New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-18
THE ALASKAN DISPUTE.
Contentious of the United States and
Canada-MOde of Settlement.

The Alaskan boundary question has been IN
active contention since the discovery of gold in
the Klondike in 1898. although long ago as
1872 the Canadian Government called the atten-
ton Of the State Department at Washington 10
the need Of action to define the boundary Of
Alaska. 1t was in 1867 that the territory was
bought by this country from Russia. and the
limits were defined as they had been in the
treaty of 1926 between Great britain and Rus
STA. This gave the latter jurisdiction over a
strip along the Pacific Ocean from a point in
the parallel of 81 degrees 40 minutes north
latitude. and between the 13lst and the 1880
degrees Of west longitude, 10 the seth degree of
north latitude. From this last mentioned point
the line OF demarcation shall follow the sum
mits Of the mountains situated parallel to the
coast $ far the intersection Of the 141st de-
gree Of west longitude" and then follow that
degree
In regard 10 the Interpretation of the above
provision the treaty said: That wherever the
summit Of the mountains, which extend in a
direction parallel with the coast between the
5Gth and l41st degrees shall prove TO be at a
distance of more than ten marine leagues from
the ocean. the limit between the British posses
sions and the line of coast which is TO belong
10 Russia shall be formed by a line parallel
to the windngs OF the coast, and which shall
never exceed the distance of ten marine leagues
therefrom.'
The contention arose over the question as
what the coast meant; Canada on the one hand
holding that il meant the outward coast while
this country contended that the boundary line
followed the inland shore alonE the borders of
the bays and inlets of the coast.
The treaty with Russia ceding Alaska TO this
country for the sum of 100000 was signed on
March 20. 1867 and ratified by the Senate on
.Juiv % 1865 In 1871 British Columbia was
admitted TO the Canadian Dominion, and Canada
thus became a party to the dispute over the
boundary. Various tentative efforts to secure
action were made, but Congress failed TO do
anything UP 10 1892, when a convention was
approved setting forth that survey should be
made 20 ascertain the data necessary for the
permanent delinitation Of the boundary line in
accordance with the spirit and intent of the ex-
listing treaties in regard 10 it between Great
Britain and Russia and between the United
States and Russia. Commissioners were ap-
pointed FOR the purpose of carrying out this
agreement and their reports were submitted to
their respective governments on December 81
1895. The commissioners failed TO agree on the
chief points Of issue-whether tie ten marine
leagues should be computed from the western
coast line adjoining the open sea or from the
extreme point inland of the inlets
On January 80, 1897, a treaty was signed that
provided for commissioners to survey the I41st
meridian Of longitude, to determine whether the
site Of the town of Forty Mile, which was laid
out in what the settlers thought was Alaska
was really The survey showed that il was
within Canadian territory, and jurisdiction over
it given TO the Dominion by the United
States.
An agreement was made in May, 1885, be
tween the United States, Great Britain and Can
ada for the creation of a Joint high commission
TO negotiate treaty which would settle all sub
9ects Of controversy between this country and
Canada The members of IL held a number of
sessions and settled some of the minor matters
IN dispute. but I'm August, 1899 IL adjourned in
dehnitely, as IAN irreconcilable difference of
views was entertained respecting the delimita-
uon or the Alaskan boundary"
10 settle this the present commission was pro-
Nioed Tor last year In a treaty signed by Sec
IeIary Hay and the late Sir Michael Herbert
oIlifSh Ambassador at Washington and ratified
by the Senate The British members of the
COMMISSION are Lord Chief Justice Alverstonc
.: l.. Aylesworfh, of Toronto and Sir Louis Jette
o. oneDec' the American commissioners Sec
itlafg root Senator Lodge and ex-senator
george turner Lord Alverstone was elected
PRESIDENT. The commission chose Reginald
Tower OF he British Foreign Office as secre-
iaiB. ana John r. Carter. second secretary of
the american Embassy and Mr. Pope of can
ada, as assistant secretaries. John w Foster
former Secretary OF State was The American
agent and he vac assisted by Jacob NJ Dickin-
son. Of Chicago, l.. J. watson of Pittsburs