The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-06-14
The Alaskan Boundary Dispute.

The dispatches state that Prime |
Minister Salisbury and Ambassador
Choate have come to an agreement on
the disputed Alaskan boundary ques-
ton, but what the agreement is does
not yet transpire. The method of
settlement will be something of test
of Mr.. Choate's skill and success in
diplomacy.
The location of the boundary from
the north, down to Mt. st. Elias is
merely matter of marking on the sur
face of the earth the 141st meridian OF
west longitude. The boundary between
this point and the United States is thus
defined in the Anglo-Russian treaty of
1925.
Commencing from the southernmost
point of Prince Of Wales island
the said line shall ascend to the north along
Portland channel, as far as the point OF the
continent where it strikes the $50 OF north
latitude; and from this last mentioned
point the line shall follow the summit OF
lu6 blbudlou phlhllOl w bho OOaob
as far as the intersection OF the 141o Of west
longitude" etc.
whenever the summit of the mountains
which extend in a direction parallel TO the
coast shall prove to be at the dis
lance of more than ten marine leagues from
the ocean, the limit between the British
possessions and the line Of coast which is to
belong to Russia shall be formed
by line parallel to the coast and which
shall never exceed the distance OF ten ma
rine leagues therefrom."
The difficulty arises over the coast line
from which the measuring of the ten
leagues shall begin. The United States
reasonably maintains that the coast line
is the line of the mainland; Canadians
contend that the coast line the treaty
contemplated was the outside edge of
the islands that fringe the coast. This
looks like forced and very unnatural
construction. Canada clearly had some
object in view in putting up this claim.
1t could not be the deduction of sense
or reason.
The value of Alaska is better under
stood to-day than it was in 1925, or even
ten years ago and less. Canada's con-
struction of the treaty is possibly the
production of an enlightened selfish
ness. Running up northerly into the
territory below Mount ST. Elias is an
arm of the sea called Lynn canal.
AT the upper end of this arm is Pyra.
mid Harbor and beyond are the impor.
tant towns of Dyea and Skagway, Chill
koot pass and the Yukon trail. Lynn
canal is very important waterway, be.
ing the approach to the foregoing
towns and localities, which are the
southerly gates to the Klondike region.
Csnada's forced and irrational inter
probation of the defining words of the
boundary below the big mountain would
put these gates into her possession
Under the natural and rational con.
struction of the treaty they remain with
the United States, the successor to the
rights of Russia under the treaty OF
1925.
Canada got an outlet to the Pacific
in the southwest corner of her posses.
sions in the final adjustment of the old
boundary dispute. What she seeks
now is similar outlet further north
and in connection Herewith the con.
troll of the harbor, inlets and towns at
the entrance to the overland route to
the Klondike. Has Mr.. Choate agreed
to an adjustment of the Alaskan bound.
airy dispute that comedies Canada's
very absurd claims? 1t is not at all
probable.