The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-15
TO FIX ALASKAN
BOUNDARY LINE
Commission Meets at the London
Foreign Office and Listens to
Oral Arguments.
Canadian Attorney General Urges
Consideration Of so-British
Treaty of 1920.

London, Sept. 15.--The Alaskan noun
dairy commission assembled at the for
eign office to-day and oral arguments
were begun.
Additional interest was lent to the pro-
ceedings by statements attributed to some
Of the Canadians. that their country would
seriously resent an adverse decision. New
ertheless only a few spectators, including
the wives Of the commissioners and Of
counsel, were present when Attorney Cen
neral Finlay rose and commenced the
presentation OF the Canadian argument.
It was evident that the commissioners at
first were not deeply Interested In the
}attorney generals statement. Having con-
sidered the documents already presented,
the commissioners felt that they were
as familiar with these facts as any OF
the counsel.
removing any doubts which may exist In
! the minds of the members Of the tribunal.
The agents OF the governments, however,
sitting on either side OF the blue covered
table, behind which the commissioners sat,
and counsel occupying the desk in the
center Of the chamber, followed the at
torney generals address with the closest
attention.
| While Attorney General Fin1ay was
speaking Chief Justice Fuller accompa-
MED by Ambassador Choate, entered the
chamber. They were conducted to small
table directly facing the commissioners.
The attorney general briefly described
the historical aspect Of the question and
took up the treaty under which the com
mission was appointed. He then presented
| the Canadian contention, each point OF
which has already been stated in the ar.
gument Of CLIFFORD sifton, the Canadian
minister Of the interior, and urged the
commissioners strictly to confine them.
selves. in considering the questions, tt
the terms Of the treaty between Grea
Britain and Russia, made In 1920.
| The interest Of the commissioners grew
as Attorney General Finlay proceeded
with his analytical study of the treaty
the coast from the head OF Portland
channel, as fixed by the treaty, the at
torney general pointed out that the re
port Of the United States coast surve!
In 1893 showed that the Washington gov
eminent had adopted the view that thu
line should follow the general trend Q
the coast which supports the Canadian
contention. -%/ ,'.zz ~ y&.l.
Senator Turner at this point interrupted
the speaker, saying that the report re
ferred to the trend Of the general coast.
Attorney General Finlay remarked tina
this was Subtle distinction" and Chic
Justice Alverstone ended the discussion
with saying that 1t made little difference
; as it was merely the direction Of the sur
! veyors." " %ET&
Lord Alverstone's ruling was REGARDED
by American counsel as being a point II
favor of the United States. ;
The attorney general went on at sue
length that Lord Alverstone renninde
him that the tribunal was familiar Wit
the documents in the case and suggeste
that he simply cite the pages and volume
on which his references were founded.
After luncheon, Attorney General Fin
: lay, who had previously laid much stres
,. on the contention that the United State
: boundary line was drawn "in ostentatiou
: defiance of the treaty Of 1926" resume
his argument. @'s 90 .
J., Daily Sessions TO- Be Held.
From now on sessions will be held ever
. day, excepting Saturdays and Sunday
until the conclusion Of the convention
! from the hours Of II In the morning unit
t o'clock in the afternoon with q hal
= hour inter1nission for luncheon, which wi
. be served at the foreign office. It Eha
|. been the intention Of the foreign officer
to provide elaborate luncheons for tn
arbitrator, such as those provided by tn
French foreign office during the hearing
of the Boring sea case. But the Amerl
can and Canadian and English commits
+ sioners demurred to this scheme, suggest
Ing that it might have the effect of i'm
pairing the oratorical effect Of counsel o
, either side and induce sornnolence on ;th
, part OF the COmm1SS1O nerS. DCn aCeouT
! of this objection it has been decided tina
: the half hour luncheons shall be Hgf
ones. .-. 80
British Press Comments.
r There is much criticism by American
Q now In London Of the attitude taken
: some English newspapers which hav
0 printed articles telling Of the indignatio
which will be felt in Canada in case tn
decision Of the tribunal is against tn
IT, ll,~A ~ 49, t.
fear that Lord Chief Justice Aversion
the British member Of the commission,
inclined to take the American viewpoir
&, of the boundary dispute, and these news
l paper articles seem to be inspired wit
the idea Of securing the lord chief Justice
adhesion to the Canadian side Of the cor
troversy.