New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-25
CANADA AND ALASKA.
Mr.. SEWARD RECALLS a FEW FACTS OF
HISTORY AS TO MAPS AND BOUNDARIES
lie Editor of The Tribune

IL t!4e -EdlJOr or The Tribune
Sir; I have read with much interest the semi
official statement Of the views OF the Dominion
Government on the Alaska boundary matter. as
prepared by Mr.. Secretary O'Hara- 1t viii be
gratifying TO many on both sides OF the line 70
know exactly what the views Of the Dominion
Government are, and TO md them presented so
temporarily and courteously, and at the same
time so fully and frankly. by so able an advo-
cate. Mr.. O'Hara piles up all the arguments
that his side of the case can Standard a care
Jul perusaI Of them viii show how much, or
rather how little, it has to stand on
Canada's chief contention appears to be that
the words Of the treaty between Russia and
Great Britain, in 1926, establishing the boun-
dairy line, might could, would or should be con-
strued 5 to allow the British to have outlets
TO tidewater through the Russian territory
and TO own harbors on its coast The words
were not held to have that meaning at the
time, and they have not been held to have It
since either by Russia or Great Britain or the
United States, or by anybody but Canada. The
record Of the negotiations shows that the whole
intent and purpose of the treaty stipulations
were to save to the Russians their peaceable
and undisturbed possession of the coast. It was
but a narrow strip thirty miles in width, be-
tween the crest of the mountains and the sea-
But it was sufficient for their fish and fur
trade, If other people could be kept out of it.
I4ey NdILteu 10 exclude tllt OL4t4Sil rum H.
They We're ready for peaceful and amicable
. trade with their neighbors. but they wanted
their own land and harbors TO themselves. That
this view was acceded TO by the British is evil
dent from all the maps published by either gov
eminent during the next fifty years-for they all
carry the boundary line back thirty miles from
the sea, never touching the tidewater.
When the Hudsons Bay Company desired to
extend their traffic in furs from the interior to
he Pacific M n claim
or own any part of the shore. They rented land
and water privileges from the Russians, and
honestly paid their yearly rent at first in otter
skins, and afterward in pounds, shillings and
pence. If Great Britain had owned a harbor
there. they would gladly have availed them
selves of II and had no rent at all to pay.
The boundary settled between Russian and
British America in 1925 was accepted and con
frmed by our treaty Of 1861. by which all the
/ Russian territory rights and privileges were
ceded 10 the United States.
It is comforting to be assured. even semi-OfH-
ciaIy that Canada is not contemplating war
like measures against US just at present. 1t is
the more reassurtng because il is in marked con-
trast TO the threats borne TO US on the northern
1 breeze while ago from the Parliament House
in Ottawa-threats Of "resorting to arms wiz.
the arms of the mother country to enforce
Canadian ideas in Alaska. But it is doubtless
war against us Immediately. She will not
/ anchor her hostile fleets in our Alaska harbors-
. until she gets them. She viii not build her forts
and custom houses on their shores unless we are
foolish enough 10 let her have the opportunity
That opportunity she hopes now 70 secure by
more devious methods. After due reflection, she
has concluded temporarily 10 lay aside the
arms (of the mother country. and IS trying to
drag US, first. into a legal controversy and then
7srar
mine her TILE 10 sundry parcels OF our prop
erty which do not now and never did belong
70 ner. Once getting us enmeshed in that tan
gle who knows with what amount Of loot
Canada might not get away?
or course Canada wants arbitration, for in
arbitration she could lose nothing and would
have everything 70 gain, while the United States
could gain nothing and would have everything
to lose Every man who desires to trespass in
his neighbors orchard or 10 break into his
neighbors house feels very much the same way.
He does not wish to be forbidden to enter. nor
does he wish TO be forcibIy elected by the
owner What he would prefer is an arbitration
and to have a hand in choosing the arbitrator.
That is what Canada wauts-arbitrati on-and
she is ready take active part in choosing the
arbitTators and telling them now 10 decide she
has already informed US Of the kind OF arbttra-
tors she likes. European sovereigns are pre-
ferred
on the table before me-, as I write, are some
copies Of the maps-the map prepared at ST.
Petersburg in 1929 by the Russian Topograph-
iCai Bureau, the map compiled by the Deputy
Surveyor General OF Lower Canada in 1881 the
map offered IN evidence by Sir George Simpson
in London in lS4i; the map prepared ny the
United States Coast Survey, and finally the
British Admiralty chart published in 1877 and
corrected TO 1895 by the photographer OF the
Royal Navy. In ali these the boundary line be-
tween Russian and British America runs thirty
miles inland. coming nowhere near that grand
old of the sea known as the Lynn Canal
or any OF its harbors-the line just it was
laid down q the time Of the trea ties, and just
When the manufacture of the Canadian
claim first began il was supposed that pos
might appease the Canadian wrath. But, per
haps eI-bodened by our apparent apathy, the
claim has got far beyond that now. Another
map lies before me, a recent one in which that
claimants. by the simple eXpe5ient OF a crooked
dotted line running down 10 the coast, have
5ontrlyec to scoop UP into the Dominion most
of the Lynn Canal, all Pyramid EarhOr. Skag-
way HarhoT, Wharves town ana warehouses,
the White Pass Railway and all it's equipment.
pyea. Chikat Pass. Chilkoot Pass White Pass
and the Dalton Trail. besides several thousand
acres of more or less arabic land lying adjacent
in fact, pretty much all there is OF present
commercial value in that part of Alaska. To
accept and adopt that line would simply cut
Alaska in two. and give to Canada the control
of both fractions. And this we are asked 10
'arbitrate'l
officially. FOR the United states Government, but
J am an American citizen. and 7 think 7 voice
the opinions Of good many other American
citizens in saying that We prefer stare decisis"
to stand upon what has already been decided
and 10 maintain the boundary as we received
il from Russia, and as Il had rested undisturbed
for half cen curry, until Canada invented her
claim FREDERICK w. SEWARD
Montrose-on-t he-Hudson, Nov. 23. 1902
.JTDGE EARL CRITICALLY I'M