New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-01
THE ALASKA BOUNDARY.

The approach OF the date set for the first
Joint meeting Of the British and American COM
missioners 10 consider the Alaska boundary
question has been marked with no sensational
incidents, but one or two somewhat interesting
statements have been made in recent press dis
patches from London. One, which may pro-
woke more amusement than anything else. is TO
the effect that IL has been aScertained that the
whole controversy centres upon Canadas eff
fort 10 acquire outlet to the sea- Just as
though any one in the world ever supposed any
thing else, OF course, the case centres UPON
that 1t always has done SO. That was the
cruX Of the British Russian dispute over it in
1S24'25. At that time Great Britain feared the
United States would insist upon maintaining
It's title 10 the whole Oregon territory up to
the Russian line at latitude 81 40 and she
knew tnat in that she would be shut away
from the Pacific altogether unless she could
persuade Russia TO let her have an outlet across
the Alaska panhandle. II was upon that point
that all the negotiations between Canning and
Nesselrode turned, and upon il Great Britain
was completely beaten, the treaty then agreed
upon explicitly excluding her from tidewater
north Of - 40
Another statement is more novel and sug-
Gcstve. 1t is that both parties TO the dispute
are resting their cases primarily upon the
AngloRussian treaty OF 1926. That is logical
1t has long been our contention in these col
umns that that treaty. which was practically
repeated iii our treaty acquiring Alaska, forms
the real basis OF title and contains the real pre-
scription Of boundary. rather than any maps.
alleged monuments, or what not Now that
treaty seems 10 support the American case. in
general and in detail. wherefore for Canada TO
base her case upon it seems tantamount practi-
cally TO abandoning her case. Her only hope Of
success would seem 10 lie in some forced con-
StructiOn Of the treaty But the treaty is partlc-
ularly full explicit lucid and detailed In
scarcely any part does it require any 'inter-
probation or construction other than that
which is obvious upon the face OF its text. IL
however. at any point il is obscure or indefinite,
the Interpretation must manifestly be made
not upon the basis of present conditions or de-
sres. but upon the basis Of the conditions
which prevailed when the treaty was made and
Of the known intent Of its makers. Concerning
that intent there is no room for question.
Count Nessclrode epigra mmatically expressed
ii when he said. The English wish - acquire:
we wish TO retain" The whole story Of those
prolonged negotiations is merely an enlarge
ment upon that epigram The Russians pos
seSsed the unbroken coast strip. circling well
inland around the head oc Lynn Canal and they
maintained their title TO il The English
strove 20 break through that strip but failed
so 10 do
Perhaps il may be worth while 20 notice a
curious sidelight upon the British demand
which is afforded by an ambitious Canadian
legislator, who wants the Dominion Parlia-
ment OF which he is a member, TO purchase
the State Of Maine. That State he argues once
belonged 60 Canada. and Canada now needs IL
10 give her a direct outlet 10 the Atlantic IN
winter; therefore she should acquire H. II
would be interesting 20 know when Maine-at
any rate the State west Of the Penobscot-be-
longed TO Canada, and also what disposition
this Canadian makes Of the charter OF William
and Mary which annexed "the Province of
Maine" 10 the Colony Of Massachusetts Bav
But this proposal is only sample Of the mania
which now and then seems to possess some
Canadian minds. They want Portland or some
such harbOr for use when their own harbors
are icebound: therefore they want the State of
Maine. and pretend 10 have some moral title
10 It, They want more direct outlet from the
Kl0ndike 10 the Pacific than is afforded across
their own territory; therefore they want a bit
Of cur territory and pretend TO have a right
full title 10 it, The Alaska case will now for a
time become in 4 sense sub JUDGE. When II
cmerses We trust Il viii be forever settled