The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1899-02-24
NEGOTIATIONS PAUSE.
American Canadian High Joint
Commission Takes Rest
Until August.
SEVERAL REASONS FOR THE ACTION

Principal Among Them Being That of
Failure to Agree the Alaska Bound
airy Question - Difference Schemes
of Arbitration the Trouble.
Washington, Feb. 21.-The American
Canadian joint high commission after
session yesterday adjourned to meet
at Quebec Aug. 2, unless the chairman
of the respective commissions agree
upon another date. The commission
first began it's labors nearly six months
ago in Canada, and has with the ex-
ception of probably month been earn
estly at work endeavoring to accomplish
the object for which it was appointed.
an agreement with a view to the for
mutation of treaty covering the many
perplexing questions of differences af-
fecting the business interests of the
United States and Canada existing be-
tween them. There were several rea-
sons which prompted the action taken.
From a statement made public with the
sanction of the two commissions 1t ap-
pears there were serious differences of
opinion between them regarding the
important matter of the delimitation Of
the Alaskan boundary.
Several Reasons for the Recess.
The Canadians in this connection were
anxious to obtain seaport on the Lynn
canal, so that it's shippers would not be
subjected to the petty annoyances which
they asserted they experienced at the
hands of United States officials. Then
the time for the meeting Of the Cana
dian parliament, at which the presence
of members of the commission from that
country is desired. is overdue and the
latter are anxious to return as soon as
possible 1t also became apparent that
there was little likelihood of the pos
sibility of the ratification by the United
States senate at it's present session of
any treaty which might be framed,
which also probably figured in the de-
cison to adjourn. 1t was felt also that
an adjournment for a few months might
result in a better prospect for harmony.
Couldn't Agree on That Line Fence.
Senator Fairbanks chairman of the
American commission, has repeatedly
| stated that there was no basis for the
reports of rupture IN the relations OF
| the two bodies and last night supple
| mented this by saying that they were
! on the best Of terms. On behalf of
| their respective commissions Fairbanks
| and Sir Wilfrid Laurier made the fol-
| lowing public statement respecting the
| action taken yesterday: 1.-THE COM
! mission has made very substantial
| progress in the settlement and adjust
| ment of many of the questions upon
| which it has been earnestly engaged.
| But it has been unable to agree upon
| the settlement of the Alaskan bound
! ary The difficulties, apart from the
| immediate delimitation of this bound
airy by the commission itself, arise from
! the conditions under which it might be
referred to arbitration.
Differed as to Style of Arbitration.
| 1.-The British commissioners desired
! that the whole question should be
| referred on terms similar to those pro-
| vided in the reference of the Vene-
| zuela boundary line, and which by
| providing an umpire would ensure Ger.
| tainty and finality. The United States
| commissioners thought the local condi-
| lions in Alaska SO different that some
notifications of the Venezuela bound
! airy reference should be introduced.
| They thought the reference should be
made to six eminent jurists, three
| chosen by each of the high contracting
| parties without providing for an UNI
| pire, they believing that finality would
! be secured by majority vote of the
! iurists so chosen. They did not see any
/ present prospect of agreeing to Eu-
! ropean umpire, to be selected in the
| manner proposed by the British COM
missioners, while the British commits
i sioners were unwilling to agree to the
selection of an American umpire in the
manner suggested by the United States
/ commissioners.
Wanted Some Special Stipulations.
| THE United States commissioners
| further contended that special stipu1a-
| tons should be made in any reference
/ to arbitration that the existing settle
| ments on the tide waters of the coast
] should in any result continue to belong
| to the United States. To this conten-
| ton the British commissioners refused
| to agree 1t was therefore deemed adj
| visable to adjourn to a convenient date
| in order to enable the respective gov
| ernments to further consider the sub
| ject with respect to which no con-
! clusion has yet been reached"
REAL PHENOMENAL WEATHER.
| Thunder Storm in Which Lightning