Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-09
ALASKAN BOUNDARY
WORK OF THE ARBITRATION COM
MISSION DISCUSSED.
Lecture by Former Secretary Of State
Foster Before Columbian Uni
versity Students.

1.-THE Alaskan Boundary Arbitration" was
the subject of lecture delivered yester-
day afternoon before the department Of
jurisprudence and diplomacy of Columbian
University by Gen. John w. Foster. former
Secretary of State and lately special agent
Of the United States before the Alaskan
boundary commission, which met and con-
cluded it's business in London during the
past summer. On the stage were members
of the diplomatic corps, Of the Supreme
Court. representatives of the local bar and
government officials. The audience was
large and of distinguished character.
Mr.. Foster began his remarks with the
statement that the commission was an
unique body, in that 1t was not an arbitra-
ton tribunal in the usual acceptation, there
being neither umpire nor neutral judge, al
though It's mission was to settle an eX-
tremely irritating and dangerous contrO-
versy between the government of the United
States and that of Canada. Three persons
composed its membership on the part Of
each government, and since majority Of
the commission was necessary to effect a
decision, 1t followed that at least one men,
Der must vote against his own government.
When membership of the commission was
first suggested, he said, it was maintained
by many that such a condition would result
in nothing, since decision could never be
effected. Others contended that the ques-
lions were OF SuCn d CHARACTER lNdt lair
minded men could not help reaching an
opinion one way or the other, and that the
nationality of the member would not affect
his vote on the questions before him. The
result proved the latter contention to be
correct.
History Of the Dispute.
The history Of the several disputes over
the boundary between the United States
and Canada was reviewed by the speaker,
who also repeated the various questions
that came before the commission in Lon
dom Referring to the personnel Of the body
he said:
TT has been disclosed, since the dissolu-
ton of the commission, that the Canadian
government has complained to the British
colonial office that the members nominated
by the President of the United States were
not such as were contemplated by the
treaty, impartial jurists of large reputation,
home government of sufficient strength to
warrant it's being brought to the attention
of the President of the United States.
Whatever appropriateness there may
have been in the objections urged by Can
ada, the sequel showed that the selection of
the President was entirely fitting. 1t would
be difficult to name three men in the United
States with greater experience in and
knowledge Of public affairs, with better
trained minds for the work they have to
do, and who possessed in a greater degree
the confidence of their eOuntrymen. 1T will
doubtless be gratifying to you to state that
they acquitted themselves In their delicate
positions with entire credit to their country,
without word of criticism Of their conduct,
so far as am aware In either official
social circles of the British capital, and,