The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-08
The Alaskan Boundary Matter.


rush on to ruin and disaster.
The Alaskan Boundary Matter.
Certain OF the Democratic news
papers, manifesting for the first time
an interest In Alaska, OF which they
had never before displayed any symp-
toms. are trying very hard to make II
appear that in the ILLUMINATION of the
boundary under the present modus VI
vendi the administration has made
practical cession to Great Britain of
many miles OF American territory 1t
Is almost amusing that the same news
papers which are strenuously advocat-
ing that the United states abandon
possession Of American territory OF
thousands Of times greater value than
the strip which falls on the Canadian
side under the modus vivendi. and ter
ritory held by precisely the same title
as Is Alaska. should be having such an
attack Of the conniptions over an al
legged cession Of territory. which in fact
has never been made.
1t In within the truth to say that the
people Of Alaska are disappointed and
aggrieved that even in the temporary
settlement any concessions should have
been made to Canada: and that their
sentiment Is shared by the people OF
Washington. 1t il also recognized.
however, that there has been no cess
sion of territory OF any kind. and that
there has been no treaty for the de-
Elimination OF the actual boundary be-
tween Alaska and Canada. That boun-
Diary remains to be hereafter establish
ed. The present arrangement Is simply
a temporary one. designed and provided
in express terms to prevent any con-
fiicts on the border. but not to be taken
as settling the boundaries or the rights
Of either party. II simply, while pre-
venting present conflicts. postpones to
the future the actual settlement OF the
question where the true boundary lies.
Of fixing that boundary at the line now
selected, and both sides reserve their
claims. which are to be determined
hereafter.
In the modus vivendl. the United
States has had one distinct advantage.
Canada claimed that Its boundary ex-
tended to include the harbors at the
head OF Lynn canal. The Canadians
fought streuuously TO have at least one
harbor included for their use under the
modus vivendi. but the United States
refused TO grant this This was the
most important feature OF the Cana
dian contention. II they had received
this concession. they would have had
all which they really desired or hoped
TO gain. and they would have interposed
every possible objection toward having
the actual boundary matter definitely
and finally settled. A. II is the strip
Of territory which lies between the line
as fixed by the temporary Arrangement
and the line as claimed by the United
! states IN Of no strategic Importance.
1 however valuable II may prove 20 be
for the mineral lying within its Dor.
/ ders. Under the moaus vtvends the
| locations made by American miners are
protected and all OF the property rights
win be kept intact until the boundary
| question Is finally settled
/ In brief. the arrangement is similar
20 that which was In existence for many
years In the then territory Of washing
ton, pending q settlement OF the dispute
as TO the boundary between the terri
tory ana British Columbia For years
an American garrison occupied one end
| 81 san Juan island and British garri-
son the other. Cnta the dnal decision
I of the boundary question by the arhl-
TRAITOR. the emperor OF Germany. the
I occupants OF the islands IN the san
/ Juan archipelago did no, know whether
their land lay Within British or Ameri-
can territory. when the decision came
In favor OF the United states. the Brit
lsh troops were withdrawn
The Alaskan noSus ysvendi temparar-
ny stors disputes aud prevents friction
and possibly hloodshed IN tho disputed
strip. and postpones actual determine
lon OF rights 70 the future. In assum-
ing that It is a anal settlement Of the
boundary controversy. and that tha
United states has made any cession OF
even disputed territory 10 Canada,
Democratic newspapers are simply ais