The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1903-12-10

boundaries between the jurisdictions of
the United States and Great Britain. Al
Britain and Russia the pTovIs ste Of which
were copied in the treaty of 1867, whereby
Russia conveyed Alaska to the United
states, was positive as to the control, first
by Russia and later by the United States,
OF strip of territory along the continental
mainland from the western shore of Port
land canal to Mount St. Elias, following
and surrounding the indentations of the
coast and including the islands to the west
ward. its description of the landward mar
gin or the strip was indefinite, resting on
ridge or range of mountains skirting the
coast, as figured in the charts of the early
naVlgators. 1t had at no time been possible
under the authority of the treaty, a line
SO obviously exact according to its proyi-
other.
After unavailing attempts to reach an
understanding through Joint high COM
mission. followed by prolonged negotfa-
tons, conducted in an amicable spirit, a
convention between the United States and
Great Britain was signed, January "a, 1858,
providing for an examination of the sub
ject by mixed tribunal Of six members,
three on side with view to its final dis
position: Ratifications were exchanged on
March last, whereupon the two govern
ments appointed their respective members:
Elihu Root. secretary Of War; Henry
Cabot Lodge, senator of the United
States. and George Turner, an ex-senator
named the Right Honorable Lord Alver-
Louis Amable Jette, K. c. NJ g., retired
A. B. Aylesworth, K c., Of Toronto. This
tribunal met in London on September 3,
under the presidency of Lord Alverstone;
marked by a friendly and conscientiOus
spirit. The respective cases, counter cases
and arguments presented the issues clear
jority of the tribunal reached and signed
an agreement on all the questions submit
ted by the terms of the convention. BY
this award the right Of the United States
der of the mainland shore. skirt1ng all the
tide-water inlets and sinuosities of the
land canal Concerning which legitimate
doubt appeared) is defined as passing by
Tongass inlet and to the noTthwestward of
Wales and Pearse islands: line is drawn
from the head Of Portland canal to the
fifty-siXth degree of north latitude; and
the interior border line of the strip is fixed
by lines connecting certain mountain sum-
mits lying between Portland canal and
Mount St. Elias, and running along the
crest of the divide separating the coast
slope from the inland watershed at the
age ridge approaches the coast within the
distance of ten marine leagues stipulated
by the treaty as the extreme width of the
strip around the heads of Lynn canal and
it's branches.
The award Is sef-executfng On the vital
points. To make it effective as regards
the others it only remains for the two
governments to appoint. each ON it's own
who shall, with all convenient speed pro-
coed together to lay down the boundary
the majority of the tribunal. I recon-
mend that the congress make adequate
provision for the appointment, compen-
sation and expenses of the members to
hyC nj h0t do nc
sion on the part Of the United States.
Claims Against Venezuela.
It will be remembered that during the
second session of the last congress Great
Britain, Germany and Italy formed an
alliance for the purpose of blockadng
the ports of Venezuela and using such
other means of pressure as would secure
a settlement of claims due, as they at
legged, to certain of their subjects. Their
employment of force for the collection Of
ment brought about through the Offices
of the diplomatic representatives of the
United States at Caracas and the gov
eminent at Washington, thereby ending
increasing friction. and which jeoparded
the peace of the continent. Under this
agreement Venezuela agreed to set apart
ceipts of two of her ports to be applied
to the payment of whatever obligations
might be ascertained by mixed commits
sions appointed for that purpose to be
ers already mentioned. whose proceed
ings against her had resulted in a state of
war, but also to the United States, France,
Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden
and Norway, and Mexico, who had mot
employed force for the collection Of the
claims alleged to be due to certain of
their citizens.
A demand was then made by the So
called blockading powers that the sums
ascertained to be due to their citizens by
such mixed commission should be accord
ed payment in full before anything was
called peace powers. Venezuela, on the
other haad, insisted that all her creditors
should be paid upon basis of exact
equality. ; During the efforts to adjust
this dispute it was suggested by the pow
ers in interest that it should be referred
to me for decision, but 1 was clearly
would be to submit the question to the
permanent court of arbitration at The
Hague 1t seemed to me to offer an adj
mirable opportunity to advance the prac-
tice of the peaceful settlement of dis
putes between nations and to secure for
The Hague tribunal memorable in
crease of it's practical Importance. The
were so numerous, and in many Instances
so powerful as to make it evident that
benefcent results would follow from
their appearance at the same time before
the bar of that august tribunal of peace
Our hopes in that regard have been real
lied Russia and Austria are represented
in the persons of the learned and distin-
guished jurists who compose the tribunal,
Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands.
Sweden and Norway, Mexico, the United
States and Venezuela are represented by
their respective agents and counsel. Such
an imposing cencourse of nations present
ing their arguments to and invoking the
decision Of that high court Of International
justice and international peace can hardly
fail to secure like submission of many
future controversies. The nations now ap-
pearing there will. find it far easier to ap-
pear there second time, while no nation
by following the example now presented.
This triumph of the principle of interna-
tionai arbitration is a subject of warm con-
graduation and offers a happy augury for
the peace of the world.
Relations with Turkey.
Early in July, having received intelli-
gence, which happily turned out to be
erroneous, Of the assassination Of our vice
consul at Beirut, 1 dispatched a small
might be found necessary on arrival AL
though the attempt on the life of our vice
consul had not been successful, yet the
outrage was symptomatic Of a state of
immediate attention. The arrival of the
vessels had the happiest result. A feeling
of security at once took the place of the
former alarm and disquiet: our officers
were cordially welcomed by the consular
body and the leading merchants, and or
government of the sultan gave consider
ate hearing to the representations .of our
minister; the official who was regarded as
responsible for the disturbed condition Of
the Turkish government remain friendly;
our claims founded on ineuuitable treat