The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-17
The Alaskan Stumbling Block.

The Alaskan Stumbling Block.
| In the remarkable mass of comment the
Detroit reciprocity convention has called
out there are some notes of opposition
and disagreement. to reciprocity, particu
larly with regard to reciprocity with
Canada.
The New York Journal Of Commerce and
Commercial Bulletin makes much of the
Alaskan boundary question, and declares
that there is not much practical use in
talking about reciprocity with Canada so
long as negotiations on that subject are
deadlocked by the Alaskan boundary dis
pute.
| AS an example of the comment of a
consistent anti-reclprocity paper, take the
st. Louis Globe-Dem ocrat's remark that
until Canada consents to forego its claims
on American territory in Alaska, it is idle
to talk about reciprocity with that 10
cality."
| The Seattle Post Intelligencer, after de-
nouncing the absurd Canadian claims as
to the Alaskan frontier, goes so far as to
accuse advocates of reciprocity with Can
ada Of being willing, for the sake of
few dollars in their own pockets, to sac
rifice the interests of others and the lar
ger interests Of the United States as
nation-meaning by that that the TRENDS
of reciprocity are willing to give up Amer
lean territory for reciprocity.
| 1t is true that the Alaskan frontier ques-
ton does vastly complicate the situation
1>,,+ Ilnfrn
the distinguished Canadian John Charl-
ton, declared that the frontier question
and the trade question should and could
be settled separately and without regard
to each other, though we believe the
Canadians are to be blamed for the pres
\ ent confusion of the two separate ques-
I TONS STILL we are far from believing
that there is an unbeatable deadlock. If
Secretary Hay were to set about con-
GLIDING the Alaskan frontier dispute
through regular diplomatic channels. While
the trade question was taken up through
the international joint high commission
or in some other way, we believe the two
questions could be settled Independently.
The trouble was that the international
Joint high commission was instructed to
deal with the whole job lot Of relations
between the United States. and British
North America, whether political or eco
nomic. It was natural, under the condi-
TONS. that the Canadians should develop
a tendency to use the Alaskan dispute as
a club.
Taking the Alaskan question by ITSELF
The journal must say that it has nc
. patience with the Canadian attitude on
that question or the peevish criticism that
the United States, the great champion
l of arbitration in international disputes
e hesitates to arbitrate the question. The
g United States would most assuredly not
S arbitrate Canadian claim advanced to-
t day to thirty mile strip off northern
c Minnesota. To Americans the Canadian
= claim to Alaska, never enunciated unit
d 1898, is of the same nature. Even at tina
we did not absolutely refuse to arbitrate
Q We refused to accept a European umpire
: which was wise, but we did offer to sub
d nit the question to a board composed O.
e three Americans and three British sub
s jects, a majority decision Of that board
: to be binding. The Canadians knew to-
|. we'll that any fair-minded Englishman ap
e pointed to the board would be sure to vot'
e with the Americans on so plain a propo
II s:tion as the Alaskan boundary as defined
by the treaties.
# TheJ o-urn al is not among thos
g advocates of reciprocity that are willing
10 to sacrifice great national interests TO
, selfish local interests, and there was moth
=, ing of that spirit, the Seattle Post-Intelli
60 gencer should know, in the Detroit con
. vention But the Alaskan question shoul
- be settled: 1t is pregnant with dreadfT
49, possibilities to say nothing Of petty irrf
-, |tation and annoyance. Secretary Hay an
- the administration should not be conten
:. Ito let it drift. They owe it to the coun
= try and the peace of the world to settl
80 it definitely. In Great Britain's presen
o mood Of graphing fast to the Unite
States, it should be possible to get rid c
G. this dispute in an honorable and satisfac
tory manner. 1855
+, One advantage Of a bushes administra
at ton in Minneapolis is shown in the in
tie crease of collections from licenses. Al
though the license year began May I, sew