Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-01-29

commissioners and an equal number OF
British commissioners, our Canadian
friends have no reason to crow over the
result. as some of our American contempo-
rarics have minated. The agreement on
which the treaty rests is said to contain
n provision that all towns and Settle
ments on tidewater and at the date of the
signing of the treaty under United States
jurisdiction shall remain within United
States territory.
This is hailed by the Toronto World as
meaning that the best means of access to
the Yukon Is yielded to the United States
before arbitration begins. and that jour-
nal adds: TT looks as If the British gov
crnment has made a complete surrender
Of the whole case"
AS matter of unprecedented considera-
ton it is difficult to see what ground of
complaint remains to any American. Eff
forts in the direction of a settlement OF
this controversy have been put forth for
a long time. The Canadian miners have
been anxious to reach the sea from the
l<londilSe region without passing through
American territory. and the Americans
have insisted upon their right to the coast
line by purchase from Russia, and the con-
sequcnt control of the ports.
The whole controversy hinges upon tho
Interpretation to be placed on the treaty
of 1895 between Great Britain and Russia,
which defined the boundaries between
British America and Alaska. There was
no dispute between Alaska and Great Brit
hin when tho former was coded to the
United States. and the British government
never pressed its claim to territory which
lies within the boundary recognized Ivy
our government until the discovery of gold
in the t<londike region. The British gov
ernment then realized the advantage
which, would accrue from the gaining of
sovereignty over territory at the head of
Lynn canal, the two forks of which lead
to Chikoot and Skagway passes in the
I<londikc and afford a clear path to tide
water.
Study of the terms OF the original trca y
disclosed an opportunity for dispute over
various provisions thereof. Tho treaty Of
49, specified that the boundary should
begin at the southcrnmost point OF Prince
of Wales island. continue northward along
Portland channel to fiftysix degrees north
latitude. and from there follow the sum-
nit of the mountains lying parallel to the
coast, up to the point of intersection of
one hundred and forty-ore west longitude,
and finally pass along this line into the
| frozen ocean.
| 1t was further provided that wherever
the mountains mentioned as "lying par
| allel to the coast" should be more than
ton Leagues from tho ocean the boundary
should be parallel to the coast line, never
exceeding the distance Of ten marine
leagues therefrom."
| The British contcntion is that the first
| inlet west of Portland channel was meant
as the boundary since the latter. con-
trary to the statement in the treaty does
not extend to the line of the :fty-siXtl1
parallel of latitude by five or six minutes
of latitude. and therefore starting from
this point the line should include within
the British domain territory COO miles long
and varying in width up to $50 miles now
occupied by the United States. There is
| also Some question as to whore the open
sea begins in these inlcts. The territory
! in dispute embraces some 2a,00C square
miles and in it are valuable fisheries and
gold mines worth from s12 100000 to $4,000,
60.
The reference Of this dispute to a joint
| high commission, is a matter for nutua
conSratulation in tic Trited States ant
Great Britain. particularly n. this time
when the enczuclan enlhrogio is tend
! ing to create antagonisms. Both couu.
tries have equal representation and /;
thorough investigation ought to make pos
| sible permanent settlement Of the whole
| Eothersomc controversy, and thus remove
:, cause of const ant pickering between the
people Of two nationalities in and about
tho disputed territory.