New-York tribune., 1901-12-30
THE BOUNDARY DISPUTE.
LORD PAUNCEFoTE's WISH TO HAVE A
CLEAN SLATE"

Washington. Dec. 29-It is expected that eff
forts will be renewed before long for the settle
ment Of the numerous controversies which have
long existed between the United States and
Great Britain growing out of relations along
the Canadian border. the Atlantic fisheries war
ships on the Great Lakes, the Alaskan boun-
dsry and other questions. Heretofore the nego-
tations designed 10 secure a settlement of the
matters recited have not proved effective
largely because Of the cumbersome machinery
Of negotiation, and this has led to belief that
much more could be accomplished by direct ne
gotiations between Secretary Hay and Lord
Pauncefote on the main points and the subse-
quent assembling of commission representing
the United States Great Britain and Canada 10
give form to the basis of agreement rendered
The British authorities have expected for some
time that when the isthmian canal treaty was
once disposed Of there would be a renewal Of eff
forts to adjust the Alaskan boundary and other
pending questions the canal treaty being re-
garded as one of many pending issues Now
that the British Government has yielded the
Clayton Bulwer treaty and other points in the
isthmian negotiation, it desires TO take up some
of the other questions in which it has i'm
portant interests involved. Lord Pauncefote de-
sires to clear up all pending differences and have
a clean slate" before his present term as Am
Washington there were four great issues be
tween the two governments. The first of these
the Behring Sea controversy, which had
reached an acute stage. Diplomacy disposed Of
this issue. The second issue was over Venez-
uela. which like the seal question. at time
threatened war. But the efforts of diplomacy
again successful in avertng trouble and
bringing about a settlement. The third impor-
tant issue the isthman canal. which
has been satisfactorily disposed of by the recent
Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
This leaves only one issue remaining in order
to bring about clean slate" namely, the Dor
der controversy. both as to Canada and Alaska.
The British officials usually link these various
boundary controversies together, they are
more less connected. At present a modus
yivendt exists as to the Alaskan boundary,
chiefly for the purpose OF avoiding clash along
the border and holding each side in check until
a final boundary is determined upon. 1t seems
to be conceded on both sides that the modus
vivendi cannot be carried on indefinitely and
that sooner or later the main question of estab-
fishing a permanent boundary must be settled.
Lord Lansdowne's desire TO take up the ques-
ton was expressed clearly in his note to Secre-
tary Hay last spring when the British Govern
ment declined to accept the Senate amendment
the first Hay y-PauncefOte Treaty. Recently
Lord Lansdowne again has expressed in speeches
the need of taking up the Alaskan boundary
question
These declarations by the head of the British
foreign service, together with the well known
wish Of Lord Pauncefote to clear away all pend
ing differences between the two governments
doubtless will lead to the formal exchanges nee
essary to adjustment. Just what steps will
be adopted are not disclosed but II seems likely
that direct negotiations and the subsequent
sembling of a commission will commend itself
to the parties concerned as the most feasible
procedure.
The border issues outside Of that relating to
Alaska those which long have existed and
have created more or less friction. The joint
high commission which assembled some time
ago practically disposed of these lesser issues,
but the deadlock on Alaska prevented treaty
covering these and other points of agreement
With the disposal of the Alaskan boundary.
therefore, IT is felt that the way would be clear
20 dispose of the other controversies. The reci-
procity question which is among those formerly
considered is not likely 10 be taken up in this
connection, as Canada desires to make II the
ubject of separate negotiation. The Atlantic
fisheries question also may be the subject of
separate negotiations.