Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-10-21
A MAKESHIFT LINE
British Accept Temporary
Alaskan Arrangement.
The Washington Officials Pleased
with the rIoduS Vivendi which
Projects the interests or the
United States.

Washington, Oct. 2O-The British
I charge d'affaires called at the state
: department today and formally accept
ed for his government the proposition
of Mr.. Hay for temporary adjust
ment of the Alaskan boundary.
Now that the British government
has persuaded the Canadian govern
ment to accept the provisions of this
modus vivendi, although the Canadian
government had declared that it
would not yield even temporarily un-
less it secured at least a temporary
footing on our tide water, it is hoped
at the state department that the an
ticipated friction between Americans
and Canadians at the point in dispute
will be averted. While the modus is of
course entirely temporary in form, and
liable to be vacated at any time, and
goes upon the theory that a perma-
nent agreement will now be negotiated
it is believed that it will answer the
purpose indefinitely, even if the nego-
tiations for a permanent agreement
should fail
1t seems to be the understanding at
the state department that the joint
high commission will not be recon-
vened to consider the other questions
at issue between the United States
and Canada until the Alaska boundary
question is permanently settled by ne
gotiation between our state depart
ment and the British foreign office.
This may hasten such a settlement of
the boundary question, and Secretary
Hay will address himself to the nego-
tiation of it in that hope. But it is
considered a great achievement to
have secured a modus vivendi which
quits the controversy without sacri-
flee of our interests.
While there will be criticism of the
to the modus vivendi, a portion of our
territory with the understanding that
this temporary concession is not to be
construed to our prejudice, it is
necessary in order to relieve the situa-
ton of embarrassment, we had to yield
something and ought to congratula -
ourselves that we have had to yield
so little in this temporary 3, arrange
ment, for Canada has had to yield her
great contention for a port on tide
water or navigable stream leading
to tide water.
1t is explained at the state depart
ment that not only are the towns of
Dyea and Skaguay on the American
side of the line but that Canada does
not get across to tide water at all, ex-
cept as now, through territory recog-
nized to be American. The status of
porary line in the disputed territory
remains, of course, unchanged.
1t is stated at the state department
that the temporary boundary actually
in the modus is only about
seventeen miles long. part of it being
less clearly defined on account of the
mountain range between White and !
Chilcoot passes. where the line begins |
at the Canadian custom houses on the |
of these passes, to a point |
north of the Indian village of Klukwan.
But from this point the line is clearly |
defined, running southwark to a point
a mile and a half northwest from
thence following the course
If the Tiehini river to its junction with
Copper creek, thence following the
course of Copper creek south. then
sharply to the west to a nameless
peak just to the southwest
If Dalton's Cache.
1t will be seen by the examination of
he map that while this comedies part
If the territory belonging to the
United States and claimed by Canada.
It does not concede any of the waters
If the Lynn canal, which is the prin-
,ipal object of the Canadian demands.
CnNTUENTTON