The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-04
ALASKAN BOUNDARY
PROVISIONS OF THE HAY-HER-
 BERT TREATY.
Fight Will Be Made Against on the Ground That There is Nothing to Be Arbitrated by
 Americans.

Washington, Feb. 3.--There was some
 discussion today in the executive session
 of the Senate with reference to making
 public the treaty recently negotiated by
 Secretary Hay and Sir Michael Herbert
 for settlement of the Alaskan boundry dispute.
 Owing to the fact that a number of articles are in French, 1t was decided to await a translation before making the treaty public. The Secretary of the Sem ate was directed to prepare a transla-
 tion.
 Article 1 of the new treaty provides that the boundary line tribunal shall be
 immediately appointed and shall consist
 of six impartial jurists. three to be named
 by the President of the United States and
 three by His Britannia Majesty. All questions must receive a majority vote
 of the tribunal.
 Provision is made for the appointment of the other jurists to fill vacancies and
 for officers of the tribunal, including sci entiic experts and agents.
 Article II provides that a written or
 printed case of the two parties and oth-
 CT documents, correspondence and evil dence shall be submitted to the two par
 ties within two months of the exchange of thte notifications of this treaty. Two
 months afterward the countrys ease may
 be submitted, but the tribunal may extend
 the time If it so desires. Provisions are also made for the presentation of copies of evidence and arguments. Article III provides that the tribunal shall consider, in the settlement of the questions submitted to its decision, the treaty between Great Britain and Russia
 of 1895, and the treaty between the United
 States and Russia of March 3Q, 1867, and particularly the articles 3. aud of the | first mentioned treaty..
 The original text of these articles Is | given in French.
 The treaty between the United States
 and Russia and articles and of the
 Anglo Russian treaty are quoted as de- | scribing the line of demarcation between | Russia and the British possessions. 1 According to Acticle 3 of this treaty, | Rusia agreed to cede to the United States all the territories and dominions owned by | that country on the American continent l and the adjacent islands the eastern Him. l its being the line of demarcation between Russia and British possession in North America as established by the convention | between Russia and England in Feb
 ruary. 1925. Under the terms of the Rus-
 sian-British convention, the Prince of Wales Island belonged to Russia. It is provided that the first meeting
 of the boundary tribunal shall be in Lon
 don The decision is to be made as soon as possible after the arguments are con- cluded and within three months unless the President and the British King by
 common accord, extend the time. Provis- ion also is made as to how the decision shall be prepared and handed to the agents of the respective Governments. As soon as a decision has been sent to the contracting parties each shall send | one or more scientific experts to lay down | the boundary line in accordance with the decision.
 Should there be a failure of the major ity to agree on any of the points sub- | mitted. the respective Governments are to be notified through the agents. | The exchange of notifications as soon | as the same may be effective is provided | for.
 While there was no discussion of the | terms of the treaty on the floor of ths | Senate in today's executive session, some | conferences among Senators were held ir l reference to 1t, and the fact became gen. | enerally known that the treaty could not
 be accepted without opposition. The
 northwest Senators manifest especial op
 position. taking the ground that there Is 1 nothing to arbitrate. the terms of the | treaty of 1925 are clear and If there should chance to he decision against the United States, this country would not accept the result.