Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-08-18

whether we hasten or postpone all ques-
tions respecting the limit of territorial
possession on the continent of America,
but the pretensions of the Russian ukase
of 1921 to exclusive dominion over the
Pacific could not continue longer un.
repealed without compelling us to take
some measures of public and effectual re-
monstrance against it."
After prolonged consideration and the
interchange of much correspondence
Russia agreed to recede from her con-
tention as to dominion over the adjacent
ocean, and Great Britain acquesced in
the retention by Russia of the Islands
and of strip of the mainland extending
to the summit of the mountains parallel
to the coast, but not penetrating further
than ten marine leagues. Russia held
that for the protection of her extensive
fur industries it was essential that she
should have possession of the coast line.
Upon the ratification of the treaty maps
were prepared dominating that part of
Alaska which Great Britain conceded to
Russia The boundary line which. the
United States insists upon is the same as
those shown upon those early maps, and
Canada made no protest against it until
about 1870, when gold was discovered in
Canada near the Alaskan frontier. Since
then the dominion has been putting forth
absurd claims and making demands for
territory which Great Britain nearly
seventy.five years ago acknowledged to
belong to Russia, and which, by the pur-
chase of 1867, became the property Of
the United States. Says the Pittsburg
Despatch:
1.-THE correspondence and debates of
early negotiations made it clear that Sir
Charles Bagot arbitrarily fixed the south
ern point of Russian possessions far
north of the point his government had
instructed him to contend for, so he
might, as he explained, obtain more
favorable compromise. This is the
apparent object of the present Canadian
contention, and it is the belief that
arbitration might lead to a compromise
that Laurier so strenuously advocates
arbitration"
Mr.. Lewis makes the suggestion that
Great Britain's policy in international
disputes is to claim everything in sight,
and then have a margin upon which to
make concessions when efiecting a COM
promise. In the words of the New York
Journal:
"By this idea of claiming things that
do not belong to her and. compromising
by accepting half of her neighbor's
property she stands to win something
and cannot possibly lose. Whatever she
gets is clear profit"
The Alaskan soil which Canada covets
not only legally and technically belongs
to the United States, but is settled and
occupied by American citizens. The
towns of Skaguay and Dyea. admittedly
under American auspices. are part of this
tract. When the Russian treaty was
signed there was no dispute as to its
terms. The United States cannot permit
the alienation of foot of American soil.
In return for trade concessions by
Canada, we can afford to permit her free
access to the Pacific, but we cannot abate
our own sovereignty.
In reviewing this subject, the Portland
Oregonian pertinently remarks:
"We might we'll let our neighbors into
their own territory, through ours, in con-
sideration of various concessions which
Great Britain and Canada might fairly
be expected to make. First, we desire
of the Clayton. Bulwer
treaty, so we may 60 on with construc-
ton of the Nicaragua canal. Second,
we want concessions as to rights of our
citizens engaged in mining in the Cana
dian territory. Third, we may want free
passage over the Canadian territory to
our own on the Lower Yukon. This
may become very important. Should
extensive gold discoveries be made in
our territory In the Yukon country, the
conditions of our contention with Canada
would greatly change. Through Lynn
Canal would be the shortest route, and
we should want free passage through
Canadian territory from the summit of
the mountains down the Yukon to the
Hist parallel of longitude, where our
own territory begins. "-Phlladelphia
Ledger.
TELEGRAPH AND sLEDoE TO DAWSON.
communication WIFI tue Interior OI the
Yukon mining district will be main
tanned during the coming winter.
Heretofore when the Yukon froze over
so as to prevent navigation travel
practically ceased, and with it all COM
municatlon. In Alaska and contiguous
portions of the Northwest territory there
was nowhere an established stage line
for freight or passengers. The Canadian
postal authorities let contract and paid
an enormous sum for mail service from
White Pass to Dawson and intermediate
points on the Yukon, but the contractor
failed to perform the service at the time
it was most required. The result was
that last winter Dawson was cut off
from communication with the outer
world for months at time, and such
chance communication as existed was
due to the pressing necessities of some
one who was compelled to make the trip
to Skagway, 600 miles. by dog train.