The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-12-11
growing American interests in regions

Heretofore unsurveyed and imperfectly
known brought into prominence the urgent
necessary OF a practical demarcation of the
n~oui1aarles " the jurisdictions of
the United States and Great Britain. AL
lhough the treaty of 1926 between Great
sBritainS Russia, the provisions of which
We're copied In the treaty of 1867, whereby
ssussia conveyed Alaska to the United
S.a1es, was positive as to the control, first
oy Russia and later by the United States.
OF a strip of territory along the continental
mainland from the western shore of Port
land canal to Mount st. Elias, following
ana ~urrounding the indentations of the
coast ana including the islands to'tHe west
Ward ITS description of the landward mar
gin OF the strip was indefinite, resting on
s .is supposed existence of a continuous
coast, as figured in the charts of the early
navlgators. 1t had at no time been possible
ior either party in interest to lay down,
SO obviously exact according to Its provi-
sions as to command the assent of the
other.
After ~unavailing attempts to reach an
understanding through a joint high COM
mission, followed by prolonged negotia-
lions, conducted in an amicable spirit, a
convention between the United States and
1reat Brltaln was signed, January "a, 1903,
provldlng for an examination of the sub
Ject by a mixed tribunal of six members,
,hree on a side; with a view to its final dis
March 3 last. whereupon the two govern
ments appointed their respective members.
Those on behalf of the United States were
Sapot Lodge, a senator of the United
Sta.ss. and George Turner. an ex-senator
Of the United States. while Great Britain
stone, lord chief justice of England; Sir.
Louis Amable Jette, K. C. M. G., retired
udg Ct the supreme court Of Quebec, and
tribunal met in London on September 3,
under the presidency of Lord Alverstone.
The 1, proceedings We're expeditious. and
spirit. The respective cases, counter cases
ana arguments presented the issues clear
" and fully. On the goth of October a ma
an agreement on all the questions submit
ted by the terms of the convention. BY
this award the. right Of the United States
der of the mainland shore, skirting all the
tide-water inlets and sinuosities of the
coast, Is confirmed; the entrance to Port
doubt appeared) is defined as passing by
Tongass inlet and to the northwestward of
Wales and Pearse islands: a line is drawn
fifty-sixth degree of north latitude; and
the interior border line of the strip is fixed
by lines connecting certain mountain sum-
Mount st. Elias, and running along the
crest of the divide separating the coast
slope from the inland watershed at the
ridge approaches the coast within the
distance of ten marine leagues stipulated
by the treaty as the extreme width of the
strip around the heads of Lynn canal and
its branches.
The award is self-executfng on the vital
points. To make it effective as regards
the others 1t only remains for the two
governments to appoint, each on its own
behalf, one or more scientific experts,
who shall, with all convenient speed, pro-
Geed together to lay down the boundary
the majority. of the tribunal. J. recon-
mend that the congress make adequate
provision for the appointment, compen
s serxen on ano th Gspe 5oint 6 Of tne members oomzn, to
sion on the part of the United States.
Claims Against Venezuela.
1t will be remembered that during the
second session of the last congress Great
Britain, Germany and Italy formed. an
alliance for the purpose OF blockading
the ports of Venezuela and using such
other means OF pressure as would secure
a settlement of claims due, as they al
legged, to certain of their subjects. Their
employment of force for the collection of
these claims was terminated by an agree
ment brought about through the offices
OF the diplomatic representatives of the
United States at Caracas and the gov
nme at Washington, thereby ending
: situation which was bound to cause
sreasing friction, and which jeoparded,
= , peace Of the continent. Under this
Venezuela agreed to set apart
a certain percentage of the customs re-
ceipts of two of her ports to be applied
to the payment of whatever obligations
appointed for that purpose to be-
due from her, not only to the three pow
ers already mentioned. WHOSE proceed
war, but also to the United States, France,
Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden
and Norway, and Mexico, who had not
employed force for the collection Of the
claims alleged to be due to certain of
their citizens.
A demand was then made by the So
called blockading powers that the sums
mixed commission should be accord
ed payment in full before anything was
paid upon the claims Of any of the so
other haad. Insisted that all her creators
should be paid upon a basis of exact
equality. During the efforts ~tnE.adiust
TINS disputesit1 was suggested by the pow
to me for decision. but I wa clearly
of the opinion that a far wiser course
would be to submit the question to the
Hague. 1t seemed to me to offer an ad-
rnirable opportunity to advance the prac-
tice Of the peaceful settlement of dis
of its practical Importance. The
interested in the controversy
were 50 numerous, n in many instances
beneficent results would follow from
their appearance at the same time before
the par OIL InaC august tribunal of peace,
Our hopes in that regard have been real
lied. Russia n Austria are represented
in the persons of the learned and distin-
guished jurists who compose the tribunal,
while Great Britain, Germany, France,
Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands,
Sweden and Norway, Mexico, the United
States and Venezuela are represented by
their respective agents and counsel. Such
imposing concourse Of nations present
ing their arguments to ant invoking the
decision of that high court of International
justice and international peace can hardly
fail to secure a like submission of many
controversies. The nations now APP
pearing there will find it far easier to APP
pear there a second time, while no nation
can imagine its just pride will be lessened
following the example now presented.
This triumph of the principle Of interna-
tional arbitration is a subjecto of warm con-
graduation n offers a happy augury for
the peace of the world. Z
Relations with Turkey.
Early in July, having received intelli-
which happily turned out to be
of the assassination of our vice
consul at Beirut, i dispatched a small
squadron toSthat port for such service as
might be found necessary on arrival. AL.
though the attempt on the life of our vice
outrage was symptomatic of a state of
excitement n disorder which demanded
attention. The arrival of the
vessels had h happiest result. Afeeiing
of security at once took the place of the
former alarm and disqufet; our officers
were cordially welcomed by the consular
body and the leading merchants. and or.