The sun., 1903-10-19
CALLED BLOW AT ARBITRATION
REPORTED ALASKAN DECISION IN
OUR FAVOR CAUSES A STIR.
Canada Bitter Against the Men Held Re-
spOnsible for It-DetaiIs OF the Award
Not Settled. but tho United states
Win Victory ON the Material Points.

spOnslble for N--Details OF the Award
Not Settled. but tho United states
Win q Victory ON the Material Points
Special Gable Despatch 10 The SUN.
LONDON. Oct. 1o.-The Daily Mail this
NOR ming says editorially:
THE rumored decision Of the Alaskan
Boundary Tribunal should be received
with hesitation. If it is true that the COM
mission has surrendered to the United States
every claim that Canada advanced, its
action is the most serious blow to the prog
ress of arbitration delivered in many years.
The sole concession said to have been made
to Canada is an aggravation Of the whole
affair II it ia true that Canadas claim to
access to deep tidal water north Of Port
Simpson has been refused, the results may
be serious"
The STANDARD regards the reported de-
cision as merely shrewd guesswork. 1t
points out that the second question sub
mtted to the tribunal was what channel
Is Portland Channel. Obviously. therefore,
1t would be futile to discuss the matter
without the official text OF the award.
Late Sunday night a member OF the
tribunal said he thought 1t improbable
that decision would be reached Monday.
He added that the report that verbal
agreement had been reached Saturday
was quite wrong. He admitted that the
Americans had established their main
claim. The tribunal is now discussing
tentative proposals which the Canadians
might extend. Nothing could be called
agreed except what the Commissioners
signed.
TORONTO, Ontario. Oct. 10. - Judge
Thomas Hodgins. who looked up the evil
dence for the Canadian counsel in the Alas
kan boundary case, says of the rumored
decision in favor Of the United States that
it leaves the situation on the Pacific coast
exactly as it was in the past Trade With
the Klondike must be through foreign
territory OF overland. The Lynn Canal,
which goes to the United States, is Of much
greater importance than the Portland
Inlet. which Ia not valuable. The decision
is most unfortunate for Canada.
The Globe. the organ Of the Canadian
Liberal government says the decision
concerning the Lynn Canal Is very discour-
aging from the Canadian point OF view.
From all that took place at the time OF the
appointment Of the commission it seems
certain that to have insisted on this point
would have meant no decision at all. and
from an outcome so regrettable and dan
gerous one or moro of the British Commits
sioners must have shrunk.
In view Of the fact that Port Simpson will
probably be the terminus Of the new trans
continental railway the getting OF tho
Portland Canal is Of much more practical
Importance than the Lynn Canal, because
the practice OF bonding imports has done
away'with the distractions to trade into the
Yukon district. 1t may be misleading
to speak Of the finding a. q compromise
but that Is what 1t amounts to, in fact, as
neither side gets what 1t set out to gain
and each side gets what it most desired.
VANCOUVER, B c.. Oct. ls.-Throughout
British Columbia only one opinion ia ex-
pressed respecting the reported Alaska
boundary award-that Great Britain never
cared to investigate fully the merits OF the
Canadian case or to understand the value
of the interests at stake. being prepared
from the outset to sacrifice Canadian in
terests on the altar Of American friendship.
As interpreted bore. Canada loses vir-
tually everything Of worth in contention,
chiefly her hoped for Rondike outpost at
the head Of Lynn Canal. The only ad-
vantage secured with Pearse and Wales
islands at the juncture OF Observatory
Inlet and Portland Canal is strategic, thess
commanding the entrance to Observatory
Inlet, Mas River and Naso ga harbor. from
the latter Of which the British Columbia,
Northern and Mackenzie Valley Railway
is to run through all Canadian territory
to Dawson City and beyond. AS blessing
In disguise 1t is believed here that. the
award will assure the early completion Of
this Canadian railway.
OTTAWA, Ont, Oct 1sWhile Sir Wifrid
Laurier and the Cabinet Ministers refused to
talk for publication on the reported bound
ary decision, prominent politician. known
to be in the confidence Of the Premier and
whose view may be accepted as rejecting
official opinion, said to-day:
II am disposed to accept the report Of the
Commissioners finding as correct. Under
it the United States gets practically every
thing. Canada nothing. 1t is the old story
of American greed and the readiness Of
British authorities to conciliate the Ameri-
cans together with q failure on their part
to appreciate the importance of Canada.
.The interests of this country have been
sacrificed upon previous occasions, in the
surrender of Detroit and portions OF Maine.
There will be no disposition on the part Of
the Government to repudiate any finding
that may be reached by the tribunal, how
ever distasteful 1t may be.
IWhen the question went to arbitration
Canada engaged to abide by the issue and
she will honorably carry out her part OF
the compact
circles IL is not unmixed with satisfaction
that the reported decision affords Canada
access to the Yukon from the Pacific, though
IL was hoped that such would have been
through the Lynn Canal.
MONTREAL, Quebec, Oct. 1s.-The Canada,
the French-C Canadian organ OF Sir Wilfrid
Iaurier's Government, will In an editorial
Tomorrow make a savage attack on Mr..
Chamberlain and Lord Alverstone in con-
nection with the reported decision OF the
Alaskan Boundary Commission. The
Canada will say
aThanks to the treaty. which Mr.. Cham
berain had signed with Mr., Hay, Canada
is Obliged to accept the decision OF the
tribunal and to submit to the wishes OF
the ma jority. In word. Chamberlain
has put lls into it up to the neck, He gave
his inst r,lctions before quitting the Colonial
Office. He refused to listen to Canadas
protest atiors against the personality OF
he American commissioners. He had
given his Instructions to Lord Alverst ore
and Carara was condemned even before
the case vas heard,
I'VE will thus have another new betrayal
of our interests to add to the long list OF
british betrayals. Lord Alverstone has