The Indianapolis journal., 1903-10-21
So ResentfuI and Sore over the Matter
They Openly Accused Lord Al
verstone of Partisanship.
PROVISIONS OF THE AWARD
TWO ISLANDS IN PORTLAND CANAL
GIVEN TO AMERICANS.
Boundary Line So Fixed that IL Is a
Complete Barrier Between Cam
ada and the Sea.

LONDON, Oct. 2O-The terms of the
Alaskan boundary decision were an
nounced this afternoon after the engrossed
copy OF the award had been signed by all
the commissioners except the Canadians.
Messrs Jett and Aylesworth. the Dominion's
representatives, refused to accept the
award. but signed the maps. In order to
show their resentment they withdrew from
the commission after making a formal
statement of their reasons.
1T was intended to have a public meeting
OF the commission, but in view OF the at
titude of the Canadians the meeting was
secret. This change in procedure caused
much astonishment among the people who
crowded the corridors adjoining the wait
ing rooms. Ambassador Choate. as we'll as
the Canadians and others Immediately COM
nected with the case, were admitted to the
room where the tribunal had been holding
the opening sessions. but the commissioners
remained closeted in the Cabinet room. The
secretary of the commission, Reginald It.
Tower. finally emerged and informed the
waiting crowd that no public session would
Be held and that the award would be made
public through the United States and Cana
dian agents No explanation was offered.
and but few persons knew that the attitude
OF the Canadian commissioners was re-
sponsible for the awkward change. The
Canadians feel very sore about the out
come. They almost openly accuse Lord
Alverstone OF partisanship. When the latter
presented them to King Edward at Buck
tngham Palace yesterday. the King en-
deavored yainly to induce Messrs Jette
and Aylesworth to say they were satisfied
on tnat tnsy accepted the situation out the
Two Canadians declined to in any way eX-
press acquiescence with this view. They
simply shook hands formally and bowed.
The award relating To the Portland canal
gives the United tSates two islands Can
nahganut and Sitklan. commanding the en-
trance OF the Portland channel and the
ocean passage to Port Simpson, and de-
stroying the strategetic value OF Wales and
Pearse islands, which are given TO Canada.
The mountain line adopted as the boundary
lies so far from the coast as 10 give the
United States substantially all the territory
I'm dispute The line completely clears all
the bays and inlets and means of access to
the sea, giving the United States a COM
plete land barrier between Canada and the
sea from the Portland canal TO Mount St.
Elias. Around the head of the Lynn canal
the line follows the watershed. somewhat
IN accordance with the present provisional
All the American commissioners and
counsel express natural satisfaction at the
award. Mr.. Dickinson said: 'The decision
should be very gratifying to the United
States, as its contentious OH the main
points have been fully sustained. The ques-
tion OF the Portland canal was fairly de-
batable. and, although / thought the merits
OF the controversy were with the United
States, i have too much confidence in the
integrity and ability of the tribunal TO
question Its Justice. Canada got all she
could have with any reason expected and
Will doubt in time be reconciled to its
wisdom. III the controversy had been left
undecided 1t probably would have been a
fruitful source of very acute troubles"
Senator Turner expressed satisfaction
with the decision. He said: ''I believe Ii TO
be a fair and Just settlement as between
two governments. and / am very glad in
deed that the majority OF the commissions
ers could see their way clear to join in such
an award. thus justifying the confidence of
the two governments that decision could
be- reached by jurists wholly from the two
interested countries. Senator Turner de-
clined 10 discuss the statement of the Ca
naslian commissioners, Messrs. Jette and
Aylesworth.
Senators Lodge and Turner will sail for
New York tomorrow on the steamer Ced-
ric Mr.. Dickinson will start for home sat
urday on the steamer Philadelphia.