The Washington times., 1903-01-28
FEARS TROUBLE WITH
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT
Dr.. Baker Tells of Alaskan
Boundary Dispute.
QUESTION OF ARBITRATION
Great Britain Willing, But OUr North
eTn Feighbor May Interpose Objec-
tions-Reason for Dispute.

The signing of the treaty at the nome
Of Secretary Hay on Saturday by which
the United States and Great Britain agree
TO submit the Alaskan boundary dispute
10 an arbitration commission has revived
interest in the question in Washington,
ard Government officials are generally
hopeful that a settlement Of some nature
viii be reached. This view, however, is
net shared by number of officials who
have followed the dispute since its begin
ming in 1884, when Canada asserted SOW
ereignty over certain portions of the
Alaskan Territory which the United
States claimed under the Seward par
chase from Russia
Prominent among the officials who
doubt the ability Of an arbitration com
mission to decide the matter equitablv is
Dr. Marcus Baker, chief topographer of
the United States Geological Survey. By
virtue Of his position as the head of the
map-making branch Of the Government.
DIR. Baker has closely followed the
various phases Of the dispute, and has
given much study TO the exact location of
the boundary line over which the contro-
versy is waged.
Canada May Object.
while have every confidence in Sec
retary Hay. and believe he has accom-
plishcd much toward securing a settle
ment Of the Alaskan boundary dispute.
said Dr. Baker today, yet owing to the
presence Of a third party have serious
doubts whether any definite conclusion
will be reached. This third party is Can
ada If the United States was dealing
with Great Britain alone. there would be
little difficulty Great Britain, however,
besides looking out for her own interests.
I is also bound to support the Canadian
government in the matter To do other
wise would be to invite disloyaIty Of a
colonial possession.
The question, devoid of these diplo-
matte considerations. is extremely sim
! pie. In fact, the United States has all
! the evidence on its own side. The boun-
dary line is definitely described in the
Seward treaty of 1867, by which we
/ gained possession of the Territory. and
was never questioned by any nation IN
| til in 1884, when Canadian officials sud
denly began to assume new and star
tling attitude. A discussion of the
boundary and the rights of the United
States was opened. and the Canadians
began putting different lines in their
maps.
"One OF the first instances in which
/ a discussion arose was brought about by
murder trial. involving a question Of
whether British Columbia OF the United
States had Jurisdiction It was finally
settled, but in such way as to Leave
room for the discussion and dispute
which has been carried on ever since.
Cause of Trouble.
"One Of the principal causes Of the
difficulty lies in the fact that the boun-
dary is entirely on paper The line has
never been surveyed. and consequently
10 one knows exactly where it does ac-
tuaIly pass. except as defined in the
treaty between Russia and the United
States, by which we acquired posses
sion.
To be frank the dispute reminds me
OF game Of petty diplomacy on the
Canadian governments part. It is Ike
stud poker. The Canadians know they
can only gain their point by haggIing or
by stealing; at any rate, they are de
termiued to win out, no matter how.
IF it were not for their exceedingly
unfriendIy attitude toward Us, believe
the people of the United States would
feel like dealing literally with the
Canadians, and giving them what they
are seeking namely, q port of entry
The British Canadian public has been
deceived as to the real facts in the case.
The newspapers Of the Dominion have
been seduIousIy silent about the facts.
The original dispute began in 1}25,
when Russia and Great Britain present
ed counter claims against the country.
The Hudzon Bay Company pushed west
from its possessions about the bay Of
that name. and the Russians pushed
eastward from The coast Finally an
agreement was reached by which the
boundary in the southern part of the
territory was described IN the treaty
signed in 1925, beginning from the 56th
degree Of north latitude above the head
OF Portland Canal Is follows. The line
of demaTeation shall follow the summit
Of the mountains situated parallel 20
the coast as far IS the point intersec-
tion of the 1zfst degree Of west Iongi-
tude Whenever the summit of
the mountains which extend in a dtrec-
tjon parallel 10 the coast shall
prove TO be at a distance Of more than
ten marine leagues from the ocean. the
limit between The British possessions
and the strip of coast which is to belong
TO Russia. as above mentioned. shall be
found by a line parallel to the sinuosi-
ties Of the coast. and which shall never
exceed the distance Of ten marine
leagues therefTom.
May Survey Line.
1t IS this line which DR.. Baker main
tains the United States should hold 10
am which has been attacked by the
Canadians without valid right One OF
the first steps he believes should be
taken should DE the surveying and
marking of this line so that its exact
location may be known.
WANT CURFEW TO RING IN YORK.
YORK. Pa. Jan gS-Tbe York Minis