Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-09-16
g.
OUR ALASKAN BOUNDARY.

OUR ALASKAN BOUNDARY.
The controversy between the Brit
ish government and the United States
regarding the Alaskan boundary now
being considered by the high commits
sion in London involves a strip of ter
ritory equal in size to the combined
area of Connecticut, New Hampshire
and Massachusetts. The decision is,
therefore. of great Importance and the
points in controversy, not generally
understood, will be read with interest.
Frederick j. Haskin in the Seattle
acknowledgement writes as follows:
1t isn't the worth of the land itself
which has given rise to the contention,
but the strategic value of the location.
According to the present confines the
United States has the English possess
sions bottled up and shut off from
communication with the Pacific ocean.
Canada wants harbors on the Alaskan
coast SO she can reach her valuable
possessions in the interior without
being subjected to American custom
regulations. AS it is now there is no
way OF getting into the Klondike with
out traversing American soil. This is
admittedly very awkward for the Brit
lshers, but the way in which they pro-
pose to remedy the evil will hardly 20
through on it's merits.
Canada has a poor case. When the
United States government contemplat-
ed buying Alaska from Russia, both the
Russian and English maps were called
for and examined in order to deter
mine just what territory was to be in
cluded in the purchase. The mans of
the W countries were identical, be-
ing based upon a treaty which had
stood since 1925. The American gov
nme closed the deal with the rep
resentatives of the czar and took
possession of it's property. Great Bril-
tain knew all the particulars and
raised no objection to them. For fifty
years after the transaction there was
no complaint, but when gold was dis
covered in the interior Canada sud-
denly began to find fault with the
boundary, claiming that according to
the terms of the old treaty the line
should be carer the coast and include
several of the best salt water harbors
in English territory. The representa-
tives of John Bull said it was very
pain that they were entitled to a num-
Der OF these harbors. but in order to
be In keeping with the spirit Of COM
promise they would be satisfied with
one-the best one. That is one of the
British tricks: Claim everything,
meet the other fellow half way on his
own ground. and end by having a clear
gain of whatever he finally comedies.
The boundary from the southern
most point of the island called Prince
OF Wales island. which point lies in the
parallel OF 81 degrees 40 minutes north
latitude and between the one hundred
and thirty-first and one hundred and
thirty-third degrees of west longitude
(meridian of Greenwich). the said line
snail ascend to the north along the
channel called Portland channel as far
as the point OF the continent where it
strikes the fifty-sixth degree of north
iatltude; from this last mentioned
point the line of demarcation shall fol-
low the summit of the mountains stu
ated parallel to the coast as far as the
point OF intersection of the one hun
nred and forty first degree of west
longitude (Of the same meridian). and
from said point of intersection north.
etc.
Nv. With reference to the line OF
demarcation laid down in the preced-
ing article. it is understood:
FIRST. That tho leland oa1Iol ~
Prince of Wales island shall belong
wholly to Russia.
second, That wherever the summit
NJ the mountains shall extend in a
direction parallel to the coast from
me hfty-sixth degree of north latitude
70 the poirt Of intersection of the ono
n"ndred and forty first degree Of west
longitude. shall prove to be a distance
on more than ten marine leagues from
me ocean. the limit between the Brit
ism possessions and the line of coast
"h1cn is TO belong to Russia as above
mentioned shall he formed bv a line
parallel TO the windings (sinuosities)
OF me coast. and which shall never ex-
ceed the distance of ten marine
leaones therefrom."
Sir Wilfrid Laurier. premier of
Canada. stated in the Canadian parlia-
ment. in reply to p question relative TO
the Alaskan boundary:
according to our construction of
w intent Of tho treaty. the boundary
I'm" shnuld follow the crest of the
mountains nearest the coast, passing
"ver bavs and creeks and inlets. which
are territorial waters" The wording
vi n treaty c~ontradicts this fatty by
'Vfhe formed by a line parallel to
NV winnings (sinuosities) of the
.oas,' TO make the intention of the
treaty more certain. Count Nesse,rodo
the Russian prime minister who