New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-04
ALASKA TRIBUNAL MEETS


s-s.es ny the treaty OF 1861 It appears from the
line begins AZ Cape Muzon.
The United States CONTENDS that Il was the in
.ention ~ the powers which signed the treaty OF
% 10 confirm fun sovereignty 20 Russia a
continuous strip. or nsiere. along the continental
shores OF The northwest coast OF America. ex-
s,diur from Portland Canal to the l4lSt meridian
~ lousifude west OF Greenwich. and that such
sr-,p was 70 be ten marine leagues measured from
sc heads OF al CUFFS and other arms OF the sea
Mess there was within that distance q range q
Mountains. The contention is further made xhss
here is 70 such mountain range. Il also is urged
,rs. The United States has occupied this strip o..
e~rstory since its acquisition from Russia and
,bat Russia had controlled Il since the treaty OF
- Until osded the United States IN 1867.
srRENGTHENs THIS CoUNTRYs POSITION
In its counter statement the American commits
,son makes rejoinde- TO points covered IN the
,-sertstiun OF The British OF the case. which.
n appears contains twenty or more documents
vrhicb heretofore have not been given to the
,,,bllc The additional evidence referred 10 bears
nor the negotiations which took place between
Great Britain and Russia IN tie years 1S2 20 KS.
80 = is commended that this evidence IN no
~ alters any material contention made in the
o-tr1nal allegation but that on the contrary. 1t
oe-rns and strengthens the position Of the United
states" These documents consist largely Of state
-a-+e made and letters written by Mr.. Pelly. who
"a. a. that tine deputy governor OF the Hudson
Lad. to-lpauy. and d is contenced that his letters
ANY sustain the assertion that fixing a line OF
s.r.arcstion the British Government acted solely
g. The interests o. that company.
The commissioners discuss al some length the
clam, made BY their opponents that many protests
t.v. been fled BY British officials against the
American claim IN reference 10 the boundary line
They admit that from time TO time there have been
Informal representations. but these they assert were
"a the main without sufficient data 20 justify seri-
Gus consideration Indeed. they say that never
urtn after the Klondike god discoveries were
-Fe eaesti0n seriously. They admit that attention
ueIt that TIE ten les.el e sLIlP o-a-s 49,
fbe uain waters Of the ocean but they say thal
i Re Rrsh Sass was delivered to the present
tribunal May last
KruDIKD DISCOVERIES INSPIRED CLAIM
In support o. the American contention that the
F--ip should measure from udewater and from the
heads Of bays and inlets, a number OF oeposiuons
a.. ,-oeuced IN connection with the counter case
rolpr 10 show the occupation OF this strip By
ss-tle-s from the United states since 1880 Espe-
cal Effort IS directed toward showing the control
81 The country about the head Of the Lynn Canal
incudng the sites q the towns OF Dyea skag ~sy.
numerous 1ocur1ei-ts nave teen fessI 80
beer riven Indian chiefs ana others by oIlclals
fvrn Canal iniets Of naval and other authorities OF
me United States annually for twenty years aLIeI
tended that this occupation and control were known
20 the Canadian Government and It's people -.
4.-.lz1...- UOuuCalles proposed DH oTeat
Britain tie commission makes reference 70 the N
STABILITY q the Canadian contention OF this point
concludes that the United States has rom the
tine q the cession % Alaska 70 the present oaE
rnaire ire6 Interpretation OF the treaty or
1gc5 It's position has been open and known 70 TIE
world ID is the same which was presented 10 the
tribunal in case. and which II now reterates IN
This counter case
Tha argument IN the case Is q careful study 81
mays treaties and other documents bearing upon
boundary contention. and Il Is intended 70 drive
h0rle the facts presented IL the statements 70
which reference has been made Considerab BE space
Is devoted 70 the part played by the klondike gold
discoveries in arousng Great Br1tains interest IN
the controversy. and ia connection with this notice
is taken q assertion made ~ the Britlsh COM
fnissioners that the towns % Dyea and SkagWay
Owed their existence the migration TO the klon
dke They assert. the contrary. that Dyea was
founded in 1856 and stairway IN wv lhey con
trnGlct fatty q contention MADE by the British
courrisei 0re-s that 'Canadas claim 70 the terri
tories al the head Of Lynn Cana was al the time
VEL known 70 the United States Government
'Tfis" they say. 'is ara tutous assertion.
There is no proof 70 sustain f. Canada never put
f0rv-s~ "a a elloh claim TO the United States The
claim vas first made IN 1885 by Great Eritain before
Joint Eigh Commission. II Is SAID that II the
Canadian Government had instructed British YES
disregard these regulation there would have
her grave danger of q serious collision. There un-
Sorr+eFlv would have been a collision Just Ger
tfiuly n they had been INSTRUCTED n disregard
ffp regulations - the Port y New-York.'
strong exception also is taken 70 the contention
that there was reservation the part OF Great
britain when the United States volunteered 70
create = port ~ entry IL Dvea- The argument as
ee~-s that whatever reservation there was. was
made hv 2 coTrlis Oner Of customs, and that he
had authority tn the premises.