The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-16
The ALASKAN BOUNDARY

=, Before leaving for London Saturday, Sir
Wilfrid Laurier, the CANADIAN premier,
told an interviewer in New York that he
regarded the situation as to thes%Alaska
boundary with much anxiety and appre-
hension, as the discovery of gold in the
disputed region would "precipitate dis
graceful conflict He regarded it as
highly discredita BILE to the British, and
United States governments that since
the adjournment of the joint high COM
mission, neither of them had taken steps
to secure settlement. ..s>- ,.s :
Sir Wilfrid and his Canadians know
that there never was any contention about
the boundary line of the Russian terri
tory conveyed to our government in, 1867
until the gold fields were discovered In
the Klondike region and Canada wanted
an outlet to the sea by way of the estu-, :,
ary known as the Lynn canal. The ami
mus of the tCaraadian claim has been,
clearly disclosed. Not a word was heard
Of American entertainments. on British
territory until the gold nuggets were
turned up and the Canadians found that
they were cut off from tidewater by the
long strip of territory transferred by
Russia and included in the Alaskan deal.
Our government simply holds to the
boundary designationsas received from
Russia, who effected her boundary ad-
iustment with Great Britain in 1895 by
treaty, which cut off the British posses
sions from access; to the sea above the
parallel "a degrees 40 minutes or from
Portland canal to Mount st. Elias whence
the boundary runs along the 141st degree
of west longitude north to the Arctic
ocean. Our government stands by the
wording of the treaty of transfer which
was the wording of the treaty of 1925,
which definedethe boundary line Of the
strip as line following the Windings Of
the coast (the indentations) not exceeding
thirty miles in width from the water.
The British admiralty, indeed, published
in 1877 chart recognized by them as
correct, which sustains the position of
our government.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier complains that
while Canada is ready to arbitrate the
matter, the United States shows no dis
position to do So The. reason is, that
there is practically nothing to arbitrate.
The British fought to obtain the strip
| in 1925 and gave 1t up over the signature
of their plenipotentiaries, which settled
| the matter for all time. Russia trans
fers the territory included within the
boundary acknowledged and accepted by
Great Britain. We hold it>hy virtue OF
these conf1rn1ations of title. We are
| there and We will stay there.
! Our government has sent Lieutenan.
George r. Emmons to make an investiga-
/ tion into the charges which have been
! made to the effect that Canadian officials
have removed old landmarks or monu-
ments marking the international bound
ary. AS to the Canadian claim that the
/ line from which the thirty miles strip is
measured should jung, from headland tc
headland, and not follow the indentations
of the coast, that was not recognized al
all by the Hay Pauncefote modus vivendi
of October 20, 1899. If the joint high com
mission ever proceeds to the considera-
tion of this subject with view to giving
right Of way to the preposterous Cana
] dian claim, which is killed by tho ex-
press terms of the Anglo Russian treaty
of 1925. the people Of this country will
not perm 1t any such concession. A care
! full survey of the thirty miles from shore
line. boundary above the parallel "a de-
grees and 40 minutes, to establish Il
accurately. is necessary. It is a matter
for good surveying to settle. 1t is moi
arbitrable at all The line has been set
tied for seventy seven years by treaties
t sirfWilfrid Laurier say the Canadians
as to the question they have raised, ARE