Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-09-03
THE ALASKAN BOUNDARY QUESTION

home the facts presented in the state ments to which reference has been made. Considerable space is devoted to the part played by the Klondike gold discoveries in arousing Great Britain's interest in the controversy, and in this connection notice is taken of an asser- ton made by the British commission CTS that the towns of Dyea and Skag- way owed their existence to the mi grafton to the Klondike. They assert on the contrary that Dyea was found ed in 1886 and Skagway in 1888. They contradict datly contention mode by the British commissioners to the effect that "Canadas claim to the territories at the head of Lynn canal was at the time well known to the United States government" '.*.
 'This," they say, ''is gratuitous as- sertion. There is no proof to sustain it. Canada never put forward any such claim to the United States. The claim was first made in 1898 by Great Britain before the joint high commits sion.''
 It is said 'sthat if the Canadian gov ernment had instructed British vessels to disregard these regulations there
 
 serious collision. There undoubtedly would have been a collision, just as certainly as if they had been instruct ed to disregard the regulations of the port of New York"
 Strong exception also is taken to the contention that there was a reserva- ton on the part of Great Britain when the United States volunteered to create a port of entry at Dyea. The argu- ment aserts that whatever reservation there was, was made by a commits sioner of customs, and that he had no authority in the premises.
 London, Sept 3.-The Alaskan boundary commissioners held their first meeting this morning, in the con- ference room of the foreign office.
 Prior to the formal assembling, the commissioners selected Reginald T.. Tower, of the British diplomatic ser vice. formerly attached to the legation at Washington and recently minister to Siam, as secretary. J. R. Garter, second secretary of the United States embassy, and MT Pope, a representa- tive of the Canadian government, were appointed assistant secretaries. Lord Alverstone was subsequently chosen chairman of the commission. It was announced that arguments would commence September 15 and Lord Alverstone expressed the hope that they would be finished by Octo- Der 9.
 The conference room of the foreign office, where the commissioners met, is the choicest apartment in the Brit ish public buildings. It is a magnif1- cent salon, with Gothic ceiling and panelled walls, and has been the scene Of many notable gatherings. 1t was generally used by the late Lady Salisbury to receive the guests after the late Lord Salisbury's dinners to the diplomatic corps. At the end of the room a platform had been con- structed and on 1t was long desk with a blue awning. Behind this desk were six comfortable chairs, which were occupied by the commis- sioners, whose international reputa- tions emphasized the importance of the occasion. Elihu Root and Lord Alverstone sat in the center. Separ- ate tables were provided for counsel
 Canadian counsel were the first to arrive in the chamber. They were followed by John w Foster, former secretary of state, and his assistants, who were accompanied by Ambassa- dor Choate. The commissioners came in a few moments later and immedi- ately began private conference, which resulted in the selection of the officers and at which they exchanged cred dentials and took the oath required by the treaty.
 A few minutes after il o'clock the commission took their seats, Senator Turner on the extreme right, then Pro lessor Sir Louis Jette, formerly lieu tenant governor of Quebec; MT Root, Lord Alverstone, Senator Lodge, A. B. Ellsworth, MT Foster and Clifford Sifton, (Canadian minister of the 1n- terior) The agents of the respective governments sat at desks on the eX- treme right and left of the commis- sion, while counsel and the stenogra- phers occupied desks facing the com missioners.
 Lord Alyerstone, after formally an nouncing that the commission was in session, asked counsel when they de- sired to begin the oral arguments. Sir Robert B. Finlay, the attorney general, in behalf of the British counsel, sug- gested that at least two weeks would be required for preparation, to which John M Dickinson, representing the American counsel, assented, though he said the American counsel would be ready in a week.
 Lord Alverstone asked when the oral arguments would be finished. At torney General Finlay suggested Octo- Der 15, but his lordship remarked that he thought a shorter period was ad- visable, and October 9 was fixed upon.
 The commission decided to sit five days per week. commencing Septem- Der 15 and excluding Saturdays and to be in session from ii a. m. to D. m. daily, and granted permission for a limited number of representatives of the press to attend the sittings.
 Tn order that the presenta ton of the case may be exhaustive it has been ar ranged that three of counsel for each government shall make arguments, the British opening and being followed