The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-02-28
A CANADIAN PROTEST.

Several Of the Canadians newspapers
are making a vigorous outcry over the
selection OF Messrs. Root. Lodge and
Turner rs the American members OF
the commission TO adjudicate and set
tie the Alaska Boundary, and it is re-
ported that the Canadian government
has protested to London against the se-
lection of these gentlemen. although no
thing Official has been heard n London
Of this alleged protest. The point Of
these Canadian attacks is that the gen.
ilemen In question are :'preiudiced"
and therefore could not be acceptable
members Of such tribunal. says the
Post Intelligencer. Mr.. Lodge, as a
United States senator, IS on record as
affirming his belief in the American con
tention. 1t is not on record that Mr..
Root has ever expressed any opinion
uron the subject. but he is presumab-
" preiudiced because he is a member
Of the cabinet: ana AIR. Turner, as a
United States senator from the state of
Washington. is presumably prejadiced
because the people OF his state have.
next 10 the people Of Alaska. the larg-
es. interest in having the boundary
matter settled according to the Ameri-
can contention.
IT does not strike these Canadian cri-
tics that any Canadian who may be se-
iected for representation upon the ,om-
mission would Be prejudiced precisely
to the extent that the American mem-
bers are and no more. Neither Sem
ator Turner nor Secretary Root has
ever given public expression to any
opinion on the subject; and Secretary
Reefs position as member Of the
cabinet gives him no larger interest in
the matter than that OF any private in
diyiduai. The cabinet Of the American
president does not constitute the gov
eminent" in the British or Canadian
sense. The cabinet officers of this
country are simply the aids and assist
ants Of the president, having nothing
to do with legislation, but merely with
the executive affairs of the country.
They do not formulate policies or direct
legislation. Their positions are Gre
ated by congress. They themselves
are appointed by the president, with the
advice and consent OF the senate.
The simple fact is that II these gentle
men are prejudiced in favor Of the po-
sition taken by the American govern
.
ment in connection with the Alaska
boundary matter, such prejudice is due
solely to the fact that they have looked
somewhat into the matter. II they
ere not prejudiced now. they will be as
soor Us they have sthdied the question
at Il and have seen how fiinsy is the
Canadian contention and how il seeks
TO oyerturn the accepted Interpretation
OF treaty between Great Britain and
Russia, made generation before the
Dominion OF Canada had an existence
or the province OF British Colombia |
government of any kind. The only
Americans who could be
found in this country are those who
have never given the matter a mo-
menss thought, who have never look |
ed upon the maps published by this
country and Great Britain for the past
IS years, and who have never read the
treaty.
II is the firm belief and expectation
OF the people OF the United States that
the British commissioners to be appoint
ed viii have precisely the same preju-
dices as soon as they have looked into
the question, or have such prejudices
already Il they have ever given the mat
ter Intelligent study.
Bat. by the way, did 1t ever "ocur TO
The Canadian papers that there is 4 sin
gular inpuaenee in their protest again-
81 the selections made by the president
of the United states Of commission to
settle matter in dispute between the
government Of the United States and
the King Of Great Britain. in which the
Canadian government. strictly speak
ing. has no right to interfere? Great
Rritain may be prepared in a spirit Of
reconciliation to listen to some sugges-
ions from Canada as 10 the personnel
q the British commissioners, or even
70 gsFe the Canadians representation
apon that commission. But it would
Dsrsnk impertinence on the part of
Great britain herself 70 aften,nt 10 die.