The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-10-27
THE ALASKA BOUNDARY.
CANADA MAKES A PROPOSITION FOR
ARBITRATION.
AN OLD PROPOSAL IN NEW FORM
Skaguay and Dyea as Belonging to the
United States and Pyramid Harbor as
Canadian Territory to be Excluded
from the Arbitration An Attempted
Coup by Which She Expects to En-
trap Our Government-The Venezue-
Ian Arbitration as a Precedent.


London, October 24.-The Associated
Press is enabled to give authoritative
ly Canada's final proposition for a per
manent settlement of the Alaska dis
pute. 1t is very different from her for
United States Ambassador Choate by
the Canadian minister of marine and
fisheries, Sir Louis Henry Davies.
late tonight before the latter sailed, and
dispatched today to Washington by the
officials of the United States embassy.
1t is as follows:
That the boundary line be arbitrated
upon terms. similar Il those imposed
by the United tateIand Great Britain
over Venezuela, particularly those pro-
visions making fifty years occupancy
by either side conclusive evidence of
title, occupancy of less than that period
to be taken as equity allows under in
ternational laws.
That as a condition precedent to and
absolutely preliminary to arbitration,
Skaguay and Dyea would be conceded
to the United States without further
claim, if Canada received Pyramid
habor.
I'm either words, Canada gives up
much of the disputed gold country in
ItCuIII IOF d seaport, out SllpuldI6S Indl
she must get the latter before she
t,agrees ITO arbitrate the boundary line
The propositions of Sir Louise Henry
! Davies were made privately and were,
apparently, the result of an unexpected
communication from his government,
for Sir Louis, the day previous, ex-
pressed no inkling that he was empow-
cred to make such sweeping proposals.
The anadia statesman, heretofore,
has in~sistently denied the United States
contention that Dyea and Skaguay
must first be coded to the United States
before treating on the subject, and his
sudden change of front and the con-
cessiOn Of two such important points
are apparently intended as a coup, and
Mr.. Choate was found, to a certain eX-
tent, unprepared. The only reply he
could make was hat he would inform
the authorities at Washington and
await their advices, as his Instructions
did not contemplate such a change of
base by Canada.
Vie Associated Press is reliably in
formed that Canada's new position was
greatly Influenced by imperial pressure
and it can be stated definitely that Mr..
Chamberlain advised concession as
much as possible in order to gain a port
of entry free from the United States
control, with the professed reason that
commercial advantages would accrue
therefrom. But it is said that the ul-
trior motive is ito increase British naval
strength by making Pyramid herbor
a strong naval base.
Regarding the probable action of the
United States in these altered condi-
tiOns, British official opinion is that the
United States, having been granted
Dyea and Skaguay, cannot refuse ITO
accept the identical form Of arbitration
they compelled England to AXE to-
ward Venezuela. This course is con-
tingent upon the United States decid-
ing that the gold bearing country is
more valuable than Pyramid harbor.
Washington, October 24.-It is said
at the state department that the prop
oslt1on as to a permanent Alaskan
boundary laid down by Sir Louis Da-
vies is nothing more or less than a
summary of claims heretofore PREFER
ed. When the commission was in ses.
sion last spring and the Canadian prop
OsitiOn was made to settle the bound
airy question by arbitration the Amer
lean commissioners replied with an Of.
fer to accept arbitration, with the pro.
Vlso that no point occupied by Amer
leans for a specified term of year:
should be submitted to arbitration. II
other words, the term vas so fixed b,
no possibility could the title to Ska
quay, Dyea, or any other place tina
the Americans had occupied for a pc
ROD represented by the discovery o
the Klondike field be called into Ques
ton by THE arbitration.
This was one of the final proposition
rejected by the Canadian commission
ers which caused the failure of tn
joint conference. Since that tim
there have been several suggestions i
the nature of compromises and includ
ed among these was one like this EN-
bodied in Sir Louis Davies proposition
namely: THAT the United State
Should confirm the Canadian title t
Pyramid harbor in return for Canada
confirmation of the American title t
Skaguay and Dyea.
c 1t is not possible to accurately fore
cas- the view that the state departme1
will take of this last proposition, bl
it may be proper to recall the fact Thu
: in h opinion of the department, Cal
ada a no more claim to Pyram
!. harbOr than it has to Skaguay and Dye
u and h British government has a
= ready been informed of that belle
), Therefore, 1T seems probable that S
!, Louis Davies proposition will not m
terially advance a permanent settl
ment of the boundary question, al
q that the two countries will continue
l. act for some time to come under t
N terms of the modus vivendi recent
Il arranged by Secretary Hay and N
Tower.
= Jefferds Knocked Out by IN
Il 1