The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-03
Evidence and Argument Sub
mitted by United States
Before the Commission to Settle
the Alaskan Boundary.
BRITISH CLAIMS NEW.
Little Heard of Them Until
After Gold Discovery.
Cupidity Excited by the Rush
to the KlOndike.


Diary commissioners held their first
meeting today in the conference room
of the foreign office Prior to the formal
assembling, the commissioners met in
their private conference room and se-
lected Reginald Tower of the British
diplomatic service, formerly attached
to the legation at Washington and re-
Gently minister to Siam, to be secretary
of the commission. ]. r. Carter, Sec
ond secretary of the United States en-
bassy and Mr.. Pope, a representative
of the Canadian government were ap-
pointed assistant secretaries. Lord
Chief Justice Alverstone was subse-
quently chosen chairman of the COM
mission.
The conference room of the foreign
office where the commissioners met is
the choicest apartment in the British
public buildings. 1t is magnificent sa-
lon with Gothic ceiling and panelled
walls,and has been the scene of many
notable gatherings. t was used by the
late Lady Salisbury to receive the
guests after the late Salisbury's dinners
TO the diplomatic corps. At the end of
the room platform had been con-
structed and on it vas a lorg desk with
a blue covering. Behind this desk were
six comfortable chairs, which were oc-
cupied by the commissioners whose in
ternational reputatioIs emphasized the
Importance of the occasion EIihu
Root and Lord Alverstone sat in the
center. Separate tables were provided
for counsel. Canadian counsel were the
first to arrive in the chamber. They
were followed by John w. Foster, for
mer secretary of state and his assist
ants, who were accompanied by Am
bassador Choate. The commissioners
came in a few minutes later and inn
mediately began private conference.
which resulted in the selection of the
officers and at which they exchanged
credentials and took the oath required
by the treaty.
A few minutes after IL o'clock the
commission took their seats, Senator
Turner on the extreme right, then Prof.
Sir Louis Jette, foEmerly of the super
ior court of Quebec, lieutenant gov
ernor of the province of Quebec and
professor of civil law; Mr.. Root, Lord
Alverstone, Senator Lodge, A. 3. Atles-.
worth, who succeeded the late Justio
Armour of Canada on the commission;
Mr.. Foster and Clifford Sifton, Canad-
ian minister of the interior. The agents
of the respective governments sat at
desks on the extreme right and left of
the commission, while counsel and the
stenographers occupied desks facing the
Lord Alverstone, after formally an
nouncing that the commission was in
session, stating that he had been select
ed as president, an honor which ne
highly appreciated. asked counsel when
they desired to begin the oral argu-
ments.
Sir Robert B. Ffnlay, the attorney
general in behalf Of the British counSel,
suggested that at least two weeks
would be required for preparation. to
which Judge John NJ. Dickinson, rep
resenting the American counsel, assent
ed though he said the American con-
sui would be ready in week. LORD
Alverstone asked when the oral argu-
ments would be finished and Attorney
General Finlay suggested october ID,
but his lordship remarked that ne
thought a shorter period was advlsapie
and October was fixed upon
The commission decided to sit five
days per week. commencing September
Is. and excluding Saturdays, and TO De
in session from IL a. m. to D. m. ddiiy.
and granted permission for limited
number of representatives OF the press
to attend the sittings.
In order that the presentation of the
cases may be exhaustive 1t mas Deen
arranged that three of counsel for each
government shall make arguments, the
british opening and being followed al
ternately by Americans and British,tne
former securing the advantage et oe-
livering the closing argument.
The commission then removed the IN
i,,nction Of secrecy on all documents
hitherto exchanged, and the sitting was
adjourned. the commissioners, agents
and counsel proceeding 10 the quao
rangle where they were photographed.
The documents covering the American
presentation of the case are comprised
in three volumes, making totai OF
about 1. 100 pages In ADDITION tnsre are
also two volumes of maps. The largest
of the volumes OF text contains tlS
original statement by the American
commissioners, while one of the smaiier
volumes presents the American counter
case in rejoinder to the British case ana
the other argument of the American
commissioners.
In the first volume the question at is
sue. namely what is intended to be the
point of commencement of that line OF
demarkation between the United states
and Canada: what is the Portland chan-
mel what course the line should take to
the entrance of that channel; to what
point of the 56th parallel the line Snould
be drawn from the head OF Portland
channel, and other familiar questions are
discussed There also is extensive dis
cussion of the extent of the strip or
territory along the coast on the mann
land that Russia conveyed to the United
States by the treaty of 1867. 1t appears
from the documents that Great Britain,
comedies that the line begins at Cape
Muzon.
The United States contends that It
was the intention Of the powers which
signed the treaty of 1926 to confirm in
full sovereignty to Russia a continuous
strip or lisiere along the continental
shores of the northwest coast OF Amer
lea extending from Portland canal to
the 141st meridian of longitude west OF
Greenwich and that such strip was to
be 10 marine leagues measured from the
heads of all CULTS and other arms of the
sea- unless there was within that dis
tance range of mountains. The con-
tentior is further made that there is no
such mountain range. 1t also is urged