Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-16
The Alaska Commission at Work.

The Alaska Commission at Work.
We are not hearing much about the
work of the Alaskan boundary COM
mission which began sessions in Lon
don about a week ago, but no DOUBT II
| is attending to business, and there Will
be something done to give out 10 the
public in due time. 1t is well assured
that there will be some interesting and
warm discussions before this tribunal,
| but it is equally well assured that
nleasant social relations will be MAIN
| tanned. How long the commission will
be in session is very uncertain, and for
that matter nobody can say that it's
work will result in any definite and
| conclusivo settlement of the Alaskan
boundary controversy. 1t all depends
| nm the British commissioner. There is
not the slightest possibility that all the
| are,,u7ents which can be presented can
change in any degree the three Ameri-
can commissioners from their position.
In all probability the two Canadian
commissioners will be equally firm
in their attitude. If the solitary Brit
sh commissioner decides with the two
Canadians, the commission will be
deadlocked, and nothing will be accom-
plished. But if this British commits
sioner is fair minded and open to rea-
son, he will vote with the three Ameri-
cans, and the veXed question will be
settler for all time and settled right.
The Canadian argument will be on
the familiar line brought forward n few
years ago, in regard to bays and inlets.
in the Atlantic coast, that the real
boundary is a straight line from head
land to hcadIand, regardless of the
windings of the coast. This, as we
know, is an exploded contention as re-
CARDS the Atlantic coast, but even if it
were we'll founded it would have 40
bearing on the Alaskan question. TIC
treaty between Russia and Great Britain
provided that the Alaskan boundary
should be 80 miles inland from the
'siauousitios'' of the coast. That word
was put there deliberately and would
have no bearing il imaginary lines were
TO be drawn from headland to headland
to make the boundary, regardless Of the
''sinuousitics' of the coast.
When this treaty was made, the
British Hudson BAY Company leased
from The Russian government the right
to reach the Pacific through the 80
miles Of Russian territory, a right that
would have been wholly useless, had
this theory now set up by Canada been
correct. No one ever thought of such a
claim at that time nor was 1t men i
toned or suggested for 60 or 10 years
aftel'ward Then gold was discovered
in Northwestern Canada, near Alaska
and an outlet to the sea WAS needed.
Then canada, instead of asking for the
privilege to cross American territory
land reach the sea, seeking to lease
land for such purpose, advanced this
new theory and demanded the land it
self as a matter of right. There can lie
only one possible outcome of the
authorizations Of this commission. Can
ada must abandon its unjust claims or
matters will simply remain as they do
now. and the relations between this
country and Canada will continue to be
strained, with reciprocity agreements
or the settlement OF other questions en-
tirely out of the question. 1t all de-
ponds, as we said above, on the Erillsii
commissioner.