Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-09-03


demarkation between the United States
and Canada; what Is the Portland chan
mel; what course the line should take TO
the entrance Of that channel; to what
point OF the 56th parallel the line should
be drawn from the head of Portland
channel and other familiar questions are
discussed. There also Is extensive dis
cussion OF the extent of the strip OF ter
ritory along the coast on the mainland
that Russia conveyed to the United
States by the treaty Of 1861 1t appears
from the document that Great Britain
comedies that the line begins at Cape
Muzon.
TREATY OF 1925.
The United States contends that II
was the intention OF the powers which
signed the treaty OF 1925 to confirm In
full sovereignty to Russia u continuous
strip or lisicre along the continental
shores OF the northwest coast Of Amer
lea extending from Portland channel to
the 14lst meridian OF longitude west OF
Greenwich and that such strip was to
be 10 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-
tentlon Is further made that there is no
such rage of mountains. IL Ii also
urged that the United states has occu-
pied this strip OF territory ever since
It's acquisition from Russia and that
Russia had controlled II since the trea-
ty Of 1925, until coded to the United
States In 1867
AMERICAN REJoINDER.
In It's counter statement the American
.IAt, 10, ta
covered In the presentation of the Brit
Ish side which II says contains 20 or
more documents which heretofore have
not been given to the public.
The additional evidence referred TO
bears upon the negotiations which took
place between Great Britain and Russia
during the years 1923 to 1925, and 1t Is
contended that this new evidence In no
way alters any material contention
made In the original allegation, but that
on the contrary ut confirms and
strengthens the position Of the United
States"
NATURE OF DOCUMENTS.
These documents consist largely of
statements made and letters written by
Mr. Pely, who was at that time deputy
governor of the Hudson Bay company,
and II is contended that his letters fully
sustain the assertion that in fixing n
line OF demarkatlon the British govern
ment acted solely in the interests OF
that country.
BRITISH PROTESTS.
The commissioners discuss at some
length the claim made by their OPP
ponents that many protests have been
filed by British officials against the
American claim In reference TO the
boundary line. They admit that from
time TO time there have been informal
representations but these they assert
were In the main without sufficient data
to justify serious consideration. In
deed they say, that never until after
the Klondike gold discoveries were
made in 1896 did the British government
tale up the question seriously. They
admit that In 1898 attention was called
10 the claim of the British government
ira. 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 pres
ent tribunal on the second Gay OF May
last.
OCCUPATION OF STRIP.
III tnDDOTt Oh lit AIltllNtfh NVHN'hT
tion that the strip should measure from
tide.water and from the heads OF bays
and inlets number OF depcSltions 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. Especial effort
Is directed toward showing the control
OF the country about the head OF Lynn
canal, including the sites of the towns
OF Dyea, skagway, White Pass and
Lake Bennett. Ii also Is stated that
numerous documents have been pre-
served which had given to Indian chiefs
and others by officials Of the United
States government showing the pres
ence IN the Lynn canal inlets OF naval
and other authority of the United
States annually for 20 years after the
United States acquired the territory,
II Is contended that this occupation and
control were known to the Canadian
government and It's people.
CANADIAN CONTENTION.
Discussing the boundaries proposed
by Great Britain the commission makes
references to the instability of the
Canadian contention on this point and
concludes that "the United states has
from the time OF cession of Alaska to
the present uaN nUlbtalntu nut one
Interpretation OF the treaty OF 1925. Its
position has been open and known 10
tho world. II Is the same which was
presented to the tribunal in its ase and
which II now reltcrates In this counter
case"
ARGUMENT IN CASE.
The argument In the case Is n care
full study OF maps, treaties and other
documents, bearing upon the boundary
contention and II Is intended TO drive
hoTe the facts presented In the state
ments towhich reference has been made,
Considerable space Is devoted to the
part played by the Klondike gold dis
coveries In arousing Great Britain's
interest In the controversy and In this
connection notice is taken OF an asser-
ton made by the British commission
ers that the towns OF Dyea and Skag-
on the contrary tat Dyea was found
grafton 10 the Klondlke, They assert
on IN contrary that Dyea WAS found
ed in 1856 and Skagway In 1888. They
contradict fatty contention made by
the British commissioners to the effect
"that Canada's claim to the territories
at the head OF Lynn canal was at the
time well known to the United States
government"
NEVER MADE CLAIM,
This" they say, rs gratuitous
assertion. There Is no proof TO sus-
tain IL Canada never nut forward any