The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-08
IT is LOOKING BRIGHTER
The Alaska Negotiations Are
On Again.
NOT OUT OF THE WOODS
Canadians Did Not Afford an Opportu-
nifty for the Discussion OF Arbi-
tration at the Washing
a,H}rs ton Meeting.

Washington, June Late in the day
the officials learned the details of the
latest Alaskan negotiations in London,
referred to in cable dispatches, and
Secretary Hay and the British charge
daffaires, Mr.. Tower, conferred on the
subjects. The details of the proposition
were not made public.
1t Is said. however, that too much as
surance should not be taken that a
| complete accord is certain. The officials
agree with the London view that the
outlook is rather brighter, because ne
gotiations are on again, but they quail
ify this by saying that the agreement
is not yet reached and that when con-
cluded it will still leave much to be set
tied by future negotiations. In view Of
the fact that the protocol recording the
proceedings of the joint high commits
sion IN Washington on February Is last
mas been made public in the Canadian
legislature, while an abstract of its
contents has been also published in
London, as we'll as in this country, the
state department has deemed it proper
to give out for publication the entire
protocol.
This particular protocol is regarded
ny the government as of great import
ance, for 1t marked the failure of the
commission under peculiar conditions.
The record shows that the joint COM
mission met at 10 o'clock that morning;
that the British side proposed arbitra-
ton, and that the Americans accepted
the proposition, in general using it as
basis for a treaty, as offered by the
n.
when the Americans offered an amend
ment the British side promptly refused
to accept it and, without further OPP
portunity for the discussion of an arbi-
tration treaty, stopped the negotiations
and referred the matter to their own
government, Notwithstanding the urging
of the American side that the commits
sion at least conclude their negota-
tons upon the remaining subjects
These facts were the basis of the
American contention that the Cana
dams had not afforded a real oppor-
tunity for arbitration and were re-
sponsble for the disruption of the just
claim. The points of the British arbi-
tration proposal and also of the propo-
sition offered by the Americans as an
amendment have already been indicat-
ed in the cable dispatches and the fol-
lowing points are given as those upon
which Importance is laid by the Amer
lean side. In putting forward their
proposal the British side said:
"They therefore made the following
as basis to be proceeded upon fin
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 ad-
justment, but desired an amendment in
relation to the arbitra1 tribune and a
modification of rule C to make it con-
form to present local conditions in
Alaska"
The British objections to the Ameri-
can counter proposition have also been
published and the record on that point
reads:
Holding these views, the British
commissioners are of the opinion that
no useful end will be served by further
pressing at the present time the nego-
tiations and must refer the matter to
their government"