The times., 1899-11-06

listed in the Northwest, which was then a
savage wilderness: and the instructions of
the Foreign Office to the various diplo-
matists who represented it at st. Peters
burg in the course Of the negotiation
clearly show that they were only expected
to secure Russia's withdrawal Of her claim
10 exclusive maritime sovereignty in the
North Pacific. and if possible to secure
some Incidental advantages for the Hud
son Bay Company in Alaska.
In pursuance of customary British t5cttcs
Tier Majesty's representatives began at
once to fight fer a position on open water
which would give their traders a chance
10 compete with the Russian American
Company They first proposed line
through Chatham Strait TO the head of
Lynn Canal, which would have given Eng
land the whole eastern shore along those
arms Of the sea. The Russians rejected
this proposition. as they regularly did
every enc which involved the slightest
British pretension to a foothold on the
mainland above latitude 81. Finally. after
negotiations had been twice broken OFF
compromise was effected. and the treaty
Of 1925 was the result.
Finding that Russia was determined to
prevent British lodEment anywhere ON the
Alaskan seacoast strip from latitude a
40 north, The British negouat0rs were
instructed TO secure for the Hudson Bay
Company the same privileges of visit and
trade among the bays, gulfs, inlets, and
,F 9 1,,- no
United States. under ten years lease,
only. if possible, to have the British ar
ranEement made perpetual This was per
empJoTily refused by Russia, On the
ground that a concession of perpetual priv
ileEe would be tantamouut to partial sur
render Of sovereignty perfectly sound
conclusion. SO British vessels and traders
We're admitted to Russian Alaskan waters
for a term of years The privilege was
twice renewed, but finally terminated; and
never from 1925 to this hour has Great
Britain ever occupied foot of territory,
or exercised or claimed jurisdiction, within
the boundaries laid down in the treaty Of
the year mentioned
These boundaries are today the bounda-
Ti-s between the United States and Canada.
They were depicted on map issued by the
Russian Government in 1927; we're follow
ed BY British. French. and Canadian Off
cial and private photographers for half
century. and were recognized by the Brit
fsh Government during that time, and
never questioned by it until the year 1898,
and then. singularIy enough, only after the
creation of the Joint High Commission to
consider points of dispute between the
United States and Canada. Or. Foster
brings an array of collateral and explana-
tory facts to bear on the case, which show
the absolute acceptance Of our position by
Great Britain up to 1898. and the cold
bIooIed turpitude of the later attempt to
E2lly us into surrendering territory
cur title 10 which is impregnable
and unquestionable in history. law, and
morals. We cannot here review all these;
referring TO them only as cumulative evi-
dsnce Of the justice OF a position which
is perfect without them.
What Is to be said OF the attitude Of
Great Britain il this matter? Is it dicta-
ted by considerations of imperial politics
by a desire to coddle the Dominion of
Canada and to please its avaricious provin-
cials at the price of national dishonor and
International bad faith and dishonesty?
The mother country must be IN a bad way
if she is compelled to disgrace herself in
order TO promote imperial cohesion, In
decd, If The American people were once TO
become Convinced that Great Britain Is
ready to sacrifice history, truth, and JUS
tice, and TO fslsIfy her engagements. admis-
siOns, reeogHiJions. and declarations, at any
time, for the purpose Of benefting one of
her colonies or dependencies at the cost
and to the injury OF the United States, the
good feeling which has recently grown up
would vanish like a dream. and this coun-
try would regard England with the univer-
sal sentiment that animated it in the year
1872
We dislike 10 say it. but ii is the truth.
no matter how unpleasant that the Brit
contention for the surrender
Of part Of our Alaskan territory is in
sultiug and outrageous. As such. it will
not be long tolerated by the citizenship of
the United States. If persisted in, it will
certainly destroy the last vestige CT Ameri-
can friendship for England. and might
easily result in something much more
serious