Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-10-20

tains parallel with the coast, within
the meaning of the treaty and that the
boundary must therefore be fixed under
the provisions of the original treaty
relating to 10 degrees, and so be run
a distance OF % miles from the shore,
including IN the term shore the heads
on all lnlets, bays, etc. The tribunal
mas that the Canadian contention Is
correct as to the existence of the noun
tains within the terms of the treaty
but the fruits OF victory have been taxi
EN- from Canada by fixing as noun
tain line row OF mountains SO far
from the coast as to glveN the United
States substantially nearly ali the ter
ritory In dispute.
Around the head Of the Lynn canal,
the line follows the watershed, some
what in accordance with the present
provisional boundary.
LINE TRACED BY KING.
I'VE are of the opinion that the
mountain line traced by King, the Do
minion astronomer along the coast
should have been adopted at least 50
far as the shores OF the Lynn canal.
If effect were given to the contention
that Great Britain had been acquiescent
In depriving herself of her right to
claim the head of the Lynn canal we
would have regarded such conclusion as
perhaps an open and reasonable justifi-
cation. No such position can, however,
be taken regarding the inlets lower
down the coast. Kings line. running
along the coast to the Lynn canal, and
the line thence around the head Of the
Lynn canal, following the watershed
would have given Canada the heads OF
the lower inlets with at least one hne
harbor from which easier access to the
interior OF the Atlin and Yukon coun'
Try could have been had. II would not,
80 tar as We have been made aware,
have taken any territory ever actually
occupied b. United States citizens, II
would have given the United States the
whole of the Lynn canal, including
SkagWay Dyea and Pyramid harbors,
and II would have we think, been rea {.
sonably satisfactory Canada. Instead
al taking the coast line of mountains a
line of mountains has been chosen far
back from the coast. clearing complete
ly all he bays, inlets, etc. The noun
tain Tine adopted as the boundary line
lies so far from the coast as to give
the United States substantially all the
territory IN dispute. The line com
pletely clears all the bays and inlets
and means of access TO the sea, giving
the United States a Complete land bar
rier between Canada and the sea, from
the Portland canal 10 Mount st. Elias,
COULDN'T UNDERSTAND PRIN-
CIPLE.
1--WE have not been able TO derive any
understanding from our colleagues on
the commission as to the principle on
which they have selected their lire
of mountains and our observations OF
the discussions which resulted In the
settlement of this line have led us to
the conclusion that instead of resting
on any ineligible principle the choice
OF this line has been a compromise be-
tween opposing and entirely irrecon-
cilabe views of the true meaning OF
the original treaty. The result of this
compromise has we think, been dis
tinct sacrifice of the interests of the
Canada. When 1t was shown that there
We're mountains parallel with the coast
within the meaning OF the treaty, the
only logical course, IN our Judgment
was 20 adopt as boundary the noun
tains in the immediate vicinity of the
coast.
QUESTION OF lNLETs.
Third Regarding the general ques.
ton of inlets, the tribunal finds against
the contention Of Canada. We are boti
strongly OF the opinion that this con
cluslon Is wrong and we have put Oh
record at length the. feasons for oui
view In this respect.
Finally, II the six members of th'
tribunal had each given an individual
decision on each of the questions sub
mltted, we would have conceived II tt
be our duty under the treaty of 1908
however much we might have differed
with out colleagues TO have Joined n
signing the document which constituted
the official record of answers.
I'VE do not consider the finding OF tn
tribunal as to the islands at the en-
trance OF Portland canal or as to tht
mountain line judicial one. We have
therefore, declined TO be parties to IN
award
OUR POSITION UNFORTUNATE
Our position during the conferences
of the tribunal has been an unfortunate
one. We have been IN entire ACCORD
between ourselves and have seyerallS
and Jointly urged our views as strongly
az we have been able. but we have
been compelled to witness the sacrifice
of the interests Of Canada. We were
powerless to prevent Il, though satisfied
that the course which the majority wal
determined to pursue IN respect to TN
matters above specially referred to
ignored the just rights OF Canada.