The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-04
OUR BOUNDARY DISPUTE. |
JOHN w. FOSTERS LECTURE BEFORE
the GEOGRAPHICIL SOCIETY.
He Explains tho British and American
Claims In Alaska and Holds that tho
Rights We Received from Russia Had
Been Conceded by Great Britain.

He Explains tho British and American
Claims In Alaska and Holds that tho
Rights We Received from Russia Had
Been Conceded by Great britain.
WAsHfNGToS. Nov. 3.Former Secretary Of
State John W Foster. now a member Of tho
Joint High Commission. lecturcd this after
noon before tho National Geographic Society
on the Alaska boundary question. In opening
his lecture. which was illustrated by stereoptl-
con views. Mr.. Foster said no must connne
himself to data open to all students OF
the question and not refer to negotiations
now pending. He said that in the
preliminary negotiations between Russia and
England. which resulted In the treaty OF 1926
defining the boundaries OF Alaska. It was
clearly the purpose OF Russia to secure q
boundary line far enough inland to shut of
the traders OF the Hudson Bay Com pany from
competing with the Russian traders and the
natives along the coast OF Alaska. The Eng
lish Governments only anxiety was that the
Russian possession on the continent should
not extend inland as far ss the Rocky Noun
tains. Tho purpose OF tho Russians. Mr.. Fos-
ter held. would have been defeated had any OF
the inets or arms extended into British terri
tory.
In return for the revocation OF the ukass OF
1921. by which Russia claimed jurisdiction In
the Pacific over it's waters to the distance OF
100 miles from the coast OF Siberia and Alaska.
Great Britain was prepared to have the east
line OF the strip 100 miles from the ocean and
10 have the line to the Arctic Ocean drawn
along the 1880 degree OF ongitude. thus giving
strip more than three times as wide as she
obtained and the whole OF the Yukon gold dis
tricts.
In referring to the claims OF the British and
American governments. Mr.. Foster said tho
United States claims that the boundary OF the
strip 10 placed nineteen marine leagues from
the coast at all points except at White and
Chilhoot passes. and that the strip is an I'M
broken belt OF territory on the mainland. fol-
lowing the sinuosites OF the coast around the
inlsts OF the sea The British claim that the
line from 58 degrees runs directly to tho sea
and follows the mountains nsarsst tho outer
qs s.s nS hs p or
and transferring All the water Of the bays and
the seventh articls which provided that Tor ten
years the respective subjects should have the
Ravens and creeks on tho coast OF tho contln-
emit was inconsistent with any other intsrpre-
over not only The "trip Of terrosy ON q the main
land which follows the sinposittes Of the sea.
Sn Of ns T 81 r.. 'n .st n,, Th e
privilege, would not be continued. and il came
Mr.. Foster cited number Of instances whore
he said the British recognized, between 1857
and 1910. the correctness OF the Russo. Ameri-
can linz: There was no claim or .rretencs that
the British subjects or authorities had ever
9counied any Of the territory now in
exercised or attempte to exercise any author
ity over the strip OF water enclosed BY II.
Russia had. however. built forts and trading
posts. leased the strip. re-ocepped II and re.
ceived the allegiance OF the Indians and ex-
srcised authority over them; The United
States had published an official map Of the
strip In 1857; had occupied II with the army;
had established post offices and post routes.
custom houses. government aud mission
schools. bad collected customs duties and pa
trollsd the Lynn Canal by revenue cutters to
enforce tho customs duties had accepted the
allegiance Of the Indians and take censusss OF
them 10 1880 and 1890. and had repeatedly sx-
ercised the right OF sovereignty through the
Alaskan government and the Federal judicl-
AIRY.
He also spoke ot the occupation OF tho etrip
by American citizens who had built cities
there. and that against none OF these acts did
the British Government protest. The British
made no claim to these waters In. an Official
High Commission ~ Quebec. in August. 1908
cesdings OF the commission published BY the
Canadian Government. and closed with a
synopsis OF its contents