Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-17
Points Recurring Decision.

The points upon which decision was re-
quired were set forth in the following series
of questions:
First. What is intended the point OF
commencement of the iine of demarkation
between the two countries?
Second. What is the Portland channel?
Third What course should the line take
from the point of commencement to the en-
trance to Portland channel?
Fourth TO what point of the seth paral-
lei is the line to be drawn from the head OF
the Portland channel, and what course
should it follow between these points?
Fifth. In extending the line of demarka-
ton northward from said point ON the
parallel of the ffty-sixth degree of north
latitude was it the intention and
meaning of said convention of 1925 that
there should remain in tile exclusive pos
session of Russia continuous fringe or
strip of coast on the mainland, not exceed
ing ten marine league in width, separating
the British possessions from the bays.
ports, inlets, havens and waters or the
ocean, and extending from the said point on
the fftySiXth degree of latitude north to
a point where such line of demarkation
should intersect the Hist degree of longt-
tude, west of the merid an of Greenwich?
Sixth If the foregoing question should be
answered in the negative, and in the event
of the summit of such mountains proving
to be places more than ten marine leagues
from the coast. should the width Of the
lisiere which was to belong to Russia to be
measured "a from the mainland coast OF
perpendicular thereto, or ~ was it the in
tention and meaning of said convention
that where the mainland coast is indented
by deep inIets, forming part of the terri
torial waters of Russia, the width of the
hsiere was to be measured (a) from the line
of the general direction of the mainland
coast (b) from the line separating the
waters Of the ocean from the territorial
waters of Russia, or (c) from the heads OF
the aforesaid inlets?
Seventh. What, If any exists. are the
a q c
to the coast, which mountains, when within
ten marine leagues from the coast, are de-
clared to form the eastern boundary?
American Contention Summarized.
In concluding their presentation of tho
case in the main the American representa-
tives summarized their contention fol-
lows:
That 1t was the intention of the high con-
tracing parties to the convention of Feb
ruary 1926, to confirm in full severe gnty
to Russia by that instrument a continuous
strip or liSere of territory along the conti-
mental shores of the northwest coast OF
America. extending from Portland canal to
the 141St meridian of longitude west OF
Greenwich.
That it was the intention of these high
contracting parties that the width of such
lisiere was to be ten marine leagues, meas
ured from the heads of all gulfs, bays. In
lets and arms of the sea-that is. from tide
water-unless within that distance from
d
continuous range of mountains lying paral-
lei to the sinuositieS of the coast and ex-
tending from Portland canals to the 14lst
meridian, in which latter case the summit
of such range was to form the boundary.
That the acts of Great Britain and Rus
sia subsequent to the signature of the
treaty and the universal interpreta ton
given to it's delimitng articles by govern
ments, geographers, photographers, his
torians of those and other civilized nations.
agree with and confirm the intention and
meaning as above stated.
That the United States purchased the ter
ritory from Russia, relying upon such inter-
probation of the treaty
Unclaimed by Great Britain.
That the purchase was open and notorious
to the world for the period of one year be-
fore the purchase price stipulated in tho
treaty was paid, and that neither during
that period nor within thirty years there
after did Great Britain give notice to tho
United States that she claimed any portion
of the territory then ceded by Russia.
That the United States entered into pos
session of and occupied the lsiere above
described, exercised sovereign rights there
in and treated the same at all times a
part of its national domain; and to such
occupation and exercise of governmental
authority Great Britain entered pro-
test or objection.
That the United States from the time OF
the cession from Russia has remained I'm
continuous and undisputed possession Of
the territory ceded it.
That the beginning of the southern
boundary between the British and Russian
possessions was Cape Muzon, which was
for time believed to be a southern poiue
on Prince of Wales Island.
Portland Canal.
That Portland channel was the body of
water now commonly known and described
as Portland canal.
That there is not at any point within ten
marine leagues of tidewater between the
head of Portland canal and the one hum
dred and forty-frst degree of longitudA