The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-06
WILL PROTECT AMERICANS.
Secretary Hay Reassures Miners
Of Poroupine Country.
MoDus wveND, TEMPORARY.

VIII he Fully Looked After--Ca-
madam Customs Omcers VIII
Not Interfere with the Miners.
The miners Of the Porcupins district,
Alaska, have received from Secretary Of
State Hay definite assurance that this
government foregoes no part OF Its right
and power to protect its citizens in the
Porcupine creek region whether they be
temporarily within American or British
Jurisdiction. In the full enjoyment OF all
rights and privileges which they had be-
fore the modus vivendi was concluded.
and to see that their freedom of access
and exit, with their goods. Is not un-
reasonably impeded"
This announcement from Mr.. Hay II
the result Of the petition to President Nc
Kinley from lao American miners in the
Porcupine country, who complained OF
being brought within the territory and
under the laws OF the Dominion of Canada
and especially protested against the Local
ton of the boundary line along the
Kleheni river by which American miners
were forced to enter British territory In
carrying supplies to their camps. The
reply of Secretary Hay discusses the
whole proposition at considerable length.
He assures the miners that the modus
vivendi Is merely temporary PROPOSE
ton, to be abrogated without prejudice
to either party when a permanent settle-
ment of the boundary dispute is decided
upon: that in the meantime the rights OF
all miners temporarily brought within
the Canadian control will be religiousy
protected; and that miners desiring to
carry goods through the disputed terri
tory will be permitted to do so without
unjust Interference from the Canadian
customs officials. /.
At the time when the miners petition
went to the president the Seattle Cham
Der OF Commerce took the matter up and
sent In q second communication. A reply
to this latter was received yesterday
morning from Acting Secretary Adee. who
incosed copy of the following letter
addressed by Secretary Hay to Herman
p. Emmons, chairman OF the miners
committee:
The Letter 70 the Miners.
1.-THE president has referred to me your
letter OF July II. with which was inciosfd
protest OF the miners Of the Porcuphe
mining district OF Alaska against the
provisional demarkation of the boundary
in the vicinity OF the Kleheni river, which
has been recently made in virtue OF the
modus vivendi concluded on the 10th OF
October last.
"The arguments and statements pre-
scented in the petition with great clear
ness were fully discussed here, and the
circumstance that the negotiation of a
modus was prolonged for some two years
before an agreement was reached was
due to the insistence OF this government
that no solution was admissible which
should not recognize and guard all rights
and privileges gained by the American
miners and other citizens who had set
tied in the disputed territory. This posi-
ton was assumed very early In the nego-
tiation, after consultation with represent
tative senators and congressman, espe-
cially from the Pacific and Northwestern
statef. and 1t was well understood that our
demand that the American citizens who,
by the operation of any provisional ar
rangement. might he found within the
temporary jurisdiction of Great Britain,
should suffer no diminution OF their exist
ing rights, was an essential condition
from which no recession was possible.
THE other details OF the arrangement
were in like manner the subject of con-
slant consultation with the best Informed
representative authorities. throughout
the negotiation, and were generally and
fully acquiesced In, with a clear realiza-
character sought TO be reached was nee
essarily temporary compromise. In
volving mutual concessions. although
without prejudice to the complete estab-
the eventual permanent adjustment of the
treaty boundary.
II inclose for your information a copy
OF the modus vfvendi OF October 20. 1888.
l beg you to observe:
A Provisional Arrangement.
"First-That the arrangement Is pro-
visionai merely and without prejudice 10
the claims OF either party In the perma-
nent adjustment OF the international
boundary.
Second That the Inconvenience OF a
provisional line crossing and reorossing
expressly provided for by the engage
mept that persons proceeding 10 or from
Porcupine creek shall be freely permitted
to follow the trail between the said creek
and the said junction of the rivers tI<ie-
heni and Chilkat). into and across the
territory on the Canadian side Of the
temporary line whenever the trail crosses
to such side. and subject to such reas-
enable regulations for the protection OF
the revenue ms the Canadian government
may prescribe. 70 carry with them over
said points as may lie on the Canadian
SIDE of the temporary line, such goods
and articles as they desire. without be-
Ing required To pay any custom duties on
such goods and articles
Third tand most important In its
relation TO tAS grounds OF your protest.
subjects ~ ether power found by this
arrangement within the temporary juris-
diction Of the other shall suffer no dimin-
they now enjoy
sine provisional arrangement so en-
tered into by the United States and
her last, SO that its provisions became
widely known to all parties interested,
affording ample opportunity 70 foresee
fAt tAtttt NANtl Tue NAbFttfS OF TIE Two
governments should have completed the
mechanical operation OF marking the
temporary lire agreed upon by the erec-
ton Of posts, stakes or other appropri-
ate temporary marks. To enable u fun
understanding IN these particulars tho
published copies Of the rnodus vivenfi
were accompanied by a map. carefully
prepared from The latest and most au-
thenttc sources The arrangement and
the map were printed IN nearly all the
newspapers at the time, constituting an