New-York tribune., 1899-07-27
A PORT ON LYNN CANAL.

The latest statements concerning the Alaska
boundary serve somewhat to clear the air.
The Joint High Commission is apparently not
TO resume its sessions at the appointed time,
next Wednesday. That is much to be regretted
but regret Is tempered by the assurance that
direct negotiations between the British and
American Governments on the boundary mat
ter are proceeding much more hopefully than
has been commonly supposed, and that set
element, at least tentative, is probably near at
hand If such a settlement be effected there
will be no reason why the Commission should
not resume and complete its work. The exact
character Of the settlement TO be made is, natu-
rally and properly, not yet disclosed. Despite
ihe urgings Of some latter day iconocasts diplo-
macy is not always best conducted In town
meeting The men responsible for the nego-
tiations are keeping their own counsel, and will
let the public know what is proposed when the
fitting time comes. Until then the public is
willing TO wait in patience. So far as the
trend of negotiations has been disclosed, how
ever. some positive opinions are held in the
United States.
The crux of the situation is Canada's desire
and demand for access to tidewater across the
Alaska panhandle She wants a port on Lynn
Canal, and strip of country extending from
1T to the interior The United States, on the
>other hand. claims 10 own all the panhandle
and all its tidewater ports down 70 Portland
Canal Last winter before the Joint High
Commission, Canada demanded the outright
.cession OF such port and the United States
refused II. The United States offered 10 lease
Canada such a port for nominal consdera-
rtion and Canada refused it. So the matter
stood when the Commission adjourned. Now it
IS reported that the offer Of the United States
has been renewed, and there is said TO be reason
TO think that Canada will accept ii. II she has
the chance she will be fortunate The fact Is
that our Government went TO great lengths IN
offering 10 lease a port TO Canada, in view of
our absolute rights and the possible effect on
ipublic opinion of such an offer. and 1t may be
seriously questioned whether the Offer having
heen rejected. should be renewed But II it
has been renewed 1t must be borne in mind
that the offer is that OF a lease. with SOW
ereignty remaining with the United States,
and not, as an Ottawa dispatch calls it, that
of cession of a port. IL is the offer OF the
limited States of last winter renewed, not a
granting of the Canadian demand OF last win
ter The nractical effect of the one would be
the same as that of the other so far as travel
and transportation to the Klondlke are con-
cerned But IN prlnclple tnere - d i"uioai uii
ference between the two
The leasing Of port even though II We're
for a thousand years at cent year. would
still leave the sovereignty with the United
States. and thus would uphold the claim OF
the United States to ownership OF the entlre
coast. The cession OF a port TO Canada wouid
be taken to imply that Canada had right 10
the ownership Of that port. And II she had rlght
10 cross our strip and come down to tidewater
at Dyea she might claim similar rlght at
Juneau. and all along the line' unui she hau
crowded the United States OF altogether IL
IS by no means beyond belief that some OF her
politicians had precisely that In mind when tney