Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-04
THE COM MISSION
Continued from page ~

In the first volume the questions al
issue, namely, what is intended to be
the point of commencement of the line
OF demarkation between the United
states and Canada, what is the Port.
land canal; what course the lines
should take to entrance of that canal
10 what point of the seth parallel
the line should be drawn from the head
OF Portland canal and other familiar
questions are discussed. There also is
extensive discussion of the strip of ter
rltory along the coast mainland that
Russia conveyed to the United States
ny the treaty of 1867. 1t appeared from
the document that Great Britain con-
cedes that the line begins at Cape Mu-
ION.
Ihe United States contends that il
was the intention of the powers which
signed the treaty of 1926 to confirm in
1ull sovereignty to Russia a continuous
strip along the continental shores of
the northwest coast of America from
Portland canal to the 141st meridian of
latitude and that such strip was to be
~ marine leagues measured from the
heads of all CULTS and other arms of the
sea. unless there was within that dis
lance range of mountains. The con-
tention is further made that there is no
such mountain range. 1t is also urged
that the United States has occupied
this strip of territory ever since it's ac-
QUESTION from Russia and that Russia
had controlled it since the treaty of
1725. until ceded to the United States
in 1867.
In its counter statement the Ameri-
can commission makes rejoinder to
points covered in the presentation of
the British side of the case which it
appears contains 20 or more docu-
ments which heretofore have not been
given to the public. The additional ey-
idence referred to bears upon the nego
tiations which took place between
Great Britain and Russia during the
years 1928 to 1925, and it is commended
that this new evidence in no way alters
any material contention made in the
original allegations, but on the con-
trary 1T confirms and strengthens the
position of the United States"
These documents consist largely of
by Mr.. Polly, who was at that time
NSputy SoNNliioi vi lIt I1uuSOn Bay
Company and it is contended that his
letters fully sustain the assertion that
in fixing a line of demarkation the Brit
ish government acted solely in the in
terests of that company.
The commission discussed at some
length the claims made by their OPP
pOnents that many protests have been
filed by British officials against the
American claim in reference to the line.
They admit that from time to time
there has been informal representa-
tons, but these, they assert, We're in
the main without sufficient data to jus
tify serious consideration. Indeed they
say that never until after the Klon-
dixie gold discoveries We're made in 1896
did the British government take up the
question seriously They admit that
in 1898 attention was called to the
claim of the British government that
the 10 league strip extended only from
the main waters of the ocean, but they
say that this contention was not made
absolutely clear until the British case
was delivered to the present tribunal
on the second of May last.
In support of the American conten-
ton that the strip shold measure from
tide water and from the heads of bays
and inlets number of dispositions are
produced in connection with the coun-
ter case going to show the occupation
of this strip by settlers from the Unit
ed States since 1880. Special effort is
troll of the country about the head of
Linn canal. including the sites of the
towns of Dyea, Skagway, White Pass
and Lake Bennett. 1t also is stated
that numerous documents have been
preserved which had been given to In
dian chiefs and others by officials of
the United States annually for 90 years
after the United States acquired the
territory. 1t is contended that this oc-
cupation and control We're known to
the Canadian government and it's peo-
pie
Discussing the boundaries proposed
by Great Britain the commission
makes reference to the instability of
the Canadian contention on this point
and concludes that 1.-The United States
has from the time of the 4cession of
Alaska to the present day maintained
but one Interpretation of the treaty of
1925 It's position has been open and
known to the world. 1t is the same
which was presented to the tribunal in
it's case and it now reiterates in this
counter case.
"The argument in the case is care
full study of maps. treaties, and other
documents bearing upon boundary con-
tention and it is intended to drive home
the facts presented in the statements
to which reference has been made.
space Is devoted to the
part played by the Klondike gold dis
coveries in arousing Great Britain's in
terest in the controversy and in this
notice is taken of an asser-
ton made by the British commission
ers that the towns of Dyea and Skag-
way owned their existence to the
migration to the Klondike. They assert !
on the contrary that Dyea was found
ed in 1886 and Shagway in 1888. They |
fatty a contention made by |
the British commissioners to the effect |
that Canada's claim to the territories !,
at the head of Linn canal was at the |
time well known to the United States
government.
'"This," they say, "is gratuitous as
sertion. There is no proof to sustain |