The Irish standard., 1901-05-25
JOHN HAYS Mopus vlyENp1.


American high joint commission that
was to settle the Alaskan boundary
dispute? 1t is now two years and q
half since it adjourned with the I'M
derstanding that the question in con-
trovcrsy should be referred back to
the two governments for further diplo-
matte negotiations. Soon thereafter
John Hay, without any authority but
solely on his own responsibility, made Il
temporary arrangement by which he
conceded to Canada all the claims in
dispute.
Ii is now reported from Washing
ton that Great Britain refuses to con-
tinuc further negotiations relative to
the Alaskan boundary question and
that Hays moduS vivendi is deemed
satisfactory so long as the British flag
can float undisturhcd over the Porcu-
pine territory. Great Britain and Can
ada have obtained Ill they demanded.
through the con,lcScenSion Of Mr.. Hay,
and they think it better to let we'll
enough alone. They arc in the posses
sion of the disputed territory and de-
sire that the temporary arrangements
shall be made permanent. What is
the use OF arguing about rich gold
mines and valuable harbors which nrc
already in possession of the British
through the criminal complacency of
an Anglomaniac? What can Ameri-
cans do about it while Mckinley re-
tains such a man in the Office of sec
rctary of state?
Everyone who has studied the ques-
tion is convinced that Canada has no
valid claim to n seaport on the Lynn
canal. 1t was only q short time ago
that Colonel Prior. cX-mnister of the
crown ana cX-member of the British
Columbia legislature. declared in the
Canadian parliament at Ottawa thai;
ton years after the purchase of Alaska
by the United States. the Dominion
government published Il map giving
the Alaskan boundary as contcndetl
for by the United States. The map
was sent to the Paris exposition of
1878 as a government exhibit and
when brought back it was hung in !,
large room in the tower of the capitol
and remained there till Colonel Prior
retired from parliament in 1856
Francis Wayland Glen. formerly IL
member Of the Canadian parliament,
has written Il letter to the New York
Sun. which we reproduce in these col
,lmns. showing the gigantic fraud
which Canada has been guilty Of. He
says that he studied the map With
great interest during the eight years
he spent in the Canadian parliament,
and that it disappeared from public
view after Great Britain made an ab.
snld demand for Il pols on the Lynn
canal.
The st. Paul Pioneer Press. to oul
great surprise, drew editorial attention
to the matter in the issue of May 1C
and said: "Out. of the mouths of hel
own statesmen and by her own official
acts, Canada is convicted of the most
abomlElblr chicancry in the matte,
of her recent Alaskan boundary
claims" 1t eXoncrated the Canadian
people from the trickcry and placed
the responsibility on the ministry. 81,
was only after the discovery of golG
ana the setting in of Il current of emf
grafton toward Alaska,'' says the Pho
neer Press, that the Canadian minis
try thought of presenting any othel
claims as to the boundary"
Mr.. Glen says that Seward pur
chased Alaska for n two-fold purpose
First, to prevent Great Britain from
extending her coast line upon the Pa
cific; secondly, to place British Colum
bia between two American states, thu.
Americanizing her and bringing hel
into the Union, and cutting Great Brit
ain off from the Pacific coast forever
With the exception of the Pioneer
Press no Republican paper in the coun
try has made the slightest reference
to what Colonel Prior and Mr.. Glen
have revealed. The American daily