The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-11-18
JOHN HAYS MODus Y1YENp1.

JOHN HAYS MODUS V1VENDI.
Despite the fact that the Alaskan
boundary question has been under con-
sderaton by the joint high Canadian
commission for some time, and that ne
gotiations are still pending, Mckinlcy's
secretary OF state has made temporary
arrangement by which Canada gets all
it claims for the time being. 1t is
said that because OF England and the
United States being at war in conf
mon cause and because OF the cordial
relations existing between the two
great Anglo-S Saxon nations during the
Mckinley regime the best thing to do
was to avoid any friction over the Alas
kan boundary line. Therefore John
Hay, The eN-minister to England, patch
ed the matter up in such manner that
England and her daughter are thor
oughly satisfied with the arrangement
John w. Foster, who is one OF the
commissioners representing the United
States, shows in the National Geograph-
ical Magazine Tor November that
England has no case and that the Rus
sian maps, and her own as we'll, arc
entirely against her claims The United
States commissioners made fair propo-
si,ion to the British commissioners to
the effect that the matter in dispute be
submitted to three judges Of the highest
standing in each country, and that Il
binding decision might be rendered by
Jour OF the six judges, but the PROPOSE
ton was rejected by the British COM
missioncrs. The joint high commits
sioners then adjourned with the under
standing that the question should be re-
icrrcd back 10 the two governments for
further diplomatic negotiations. 1t was
then that John Hay, without any au-
thority from any one except William
Mckinley, undertook to paciiy the
English and Canadians and succeeded in
SO doing to their hearts content
George a. Bracket. a former mayor
OF Minneapolis and lifelong Republic
an, recently returned from Alaska and
was interviewed by the Evening
Journal, which says that che is probably
better acquainted with all the details Of
the boundary question than any other
American citizen" from the fact that
he had been daily associated for months
with the specialists Sent out by both
governments to examine the regions in
dispute. Mr.. Bracket unhesitatingly
declared that England has no case at
all, and that her present occupation OF
the Porcupine is an oncroachmcnt.
Questioned as to Hays modus vivcndi
MIR. Bracket said it was not mo-
dus vivcndi at all but an unnecessary
concession to the Canadian government,
and he thought when the commissioners
again meet they will compel the Canadi-
ans to rcccdc back to their original line
Further On he said:
The recent proposal OF Commissioner
Davies that the Canadians rclinquish
Taiya and Skaguay ii this country would
surrender Pyramid harbor was letting
the cat out OF the bag. AS matter OF
TACT, the United States owns both Ska
quay and Taiya. Canada is offering to
rclinquish what we already own. Ii this
were done, it would place England on
the Lynn canal, which would be of ire
mcndous strategic Importance, and give
the larger portion OF the Kondile trade
to Vancouver and Victoria Such a
concession would gravcly influence the
vote OF all the Pacific states in the next
election, as it is to them matter OF the
most vital moment Furthermore, il
would mean that at any time England
could compel Americans to go 5000
miles, via the Yukon river, to reach
Dawson and the gold nelds, instead OIL
over White Pass. as we so now. In my
belief, the question will be in the end
settled by literal Interpretation OF tho
treaty with Russia, and along the lines
always conceded by England when Rus.
STA owned the territory. No other solu-
ton is right. If this is done, Canada
will never be given a seaport on Lynn
canal, and will have to keep within her
original limits, which, by the treaty, is
thirty marine leagues from the sea. Oh
course, Canada bases her claim on the
contention that the Lynn canal is moi
an arm Of the sea, but this is so OBJ
] viously opposed to nature that I have