The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-25
Policy of This Government In to Set
tie the Irritating Question by
AmicabIe Agreement.
REAL CAUSE OF THE DELAY
AMERICAN CLAIM IS JUST, AND A
COMPROMISE NOT ASKED.
Omcfals at Washington Not Alarmed
by the Recent Startling De-
velopments ut Ottawa.

WASHINGTON, July Ex-senator Fair
banks, chairman Of the American division
OF the joint high commission, made a brief
call on the President to-day before start
ing for his home in Indiana. He declined
to discuss the speech Of Sir Wilfrid Laurier
or to remark onthe situation with reference
to the boundary dispute. He confirmed the
report already given out that there would
be no meeting of the joint high cimmission
on Aug. q saying that he and Sir Wilfrid
Laurier had last Friday agreed on a post
ponement for an indefinite period. The
senator would not hazard surmise as to
when another meeting might be held.
Direct negotiations respecting the Alaskan
boundary are now in progress between Sec
rotary Hay and Mr.. Tower, the British
charge here. The negotiations are d.
rected towards an adjustment of the issue
by amicable arrangements between the
parties, though on somewhat different lines
from those pursued during the spring and
summer. The principals are not without
hope that success may attend their efforts.
ard then there is arbitration yet in reserve
In case Of failure on the present lines.
The officials here are in no wise alarmed
at the recent developments at Ottawa, feel
ing confident that Sir wifrid Laurier's
''war'' as an alternative to arbitration. was
given a meaning not intended by the Ca
madam premier. The strong language at
tributed to Sir Charles Topper is not
credited to the Canadian government and
It Is realized that great latitude may prop
erly be allowed in viewing the utterances of
members of an opposition party.
Inasmuch as the Canadian officials have
laid stress on the refusal Of the United
States to accept fair arbitration Of the
pending question 1t may be proper to explain
the reason for refusal. as pointed out to-
day by high official. In the first place, our
government, 1t Is contended, Is absolutely
certain OF the soundness of its claims in
the matter Of the boundary. That would
seem to be a good reason for submitting
the matter to arbitration on the ground that
q good cause had nothing to fear from fair
arbitrators, but our government holds that
arbitrators are almost all subject to the
fatal weakness of compromising. In our
case any compromise would amount to the
loss Of our whole contention, for once
Canada Is admitted to the Lynn canal we
would be deprived Of the only weapon which
We now possess for the protection of our
miners going into the Klondike from extor-
ton and perhaps expulsion. 1t was for this
reason that Secretary Hay rejected the
Canadian proposal to arbitrate, attended by
the condition that in any case Pyramid har-
Dor should be bestowed upon Canada. Then,
too, 1t Is realized that an agreement to ar
nitrate might be extremely unpopular in the
West, so that the officials will be glad to
adjust the matter without resort to arbitra-
ton IL possible. This has caused revival
Of the project to allow Canada free port
privileges at some specified ports on the
Lynn canal. Dyea, Skagway or Pyramid
harbor perhaps, while allowing sovereignty
over them TO remain in the United States.
and this is one of the propositions that is
Eow engaging attention.
1t Is realized that this plan would meet
strong opposition from that element which
favors no concession whatever to Canada,
but under such an arrangement American
miners might reasonably expect TO benefit a
good deal from the construction OF the pro-
posed railroad running from a free Canadian
port on the Lynn canal straight through to
Dawson, in the heart OF the Klondike