The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-04
FIRST CONFERENCE HELD
MEETING OF THE ALASKAN BOUN.
DAIRY COMMISSIONERS.
Lord Chief Justice AIyerstone Chosen
Chairman-American Presenta-
ton of the Case.

LONDON, Sept. 3.-The Alaskan bound
airy commissioner held their first meeting
to-day In the conference room OF the Foreign
Office. Prior to the formal assembling the
commissioner met in their private confer
ence room and selected Reginald I. Tower,
of the British diplomatic service. formerly
attached to the legation at Washington and
recently minister to Siam, to be secretary
OF the commission. ]. r. Carter. second sec
rotary Of the United States embassy, and
Mr.. Pope, a representative OF the Cana
dians. were appointed assistant secretaries
Lord Chief Justice Alverstone was SUISSE
Quently chosen chairman OF the commission.
1t was announced that oral arguments
would commence Sept. Is. and Lord Aver
stone expressed the hope that they would
be finished by Oct. 9. The commission re-
moved the injunction Of secrecy on all docu-
ments hitherto exchanged. and the sitting
was adjourned. the commissioners. agents
and counsel proceeding to the quadrangle,
where they were photographed.
The documents covering the American
presentation Of the case are comprised in
three volumes, making a total of about
LOO pages. In addition there are also two
volumes of maps. The largest of the vol
umes OF text contains the original state
ment by the American commissioners. while
one OF the smaller volumes presents the
American counter case in rejoinder to the
British case and the arguments OF the
American commissioners.
In the first volume the questions at issue
namely, what is intended 10 be the point
of commencement OF the line of demarka-
tion between the United States and Canada;
what is the Portland channel; what course
the line should take 10 the entrance Of that
channel; TO what point Of the hfty-sixth
parallel the line should be drawn from the
head OF Portland channel, and other fanil-
lar questions are discussed. There also Is
extensive discussion of the extent of the
strip of territory along the coast on the
mainland that Pussia conveyed 10 the
United States by the treaty Of 1861. II APP
pears from the document that Great Britain
comedies that the line begins at Cape Mu-
zon-
The United States contends that IL was
the intention Of the overs which signed the
treaty of 1926 TO confirm In full sovereignty
to Russia a continuous strip along the con-
tinental shores OF the northwest coast OF
America extending from Portland canal to
the 14lst meridian of longitude west OF
Greenwich. and that such strip was TO be
ten marine leagues. measured from the
heads OF all CULTS and arms OF the sea I'M
less there was within that distance a range
of mountains. The contention is further
made that there is no such mountain range
1t also Is urged that the United States has
occupied this strip of territory ever since It's
acquisition from Russia, and that Russia
had controlled IL since the treaty of 1926, un-
til ceded TO the United States In 1861.
In its counter statement the American
commission makes reJoinder 10 points COW
cred in the presentation OF Britain's side
Of the case. which. IL appears. contains
twenty or more documents which heretofore
have not been given TO the public. The adj
ditional evidence referred TO bears upon the
negotiations which took place between
Great Britain and Russia during the years
1923 to 1876. and IL is contended that this
new evidence I'm no way alters any material
contention made in the original allegation,
but that, on the contrary, lit confirms and
strengthens the position of the United
States"
There is. little that is new in the docu-
ments. most of the contentious having been
outlined from time TO time In the press
Secretary of Wa Root and Senator Lodge
left London tonight for Lord Roberts .
country home in Surrey. Senator Lodge to-
morrow will go TO Paris. where he will join
his wife. He will remain there until Sept.
II. After a weekend visit 10 Lord Aver
stone, Mr.. Root will go to Ledyard Carers
place in Scotland. Senator Turner remains
in London. Messrs. Root and Lodge hope
10 sail for home on Oct. p.