The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-22
So Declare Her Angry Com
miSsionerS.
REFUSE TO BE pAClflED
They Intimate That The Bonds Uniting Canada
and England are so Badly Strained as
to Snap 10 Time Not Far
Distant.
(By the Associated Press.)

London, Oct. 20.-In consequence OF the
attitude maintained by the Canadian Com
nissioners, Lord Chief Justice Alverstone
decided this morning to hold the proposed
public meeting of the Alaskan Boundary
Commission but to hand its decision to
Messfs Foster, and Sifton respective
agents of the American and Canadian gov
ernments
The Canadian Commissioners not only
declined to sign the award, but said they
would publicly withdraw from the COM
mission. They, as well as all the Cana
dams connected with the case are very bit
ter. kilograms from Premier Laurier and
other prominent persons in canada show
that this sentiment is shared generally
throughout the dominion.
The Alaska award relating to the Port
land canal gives the United States two is
lands, Kannaghunut and Sitklan. com
handing the entrance of the Portland
channel and the ocean passage to Port
Simpson and destroying the strategic
value of Wales and Pearse Islands, which
are given to Canada
The change in the Alaskan procedure
(due to Lord Alverstone's decision not to
hold the proposed meeting and to hand
the tribunals decision to the American
and Canadian governments agents. caused
much astonlshment among the people who
crowded the corridors adjoining the wait
ing rooms Ambassador Choate, as well
as the Canadians and others Immediately
connected with the case, were admitted to
the room where the tribunal had been
holding the open sessions, but the com
missioners remained closeted in the cabi-
net room. The secretary of the commits
sion, Reginald T. Tower, finally emerged
ana informed the waiting crowd that no
public meeting would be held and that the
award would be made public through the
agents. No explanation was offered, and
but few persons knew that the attitude
of the Canadian commissioners was re-
sponsible for the awkward change
The Canadians feel very sore over the
outcome. They almost openly accuse
Lord Alverstone of partnership. When
the latter presented them to King Edward
at Buckingham Palace yesterday the King
endeavored vainly to induce Messrs. Jette
and Aylesworth to say they were salts
fled, or that they accepted the situation
the two Canadians declined to In any
way express acquiescnce with this view.
They simply shook hands formally and
bowed.
One of the Canadian commissioners af-
forwards said to a representative of the
Associated Press:
This award affects much more the re-
lations between the Dominion and the
mother country than people here seem to
realize, and almost marks the parting of
the ways, at least so far as leaving any
such question for England to decide for
u.s.
Messrs Jette and Aylesworth, the Cana
dian commissioners, in a statement of their
reasons for refusing to sign the award, |
say they consider the finding of the tri-
bunal regarding the islands, at the en-
trance of Portland channel, and the noun
tain line is not judicial one. They add: |
I'VE urged our views as strongly as we /
were able, but we have been compelled to
witness the sacrifice of the interests of |
Canada. We were powerless to prevent |
it. though satisfied that the course which
the majority was determined to pursue
in respect to the matters above specially
referred to ignored the just rights of Cam
ada
Messrs. Aylesworth and Jette will sub /
NIT their contrary opinions to the tri-
bunals so as to go officially on record, |
and while they declined to sign the award
they signed the maps agreed on by the
majority.
Washington. Oct 2O-Secretary Hay
today received cablegram from John W.
Foster, of the American counsel before
the Alaskan Boundary Commission, CIV
ing the,s "details of the award of that
commission. The cablegram shows that