The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-08
BASIS OF NEGOTIATIONS.
MOdus vivendi May BE Agreed To-
The Protocol of May IS.


WASHINGTON, June Late in the day
the officials learned the details of the latest
negotiations in London, referred to in cable
dispatches, and Secretary Hay and the
British charge d'affaires, Mr.. Tower. con-
ferred on the subject. The details of the
proposition were not made public. 1t is
known, however. that the arrangement of
a modds vivendi to govern the relations of
the United States and Canada on the Alas
kan boundary is receiving a great deal of
Ambassador Choate's attention. The basis
for the temporary delimitation of the boun-
dairy in the neighborhood of the passes lead
ing into the Klondike from the Lynn canal
will, If the present effort succeeds, be on
White pass on the east and on Chilkoot
PASS in the middle, at the points where the
Canadian customs houses were established
about eighteen months ago. On the Dalton
trail, the point has not yet been selected
westernmost trail by the Canadians has been
more severe than at any other point, very
naturally difficulty is experienced in recon
Claims to jurisdiction. While Pyramid har-
Dor is not insisted on at this juncture by
the Canadians as part OF the temporary r ar
rear to tidewater as possible, anu their
claim in that quarter includes the important
long been under the protection OF the
United States and which our government
is indisposed to surrender, even temporariiy;
be solved, and a divisional point located on
the Dalton TRAIL there is no doubt that a
modus vivendi will be the outcome e.,. ms
would remove the chances of hcStiie coll
lisions on the border and postpone. until
oalmer feelings prevail. the permanent set
troversy removed from the subjects Of con-
sideration by the joint high commission.
there is every reason to believe thar treaty
can be framed satisfactory TO both parties
in ms for
next session.
1t is said. however, that too much assur-
accord is certain. The officials agree with
the London view that the outlook Is rather
brighter, because negotiations are on again,
but they qualify this by saying that the
agreement is not yet concluded and that
when concluded it will still leave much to be
settled by future negotiations In view OF
the fact that the protocol recording the pro-
ceedings of the joint high commission IN
Washington on Feb. Is last was made public
In the Canadian Legislature while, heen an n; ab
lished in London. as well as in this coun-
try. the State Department has deemed 1t
t tire protocol. This particular protocol is
regarded by the department as OF great I'M
portance, for it marked the failure OF the
commission under peculiar conditions.
The record shows that the joint commits
sion met at 10 o'clock that morning, that
the. British side proposed arbitration and
in general. using 1t as basis for treaty.
as offered by the British. However. 1T is
shown that when the Americans offered an
amendment the British side promptly re
fused to accept 1t, and without afording
further opportunity for the erection of an
arbitration treaty, stopped the negotiations
and referred the matter to their own gov
eminent, notwithstanding the urging of the
American side that the commission at least
conclude their negotiations on the remain
ing subjects. These facts were the basis of
the American contention that the Canad-
ians had not afforded real opportunity for
arbitration and were responsible for the dis
ruption of the Joint committee The points
of the British arbitration proposal and also
of the proposition put forward by the
Americans as an amendment have already
been indicated in the cable dispatches, and
the following points are given as those upon
which Importance is laid by the American
side:
In putting forward their proposal the
British side said: They therefore made the
following as a basis to be proceeded upon
in framing a treaty The attitude of the
Americans upon this is set down as follows:
The commissioners of the United States
announced that they accepted the proposals
made as the basis of adjustment, but de-
sired an amendment in relation to the arbi-
trail tribune and a modification of Rule G
to make ii conform to present local condi-
tons in Alaska" The British objections to
the American counter-proposal have also
reads: Holding these views the British
commissioners are of the opinion that no
useful end will be served by further press
ing at the present time the negotiations,
and must refer the matter to their govern
ment"