Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-08
THE ALASKAN BOUNDARY
Progress of London Negotiations Not Known
Here.
Basis for n Provisional Agreements
Notes of the Joint Commits
siOn's Proceedings.

1t is not known here officially what prog
ress has been made in the negotiations at
London toward a reassembling of the Cana
dian joint high commission But the Off
cials are taking what encouragement is to
be found from London dispatch attrib-
uting to the British foreign office an init
nation that the prospects are favorable for
resumption.
1t is known that the arrangement of
mOdus vivendi, or as Sir Wilfrid Laurier
has termed it, "a provisional arrangement
to govern the relations of the United States
and Canada on the Alaskan boundary is
now receiving a great deal of Mr.. Choate's
attention, and there is now some reason for
hope that his efforts will be crowned with
success.
Basis for Agreement.
The basis for the temporary delimita ton
of the boundary in the neighborhood of the
passes leading into the Klondike from the
Lynn canal, if the present effort succeeds,
will be on White pass on the east and on
Chilkoot pass in the middle, the point where
the Canadian customs houses were estab-
lished about eighteen months ago On the
Dalton trail the point has not yet been Sc
lected, and the pressure toward the sea
on this Westernmost trail by the Canadians
has been more severe than at any other
point very naturally great difficulty is ex
perlenced in recOnciling, even temporarily,
the conflicting claims to jurisdiction. While
Pyramid harbor is not insisted upon a this
Juncture by the Canadians as part of the
temporary arrangement, they are DESTROYS
or getting as near to Underwater pos
sible, and their claim in this quarter in
cludes the important Indian village Of kluk-
wan, a town that has long been under the
protectiO Of the United States and which
our government is indiSpOSed to surrender,
even temporarily, into Canadian control.
If this difficulty can be solved, and di-
visional point located on Dalton trail, there
is no doubt that modus will be the out
come. This, in itself would be most hope
full result, removing the chances of hostile
collisions the border, and postponing IN
til calmer and more reasonable feelings pre-
vail the permanent settlement of the irri-
tating issues between the United States
and Canada.
With this Alaskan boundary controversy
also removed from the subjects for consid-
GRAFTON by the joint high commission. judg-
ing by the progress made by the commits
sion before its adjournment on the other
subjects on its program, there is every rea-
son to believe that treaty can be made
satisfactory to both parties in time for sub
mission to the Senate at it's next session.
Points in the Protocol.
The protocol recording the proceedings Of
the joint high mission in Washington on
February is last is regarded by the depart
ment as Of great Importance, for it marked
the failure of the commission under pecu-
liar conditions The record shows that the
Joint commission met at 10 O'Clock that
morning; that the British side suggested
arbitration, and the Americans accepted
the proposition in general, using it as a
basis for treaty as offered by the British
However, it is shown that when the Ameri-
cans offered an amendment the Engiishmen
promptly refused to accept it, and without
affording further opportunity for the cree
1f an a rh trlt inFn tran ctr IA tL1
negotiations and referred the matter to
their own government Notwithstanding the
urging of the American side that the
mission at least conclude their negotiations
upon the remaining subjects. These facts
were the basis of the American contention
that the Canadians had not afforded a real
opportunity for arbitration, and were re-
sponsible for the disruption of the Joint
commission.
The points of the British arbitration pro-
posal and also of the proposition put for
ward by the Americans as an amendment
have already been indicated In the cable
dispatches, and the following points are
given as those upon which Importance is
laid by the American side. In putting for
corded follows:
They therefore made the following as a
basis to be proceeded upon in framing
treaty" The attitude of the Americans
upon this is set down as follows: The
commissioners of the United States an
nounced that they accepted the proposals
made as the basis of adjustment but de-
sired an amendment in relation to the ar
bltral tribunal, and a modification of rule c
to make 1t conform to the present local
conditions in Alaska" The British objec-
tons TO the American counterproposaI have
also been published, and the record on that
point reads, Holding these views, the Brit
lsh commissioners are of the opinion that
no useful end will be served by further
pressing at the present time the negotia-
lions, and must refer the matter to their
government"