The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-28
[AUR|ER Is NOT UARlIkE.
LOOKS ron PEACEAnLE SETTLE
NEWT or ALASKAN BOUNDARY.
- 10 Its Proper Locations and ia-
Inmates Hopes Of . Cenprontse
by Which Domiaicn IL Satiaaed.

NEW YORK. July ss.-A special 80 the
Herald frem Ottawa, Ont. says;
Ard war is hot TO be thought Of" said
Szr Hiffrsd i-aurter in the Canadian par
lament. in Qualifying his statement that
-nasnueh as negotiations Tor tue settle
usens OF The Alaskan boundary bad failed
the only two possible ways Of settling il
were arbitration or war
The Canadian premier today gave the
Herald an explanation OF the contention Of
Canada
As member OF the commission and a
participant IN the negotiations" he re-
pked. Il am not at Ecerfy TO give to the
public any more than have already done
Information bearing on the differences be-
tween Us and the United States 1 think
| can say this much in explanation. how
ever:
Practically the whole dispute now is
circunscr.oed 10 the question OF the ss-
Establishment OF the boundary Rns in the
region Of the Lynn canal. The puzzle is
aware that the Canadian contention is
that the sine crosses the Lynn canal near
lis entrance. whereas the American Corr
tentson IS that the line goes around Lynn
canal. leaving the entire canal in Amer
can territory.
IF the contention were reduced 10 the
exact location OF the Inc. think the So
tuition m ght prove to be OF comparative
ease. But the Americans have establish
ments at Skasway and n Dyea. Our view
is that the Americans at that point are on
British territory, but we have to recog-
nike the fact that they are there all the
same.
"'At one time we thought we could have
made the compromise and arranged that
boundary by conventional agreement and
mutual concessions. I arm betraying no
secret when l say that the commission
could not agree on such q compromise.
Therefore as We cannot agree among
ourselves we must ask the assistance OF
friendly aroitrators. The points 10 be sub
mitted 10 the arhitrators might be the fol-
lowing:
"Firs,--what IL the right Interpretation
OF the treaty in regard to the location OF
the boundary line on Lynn canalg IL X
the Canadian or the American contention
'Seeoud-In the event OF the arhitrators
declaring that the Canadian contention .
the right one, then the subsidiary cousid-
Grafton would have to be decided: what
disposition shall be made OF Dyea and
skaEway. which are American settle
rnents, We think that the Venezuela
treaty offers a precedent for the solution
OF that question I am aware that the
American authorities contend that there Is
dent and the case now to be disposed OF
In th,s-thaf. as they aiiege, Canada never
PR tested against the American occupation
OF Skagway and Dyea-
we do not admit this contention in
point OF fact But even II II were founded
on fact. the arbitrator would have to
consider what equities might arise there
from and decide accordingly. Though I
have strong views on that point myself.
for obvious reasons I refrain from ex-
pressing them"
In case this matter cannot be SUBJ
mitted TO arbitration. Is Canada In favcr
of settling II by war; Sir Wiifrid was
asked.
Nobody wants war" he replied quick
~. Il distinctly said. when called at
tention 10 the fact that the negotiations
had failed and that the question could
only be settled by arbitration or war but
that war was out OF the question and not
10 be thought Of. I viii go further and
say that war over this OF any other qies-
ton would be criminal.
We ought TO have the most cordial
intercourse and the closest commercial
relations with the United States. We
think that we do not always get them
We ;aink we do not always get CONNER
ciai justice. Though a small nation, we
buy more from you than you buy from
US. But some day we will turn the tables
on you and will get the best of the bar
gain. and that is all the revenge We want
from YOU.
DO you know whether the initiative ID
being taken by Great Britain looking "a
making a proposal to arhitrate;"
The premier repealed the question
You must not ask me-" said he.
VIII you discuss the old proposition
now coming forward again. that Canada
be satisfied with a free port. say at Pyra-
mid harbor. the entire Lynn canal re-
naming under United States severe
igntyg''
II know nothing about that" he re-
piled.