The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-12
How the Alaskan Boundary Treaty
Paves the Way for Canadian
&: Reciprocity.
Eugene G. Hay, Now in Washing
ton, Much Pleased Over the
Outlook.
Effect of the Negotiations on Both
the Tariff and Reciprocity
Campaigns.
From The Journal Bureau, Room IS, Post Build
ing, Washington,

Ing, w aSAlu6 Iou'
Washington, Feb. 1.-THE ratification
of the Alaskan boundary treaty means
that the joint high commission will meet
in the spring and resume active opera
tions Senator Fairbanks is chairman Of
the American section of the commission,
and Sir MILFORD Laurier of the Canadian
section. 1t will be recalled that the COM
mission, at it's last meetings, several
years ago. was unable to agree regarding
settlement of the boundary, and dead
locking over that question, adjourned
without accomplishing any results. 1t IS
understood here that Senator Fairbanks
proposes very soon to open cOmmunuica-
ton with Sir Wilfred Laurier and to sug-
gest that the commission meet in the
spring to take up the question OF rec
iprocity and other matters in which both
countries have common interest.
It's Bearing on the Tariff.
The ratification of the Alaskan treaty
also means that congress will not make a
serious effort to pass either the Lodge OF
the Tawney resolution, providing for an
investigation of the maximum and MIMI
mum tariff. and other questions which go
to the heart Of reciprocity in general and
bear especially on reciprocity with Cuba
Mr.. Hay Is Pleased.
Eugene G. Hay of Minneapolis, who is
here in the interest of Canadian reciproci-
ty, told the Journal correspondent to-day
that he regarded the ratification of the
Alaskan treaty yesterday as long step
in the direction of reciprocity agree.
ment with Canada. He thought that if
the joint high commission met in the
spring it would find the most serious
stumbling block in the way of concerted
action would be removed. He was very
enthusiastic over the outlook and anX1-
Gus that Minnesota and the northwest
should appreciate the full force OF yes
terdaVS action bV the senate.
IT regard the ratification of the Alaskan
treaty as meaning very much for Mime
sofa and the northwest" said Mr. Hay
lone purpose of my present trip to Wash
ington was to see what could be done tc
bring this treaty to a favorable vote
confess that the outlook for some days
was not promising, on account OF the
blockade in the senate over the statehood
bill. I feared nothing could be accomp-
piished as to Alaska. Imagine my sur
prise and qualification therefore, when the
senate was able late yesterday afternoon
to bring the treaty up and secure its rat1-
fcation. The whole question Of reciproc-
-ity with Canada now, practically for the
first time in years, begins to assume a ia
vorab1e character. Should the joint high
commission meet this spring. as think
it may, it will find the way open to a
= ia ir and unprecedented discussion OF reel
procity in it's several phases, and in my
judgment IL lIldy NC dUlC " iCoSl OIL
agreement which will take concrete form
. in a treaty to be presented next winter tC
the senate
The Alaskan treaty. as stated in these
dispatches recently. will enable Great
Britain to concede the American boundary
demands without bringing down the
, head of the British foreign office in Lon
don the fierce denunciaton Of Englishmer
and Canadians. Great Britain has beer
convinced for some time that the Amer
lean demands were just and would event
ualy have to be acceded to. but she want:
the treaty because she will be able tt
shield herself behind it, and ward off criti
cism at home.
This Is Easy.
1T is discovered that the text of the
laskan treaty is based on the text of the
boundary proposition submitted by the
American m embers of the joint high com
mission to the Canadian members at the
last session Of the commission in Canada
and by them rejected. Great Britain
knows this fact and is prepared to accep
the findings of the commission to b.
named under the treaty without a wore
OF protest. The treaty commission will
have no authority to fxe the boundary
lines. 1t will simply construe the Ian
guage of the treaty in an abstract man
,er. That construction, however, will
make necessary the acceptance of TIN
American position, and give us all tina
we have claimed officially since tn
boundary dispute originated years ago
The American members of the joint higl
commission are:
= Senator Fairbanks, chairman; Charles J
Faulkner. Chairman Payne Of the hous
ways and means committee, Former Sec
rotary of State John w. Foster John A
Easson. the reciprocity expert, and 7
Jefferson Coolidge. ..
Effect on Reciprocity.
With reviving Of official interest il
Canadian reciprocity. reciprocity as
whole will undergo revival and it is en-
, tirely possible that the next session o
congress may not have before it any ques
ton in which the country will have NOR
determined interest.
Meanwhile. the Northwestern Reciproc
ity organization is in on the ground floor
and has paved the way to the taking Q
some important part in the settlement Q
the question. 1t is very likely that tn
data Mr.. Hay Is now collecting In Wash
ington, and other data which is nor
easily to be had nearer home. will be c
considerable use when the thigh jointers
again get to work.
w. W. Jermane.
mat nm IMAM MIN YYNy