The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-05
THAT ALASKA DISPUTE
EX-SECRETARY OF STATE FOSTER
HAS PREPARED A STATEMENT
AS TO SITUATION
TEXT OF THE PROPOSED PLAN

Exhaustive Review of the Occupa-
ton and Development of Alaska
and Diplomatic USageS in Cases
Similar to the One In Which
America and Great Britain Are
Dangerously AntagOnized.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4-EX-Secretary
Of State John w. Foster, a member Of
the joint high commission to settle differ
ences between the United States and
Canada, has prepared a summary Of this
governments case on the Alaskan bound
airy. 1t was read last night before the
American Geographical society.
Mr. Foster reviewed the history Of the
negotiations between Russia and Great
Britain. and showed Great Britain only
sought to prevent the extension of the
Russian claims eastward to the Rocky
mountains. The British government was
then prepared to accept . boundary line
100 miles from the coast of the mainland
Great Britain afterwards succeeded in re-
ducing this strip to a width of ten ma
rine leagues,
Russia permitted ten-Year license to
fish and hunt in the estuaries, but de-
clined to make it permanent. That
license was terminated at the end of the
period, and Mr.. Foster says is itself in
consistent with any Interpretation of the
treaty other than the complete sovereign
ty of Russia over not only the strip of
mainland but all the bays and inlets.
~
Hudson Bay company leased from the
Russian government the very strip in
question, as shown by the Russian maps,
ana in 1857 parliamentary committee eX-
aiming the head OF the cape brought cut
the fact that Russian sovereignty extend
ell thirty nautical miles inland following
the indentations of the coast.
In 1868, he continued, a provisional
boundary was established by the United
States at the crossing Of the Stlckeen
river. which follows the present Ameri-
can contention, and III 1876, criminal,
being tried and convicted. was released by
Canadian courts because his offense was
committed lin American territory
Mr. Foster quoted the British secretary,
Canning. in his instructions to the Duke
Enlightened statesmen and jurists
have long held as insignificant all titles of
territory that are not founded on actual
occupation. and that title is, in the opIn-
ion Of most esteemed writer's on public
Law, to be established by practical use"
MIR FOSTEP'S PLAN.
With this as basis, Mr. Foster made
the following strong presentation of the
American position regarding the bound
airy:
There Is no claim or pretense that the
British authorities or subjects ever oc-
cupied any of the territory now in dis
pute, except under the lease cited or
ever exercised or attempted to exercise
any acts Of sovereignty over the strip or
waters inclosed by it.
First-Soon after the treaty of 1925 the
Russian government published 6 map
claiming the strip of territory and all
the interior waters of the sea inclOsed
by it.
Second-The Russian-American COM
pany established forts and trading posts
within the strip.
Thirdly virtue of the lease cited.
which was a recognized assertion of it's
sovereignty, Russia temporarily trans
ferred these forts and posts to the Brit
ish company.
Fourth-At the termination of the ex-
tended lease, 1t re-entered and took pos
session and remained in possession till
the cession of Alaska to United States.
tifth-It received the allegiance of the
native Indians inhabiting the strip and
exercised supervision over them.
SlXth-Immediately after the cession in
1861 the department Of state of the
United States likewise caused a map to
be published setting forth the bounds Of
all states. in accordance with the treaty
of 1925, and the same claim as to the
strip was thereon made as by Russia as
on its map of 1927.
Seventh-On the transfer of Alaska. a
portion Of the United States army was
dispatched to occupy the territory and a
detachment was stationed for some time
on this strip of the mainland
Eighth-Since the cession, postof1ces
and post routes have been established
and maintained at various points on the
strip.
Ninth-Custom houses have likewise
been established and duties collected
Tenth-Government and mission schools
nave been maintained and notably so for
nearly twenty years at the head of the
Lynn canal
Eleventh-The revenue vessels of the
United states have continuously since
the date of the cessiOn patrclled the in
terror waters surrounded by the strip. to
the United States.
Twelfth The naval and revenue yes
sells of the United States have for the
same period exercised acts Of sovereignty
over the Indian tribes inhabiting the
strip. and especially about the head of
yielded unquestioned allegiance to the
United States.
Thirteenth-In the census of 1880 and
1890. all the Indian tribes inhabiting the
strip We're included in the population of
the nited States and published in the
official reports.
Fourteenth-The territorial government
Of Alaska has exercised various and re-
peated acts Of sovereignty over the strip
and interior waters inclosed by it, and
the writs Of the United States courts
have run thrOughOut it's whole extent
Fifteenth-Tnder the territorial claim Of
the United States and the protection Of
the government, citizens OF the United
States have entered and occupied the
strip. built cities and towns and estab-
hshed industrial enterprises thereon.
All the foregoing acts have taken place
without single protest or complaint on
the part of the British or Canadian gov
ernments, except that some friction has
occurred between the customs outposts
as TO the exact demarkation Of the east
ern line Of the strip.
COLLATERALS TAXABLE.