The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-21
JOINT HIGH COMMISSION.
ADJOURNS UNTIL SECOND OF
AUGUST NEXT.
Were Serious Differences Of Opin-
ions on Matters Which Could
Not be Overcome.

lcdH -OdHddldn JOlnI High COMMISSION,
after session to-day, adjourned to
meet at Quebec August I'd, unless the
Chairman of the respective Commits
slonS agree upon another date There
were several reasons which prompted
the action taken to-day. From state
ment made public with the sanction Of
the two Commissions, it appears, there
was serious differences of opinion be-
tween them regarding the matter
of the delimitation, ofsthe Alaskan boun-
Diary, the Canadians in this connection
being anxious to obtain a sea port in
Lynn Canal, SO that it's shippers would
not be subjected to the petty annoy
ances which they asserted they expert
enced at the hands of the United States
officials. Then the time for the meet
ing OF the Canadian Parliament, at
which the presence of members of the
Commission from that country is de-
sired, is overdue, and the latter are
anxious to return as soon as possible.
1t also became apparent that there was
little likelihood of the responsibility of
the ratification by the United States at
its present session of any treaty which
might be framed, which also probably
inquired in the decision to adjourn.
A dozen important questions were re-
ferred to the Commission for it's con-
sideration, and the Commissioners say
that substantial progress in the settle
nent and adjustment of many of the
questions has been made. Probably
those which have given the most SER
1ous trouble and proved a stumbling
block to final agreement on all have
been the two relating to lumber and
the Alaskan boundary question, on both
of which the Canadians have demanded
concessions which the Americans felt
it would be prejudical to the best inter-
ests of the United States to grant. 1t
was felt also that an adjournment for
a few months might result in a better
prospect for harmony, and a DISPOSE
ton on the part of the Canadians to
agree to propositions made to them
from the Commissioners on this side of
the boundary line.
Senator Fairbanks. the Chairman of
the American Commission, has repeat
edly stated that there was no basis for
the reports of a rupture in the relations
OF the two bodies, and Tonight supple
mented this by saying that they were
on the best of terms. On behalf of
their respective Commissions. Senator
Fairbanks, the Chairman of the Amer
lean board, and Sir Wilfred Laurier.
acting Chairman, in the absence of
Lord Herschel, who is ILL., of the Cana
dian board, made the following public
statement respecting the action taken
to-day:
'tThe Commission adjourned to meet
at Quebec August I'd, unless the Chair
men of the respective Commissions
shall agree upon another date The
Commission has made very substantial
progress in the settlement and adjust
ment of many of the questions upon
which it has been earnestly engaged.
But it has been unable to agree upon
the settlement of the Alaskan boun-
dairy. This problem has been compli-
Gated and difficult, but the Commits
sions, acting I'M the utmost friendliness
and cordiality, have been unable to
agree upon a satisfactory adjustment.
The difficulties. apart from the i'm
meciate delimitation of this boundary
by the Commission itself, arise from
the conditions under which it might be
referred to arbitrator. The British
Commissioners desired that the whole
question should be referred on terms
similar to those provided in the refer
ence of the Venezuela boundary line,
and which by providing an umpire,
would insure certainty and finality The
United States Commissioners, on the
other hand, thought the local conditions
in Alaska SO different that some modi-
ficatiops of the Venezuela boundary ref
erence should be introduced. They
thought the reference should be made
to the six eminent jurists, three chosen
by each of the high contracting parties,
without providing for an umpire they
believing that finality would be secured
by majority vote of the jurists so
chosen. They did not see any present
prospect of agreeing to- a European UNI
pire to be selected in the manner pro-
posed by the British Commissioners, |
while the British Commissioners were
unwilling to agree to the selection of
an American umpire in the manner
suggested by the United States Com
missioEers.
ssThe United States Commissioners
contend that special stipulations should
be made in any reference to arbitration
that the existing settlement on the tide
waters of the coast should in any re-
suit continue to belong to the United
States. To this contention the British
Commissioners refused to agree 1t was
therefore deemed advisable to adjourn
to convenient date in order to enable
the respective governments to further
consider the subject with respect to
which no conclusion has yet been
reached"