Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-07

Ordinary oeyelopment OF INNING nteIostS
In the region about the head OF Lynn Canai
brought about temporary modus viveno1. py
which q convenient separation was made at
the watershed divides Of the White and
wan. on the Klehini River. These partial
and tentative adjustments could not, In the
very nature Of things. be satisfactory or
lasting. A permanent disposition OF the
matter became imperative.
Alaska Boundary Tribunal.
After unavailing attempts to reach an
understanding through Joint High Com
mission. followed by prolonged negotiations.
conducted in an amicable spirit, a conven-
ton between the United States and Great
Britain was signed. January "a. 1909. pro-
viding for an examination Of the subject by
mixed tribunal Of six members, three on
a side. with a view to its final disposition.
Notifications were exchanged on March 3
last. whereupon the two Governments APP
pointed their respective members. Those on
behalf of the United States were Elihu
Root Secretary Of War: Henry Cabot
Lodge. Senator of the United States. and
George Turner. an ex-senator Of the United
States. while Great Britain named the
Right I4onourable Lord Alverstone. Lord
Chief J,Nsice Of England; Sir Louis Anabie
Jette, x. c. M. G.. retired judge Of the
SupremE Court of Quebec, and A. B. Ayles-
worth, X. c., of Toronto.
This Tribunal met in London on Sep'e
Der 3, under the Presidency Of Lord Alver-
stone. The proceedings were expeditions,
and marked by friendly and conscientious
spirit. The respective cases. counter cases,
and arguments presented the issues clearly
and fully. On the goth of October major
fty of the Tribunal reached and signed an
agreement on all the questions submitted by
the terms of the Convention.
BY this award the right OF tho United
States to the control of continuous strip
or border of the mainland shore, skirting
an the tlde-water inlets and slEuositias of
the coast. is confirmed: the entrance to
portland Canal concerning which 1egiti-
mate doubt appeared Is defined as passing
by Tongass Inlet and to the northwestward
or Wales and Pearse islands: line is
drawn from the head of Portland Canal to
the hrty-sixth degree Of north latitude; and
the interior border line of the strip is fixed
py lines connecting certain mountain sum-
mits lying between Portland Canal and
Mount ST. Elias. and running aIong the
crest of the divide separating the coast
slope from the inland watershed at the
only part Of the frontier where the drain
age ridge approaches the coast within the
Instance or ten marine leagues stipulated by
the treaty as the extreme width Of the strip
around the heads Of Lynn Canal and It's
branches.
While the line so traced follows tae pro-
visional demarca ton Of 1873 at the crossing
or the Stikine River. and that of 1899 at
the submits Of the White and Chilkoot
passes. 1t runs much farther inland from
the kiehini than the temporary line Of the
later modus vfvendi. and leaves the entire
mining district of the Porcupine River and
Glacier Creek within the jurisdiction of the
United States.
The Result Satisfactory.
The result is satisfactory in every way,
1t is Of great material advantage to our
people in the far northwest. 1t has re-
moved from the field OF discussion and pos
sible danger question liable to become
more acutely accumulated with each pass
Ing year. Finally. 1t has furnished a sig
nal proof Of the fairness and good will
with which two friendly nations can ap-
proach and determine issues involving ma
tional sovereignty and by their nature
incapable of submission to a third power
for adjudication.
The award is self-executfng on the vital
points. 70 make 1t effective as regards the
others 1t only remains for the two gov
ernments to appoint, each ON its own be-
nam. one or more scientific experts who
snah, with all convenient speed, proceed to-
gether TO lay down the boundary line in
accordance with the decision of the ma
1orlty OF the Tribunal. l recommend that
the Congress make adequate provision for
the appointment, compensation and ex-
penses OF the members to serve on this
Joint boundary commission on the part OF
the United States.
Claims Against Venezuela.
1t will be remembered that during the
second session of the last Congress Great
Britain, Germany and Italy formed an al
lance for the purpose Of blockading the
ports OF Venezuela and using such other
means OF pressure would secure a set
Element of claims due, as they alleged to
certain of their subjects. Their empioy-
ment Of force for the collection of these
claims was terminated by an agreement
brought about through the offices of the
Diplomatic representatives of the United
States at Caracas and the Government at
Washington. thereby ending a situation
which was bound to cause increasing fric-
ton, and which jeoparded the peace of the
continent.
Under this agreement Venezuela agreed to
set apart certain percentage of the Gus
toms receipts Of two of her ports to be ap-
piled to the payment of whatever obIiRa-
tons might be ascertained by mixed corn
missions appointed for that purpose to be
due from her, not only to the three powers
already mentioned. whose procee iings
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 not EN-
ployed force for the collection of the CLAIMS
alleged to be due to certain of their citi-
zenS.
Submitted to Hague Tribunal.
A demand was then made by the so-calIed
blockading powers that the sums ascertain
ed to be due to their citizens by such mixed
commissions should be accorded payment In
full before anything was paid upon the
CLAIMS OF any of the so-called peace powers,
Venezuela, on the other hand, insisted that
all her creditors should be paid upon a
basis of exact equality. During the efforts
to adjust this dispute 1t was suggested by
the powers in interest that 1t should be re-
ferred to me for decision, but was clearly
Of the opinion that far wiser course would
be to submit the question to the Permanent
Court of Arbitration at The Hague 1t
seemed to me to offer an admirable oppor-
tunity to advance the practice of the peace
full settlement of disputes between nations
and to secure for The Hague Tribunal a
increase OF its practical impor-
lance. The nations interested in the con-
were so numerous and in many in
stances so powerful to make it evident
that beneficent 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 re-
allied Russia and Austria are represented
in the persons of the learned and distin-
guished jurists who compose the Tribunal,
while Great Britain, Germany, France
Spain. Italy. Belgium. the Netherlands,
Sweden and Norway, Mexico. the United
States and Venezuela are represented by
their respective agents and counsel Such