The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-07
BOUNDARY LINE DISPUTE.
COMMISSIONER FOSTER STATES
THE CASE OF UNITED STATES.
Hussian Treaty In 1875 the Line
Was Not in Dixpute-Gives Twelve


John W. Foster. a member of the joint
nigh commission 20 settle differences De
t"ee[. ihs United States ana Canada, nas
prepared & summary Of this governments
case on the Alaskan boundary. IL sas read
saturday Night before the American Geo
graphical Society. Mr.. Foster reviewed the
history u the negotiations between Rus
ala and Great Britain and showed that
the British only sought - prevent the ex-
tension ot the Russian claims eastward of
the Rocky mountains. The British govern
ntai Was then prepared 10 accept bound
a-y line d hundred miles from the coast 81
the mainland. Great Britain atiegyard
succeeded ia reducing this strip - d width
OF ten marine leagues. Russia permitted
ten-year license 20 fish AID hunt in ths
estuaries. but declined TO make 1t IeEnla-
nent.
That license was terminated AZ TIE END
Of the period and. Mr.. Foster says. IS Itself
inconsistent with any Interpretation or the
treaty other than tae complete sovereignty
OF Russia ever not only the strip OF main
land. but all the bays and ialaiS
Russian Authority in 1889.
Mr. Foster showed that In isss. the Hud-
son Bay Company leased from the Russian
government the very strip in question. a
shown by the Russian maps, and in 1881
head OF the company. brought out The fac
that Russian sovereignty extended thirty
nautical miles inland following the linden
tatlons Of the coast in iAfs. ne continued,
a provisional boundary was established by
the United States at the crossing OF the
stickeen river. which follows the present
American contention and. IN isIs. Grim,
inal being tried and convicted, was released
by Canadian courts because his ofense was
committed in American territory"
Mr- Foster quoted the British secretary
Canning IN his instructions 10 the Duke
Of Wellington. where ne says:
Enlightened statesmen ard jurists have
long held as insignificant all titles or ter
ritory that are not founded on actua.
ton OF most esteemed writers on public
law. to be established by practical use
American Position.
With this as basis Mr. Foster made
the following presentai- on OF the AmeFl-
can position regarding he boundary:
There Is nc claim Or preicnse that the
British authorities or subjects ever oecu-
pied any Of the territory now In dispute,
except under the lease cited, or ever ex-
ercised or attempted 70 exercise any acts
os sovereignty over the strip or waters
inclosed by t.
First Soon after the treaty Of 1925 the
Russian government published map
claiming the strip OF territory ard ali the
interior waters 81 ihe sea iaciosed by *.
''Seconf-The Russian American com
pany established forts and trading posts
within the strip.
Thirdly virtue Of the lease cited.
which was Il recognized assertion of It's
sovereignty. Russia temporarily trans
ferred these forts ana posts 10 the British
company.
"Foprth--At The termination Of the ex-
tended lease II re-entered and took pos
session and remained in possession tin
the ceSsion Of Alaska to the United States.
"Tifth-Tt received the allegiance of ,he
native Indians inhab.ting the strip. and
exercised supervision over them.
sixth Immediately after the ce.sson.
In 1851 The department II state q the
United States likewise caused map 10
lie published. setting form the boundaries
az Alaska in accordance with the treaty
81 1895 and the same claim as 10 the
strip VAS thereon made as by Russia in
its map of 1877.
'seventh-Cpon the transfer OF Alaska
portion Of the United States army vas
dispatched ~ occupy the territory, and
a deta chment WAS stationed for some time
or this strip % the mainland
= Eighth Since the cession postofiice-
and post routes hav. been established and
maintained at various points In the strip
Ninth Custom houses have likewise
been established and duties collected there
'-Tenth--C;oyernmeat and mission SCHOOLS
have been maintained and notably So for
nearly twenty years at the head OF Lynn
canal
"Eleventh-The revenue vessels or the
United States have continuously. since the
date OF The Cessian. pairoiet the interior
waters surrounded by the strip 20 enforce
the revenue and other laws OF the United
suites
.Twelfth-The naval and revenue vessels
~ the United states have for the SAINT
period exercised acts Of sovereignty over
Tho Indian tribes inhadtinS the strip. and
especially about the head of Lynn canal
au8 the latter nave yielced unquestione4
allegiance 10 The United States,
"FhiYtcsnth--In the census OF $50 and
!Sev all the Indian ttt6es inhahiting the
strip were Included In the population q
TIE United States. ana 50 published n
she official reports,
''F'eurteenth--The territorial government
Of Alaska has exercised various and Re
prate3 acts - scyeyeignty over the strip
ard interior waters incinse3 ~ 4. ana the
writs q the United States courts have vGa
throughout It's whole extent
''F1ftrenG h--J rdeT the territorial claim,
- th~ Jnitei STATE and tae protection Il
tna government. citizens GO the Uri-el
States have entered ard occupied the stFl p.
huf3I cities arA towns and established In
dUstr.al enterprises there
- t1c f0f, going acts have taken place
without sirste protest o. complaint an
tt5e s.3vs ~ lhs- British or Canadian gov
esayfents. EXCEPT that some friction has
occurred s~tWs-n tte customs outqost~ as
- ;ne exac, deuarc8tion q the eastern
Hres ~ me strip