clusion that the two governments are
almost at the point of signing the
agreement, for 1t is understood the
boundary line has been fixed and thai
the questions remaining to be SETTLED
are of such minor Importance as to
leave little doubt of the ultimate result
This modl,s vivendi is of course 6
temporary arrangement. The bounda-
| ry line being in dispute, Il working
lagreement was absolutely necessary t.
! prevent further entanglements and pos
Isibly bloody encounters. Secretary Ha,
refuses to go into details, but the i'm
| preston has gone out that he ha'
agreed to temporary line runnins
across Chilkat Inlet north of the Indiai
village of Klukwan.
For a better understanding of the sit
uation it may be explained that nortl
of Lynn canal the line claimed by tn
United States runs nearly east an
west. that the Chilkat Inlet is a brancl
of Lynn canal and that Klukwan is di
rectly west of Dyea about fifteen miles
The report is that Secretary Hay ha
tagreed that, beginning at point north
west of Klukwar, the new boundar
| shall dip south of the American I'm
/ some miles cross the Chilkat inlet nea
Its head and run straight east TO Chll
i koot Pass This would add some squai
miles to Canada. but would leave kluk
wan. Dyea and Skaguay and all of III
Imam channel of Lynn canal in Unite
+ States territory.
1t is not clear from the information {
hand Just what advantage Canada WI
derive from this new delimitation on
Il side the acquisition of little territer
1.-THE inference at first sight is that
! gaining access to Chilkat inlet she CO
g establish a port at its head, but 1t
a lsaid that the waters of that inlet a
too shallow for large vessels and b
: sides that they would be in Cnit'
. States territory
Secretary Hay also asserts that Cal
ada is to get no port on Lynn canal
1.-The modus vivendi, but possibly he I
: fers TO the main channel. On the 9th
: hand it is thought probable that in Il
. pernanent agreement Canada VIII
: given a free port for a term Of years.
Ii the boundary is changed as su,
gested the transfer of territory ms
Involve many property rights, esp
ciaily In mining claims, and il IS sa
J, these and some other minor question
a are the matters now under consider
!, ton by the two governments.
The smodus yivendi does not neeessa
lily involve any question except tho
: affected directly by the change
j, boundary Secretary Hay intinat
that negotiations for the permane
settlement of these and other questio
: at issue between the United states a
Canada will be resumed Whenever t
dominion is ready
The high joint commission may ms
again and reach an agreement, or
may take years of negotiation.