The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-07

an UNDERSTANDING Inru joint nSu
commission, followed by prolonged
negotiations, conducted in an anicable
spirit, a convention between the United
States and Great Britain was signed,
Jan, "a, 1908, providing for an exam
ination of the subject by mixed
tribunal of six members, three on a
SIDE with a view to it's final disposi-
ton. Notifications We're exchanged on
March 8, last, whereupon the two gov:
ernments appointed their respective
members. Those on behalf of the
United States were Elihu Root, secre-
tary of war, Henry Cabot Lodge, a
senator of the United States, and
George Turner, an ex-senator Of the
United States; while Great Britain
named the Right Honorable Lord AL
verstone, lord chief justice Of England, ,
Sir Louis Amable Jette. X. c.. M. G.,
retired judge Of the supreme court Of
Quebec, and A. B. Aylesworth, K. c.,
of Toronto. This tribunal met in Lon
don on Sept. 8, under the presidency
were expeditions, and marked by a
friendly and. conscientious spirit. The
respective cases, counter cases and ar
guments presented the issues clearly
and. fully. On the 20 of October a
majority Of the tribunal reached and
signed an agreement on all the ques-
tions submitted by the terms Of the
Of the United States to the control of
a continuous strip or border Of the
mainland shore, slkiFting all the tide
water inlets and sinuosities Of the
coast, is confirmed; the entrance to
Portland canal Concerning which
Legitimate doubt appeared) is defined
as passing by Tongass inlet and to the
northWestward Of Wales and Pearse
islands; a line is drawn from the head
of Portland canal to the ffty-sixth de-
gree OF; f;north latitude; and the interior
| bord er line of the strip is fixed by
Hines connecting certain mountain
submits lying between Portland canal
and Mount st. Elias, and running
Ialong the. crest of the divide separat-
ling the coast slope from the inland
watershed at the only part of the
Frontier where the drainage ridge ap.
iproaches the coast within the distance
Eof ten marine leagues stipulated by
the treaty as the extreme width Of the
strip around the heads of Lynn cana
and its branches.
1 While the line 50 traced follows the
provisional demarcation Of 1875 al
/ the crossing Of the Stikine river an6
i that of 1899 at the SUBMITS Of the
White and Chilkoot passes, it runs
much farther inland from the Klehin
than the temporary line of the latel
lmodus; vivendi, and leaves the entire
mining district of the Porcupine rive
and Glacier creek within the jurisdic
tion Of the United States.
a - Award Satisfactory. T.
The result is satisfactory inz:eyer.
{. way. 1t is of great material adYan
J istage to our people in the far north
. west. - It has removed from the fiel
of discussion and possible danger !
question liable to become more acutel
Iaccentuated with each passing veal
Finally, it has furnished a signal proc
of the fairness and good will wit
: which two friendly nations can aI
proaeh and determine issues invo1viI
national sovereignty and by thei
5 nature .incapable Of submission to-
third power for adjudication. {: :
The award is self-executing on -th
.Ivital points. To make it effective q
, sIregards the others it only remains fc
the two governments to appoint. eac
on its own behalf, one or more scier
tific experts, who shall, with all cor
venient speed, proceed together to Ia
down the boundary line in accordant
E1IwitI1 the decision Of the majority
s the tribunals ~ recommend that II
i congress make adequate provision *
the appointment, compensation ar
expenses Of the members to serve 6
| this Joint boundary commission on tt
mart of the United States.