New-York tribune., 1903-01-29
THE ALASKA TREATY.
Canada's attitude IN the Boundary
Dispute.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The proposed treaty for the settlement Of
the Alaska boundary is not published in full.
but we may conjecture its contents from what is
given out. Apparently It is wen meant over
ture to Great Britain eliminate every possible
source of discord between the two nations It
is not to be doubted that President Rooseyelts
administration felt so assured OF the right and
justice of the American position that they be-
iieved any SIX sensible men would perceive on
examination that the original Russian boundary
was the true one. In making the proffer they
have gone to the very extreme OF international
comfy and courtesy. Desire for peace and
friendship could further go, and doubtless
they expected to be met in a similar spirit
If such hopes have been entertained they are
likely to be rudely dissipated by the reception
the project encounters in Canada The Prime
Minister exults over it as a submission OF the
question to arbitration" Another leading off,
ciaI declares IN advance that Great Britain can
not give up Skagway and Dyea- because they
belong to Canada" The Canadian press are
jubilant over our concession" which they re-
gard as a sign OF our weakness or timidity-
When Canada gets an inch she is ready to take
an ell.
The Lynn Channel (naiscalIed "canaI'O is some
what like Long Island Sound. as it is long arm
of the sea, with two capacious harborS at It's
head, surrounded by two American towns.
Skagway aud Dyea N this respect resemble
New-York and Brooklyn. True, they are small
and remote from US here, but they are, never
theiess, commercial centres and important
strategic points They were owned and occu-
pied by the Russians until 1867. when they were
transferred to us, and they have been owned
and occupied by Americans ever since They
were never owned or occupied by Great Britain
or Canada, nor any claim to ownership OF
them ever put forward until IL was invented at
Dawson or Ottawa.
The slender foundation upon which Canada
built this claim Is a clause in the treaty OF
1926 giving the British the right to navigate
certain streams that cross the Russian terri
tory. There hint or thought OF British
ownership of the land around them. still less Of
the towns and harboTs at their mouths On the
contrary. the very wording OF the treaty shows
that these were to remain Russian Precisely
similar is the right secured to US by treaty OF
the navigation of the ST. Lawrence through
Canada. 1t might just fairly be claimed that
we own Montreal and Quebec as that Canada
owns Skagway and Dyea.
Nay, more If Great Britain is entitled to
those harbors and towns the same line OF rea-
soning would entitIe her 10 Long Island Sound.
New-Yorb and Brooklyn! The fact is that Can
ada wants them because she wants thenl-thers
is no other reason. Secure in the protection OF
the mother country, she reaches out, Ike q
spoiled child. 70 grasp at everything IN sight.
and expects her indulgent parent to bear the
brunt OF any struggle about it,
The greed of this irresponsible, dependent
province having diplomatic powers or stand
ing may be comprehended. but il is amazing
that the public men OF England, her scholars
statesmen and governors. should allow them
selves to be used the tail OF Canada's kite.
They are sincerely anxious. as we are. to main
tain that era OF good feeling between the two
great branches OF the English speaking race
so full of promise for the worlds peace and sd-
vancement, yet they are letting these provincial
schemers drag them into dispute that threat
to endanger that International entente
cordiale. Canada is placing the wedge to drive
the two nations asunder. She plants it ar the
head OF the Lynn Channel and calls out 10
Britannia. Now mother. strike hard. and wen
split 'em apartr' Great Britain may consent
and strike hard but IL she does she is opening
the way for another conflict that will stagser
humanity" That the American people will ever
consent to surrende~ their towns and haroors 10
a power that has not shadow of right to them
is a thing to be believed.
FREDERICK W. SEWARD.
Montrose- the ddson. Jan. 2s. 1908.