The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-09-07

, further made that there is no such
mountain range. 1t also Is urged that
the United States has occupied this strip
Of territory ever since its acquisition
from Russia, and that Russia had con-
troled 1t since the treaty Of 1925 until
coded to the United States In 1851. In
it's counter statement the American COM
mission makes rejOinder to points COW
cred in the presentation of the British
side of the case, which it appears con-
tains two or more documents which mere
tofore have not been given to the public.
The additional evidence referred to
bears on the negotiations which took
place between Great Britain and Russia
during the years 1923 and 1925, and it Is
contended that this new evidence In no
way alters any material contention made
in the original allegation, but that on
the contrary 1t confirms and strengthens
the position Of the United States.
AS to Protests.
These documents consist largely of
statements made and letters written by
Mr.. Refill who was at that time deputy
governor of the Hudson Bay Company
and it is contended that his letters fully
sustain the assertion that In fixing a
line OF demarkation the British gov
eminent acted solely in the interests of
that company. The commissioners dis
cuss at some length the claim made by
their opponents that many protests have
American claim in reference to the
boundary line. They admit that from
time to time there have been informal
representations, but these. they assert,
were in the main without sufficient data
to justify serious consideration. Indeed.
they say that never until after the I<lon-
dixie gold discoveries were made in 1896
did the British government take UP the
question seriously. They admit that in
1898 attention was called to the claim
of the British government that the 10
league strip extended only from the main
waters of the ocean. but they say that
this contention was not made absolutely
clear until the British case was delivered
to the present tribunal the I'd of May
last.
that the strip should measure from tide
water and from the heads of bays and
ihlets. a number of depostionS are pro-
duced in connection with the counter case
going to show the occupa ton of this strip
bV settlers from the United States since
1880. Especial effort IS directed toward
showing the control OF the country about
the head of Lynn canal. including the
sites of the towns Of Dyea Skagway.
White Pass and Lake Bennett. Also stated
that hume ons documents have been pre-
served which had been given to Indian
chiefs and others by officials Of the
United States showing the presence in the
Lynn canal in1ets OF naval and other
for twenty years after the United States
acquired the territory. 1t is contended
that this occupation and control Were
known to the Canadian government and
it's people
Discussing the boundaries proposed by
Great Britain. the commission makes ref
erence to the Instability of the Canadian
contention or, the point and concludes that
the United States has from time to tire
Of the cesson Of Alaska to the present day
Maintained but one Interpretation of the
treaty Of 1925. It's position has been open
and known to the world. 1t is the ane
which was presented to the tribunal in
its case and which IT now reitera tes IN
this counter case
Study of Maps.
The argument in the case is careful
study Of maps. treaties and other docu-
ments bearing upon the boundary con
tention and it is intended to drive home
the facts presented in the statements to
which reference has been made.
Considerable space is devoted to the part
played by the Klondike gold discoveries
in arousiEg Great Britain's interest In
the controversy and in this connection
notice is taken of an assertion made by
the British commissioners that the towns
of Dyea and SkarwaY owed their ex-
lstence to the migra ton to the I[londilIe
They assert on the contrary. Dyea was
founded IN 1886 and Skagway in 1885 They
contradict fatty a contention made by the
british commissioners to the effect that
canada claim to the territories at tn
mead OF Lynn canal was at the time well
known to thu United States government