Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-30
HOW We GOT ISLANDS
VancOuver's Narrative Basis
of Alaskan Decision.
HAVE LITTLE VALUE
COMMISSIONERS TURNER BACK
FROM LONDON.
Senator Lodge Also Back, but Declines
to Make Any State
ment.
HAVE LITTLE VALUE

NEW YORK, October 30.-On account Of
his official connection with the Alaskan
tribunal, Senator Lodge of Massachusetts
declined to discuss the award of the tri-
bunal on his arrival here today by the
steamer Cedric.
Senator Lodge said the members of the
tribunal had been very handsomely treated
while in London, but as one Of the arbitra-
tors, he could not even venture to say that
he was satisfied with the award. and de-
clined to say anything about the attitude
of the Canadian commissioners In refusing
to sign the award.
Joseph Pope representative Of the Cana
dian government, and one of the assistant
secretaries Of the tribunal, who was also on
the Cedric. said that the award was Of
course disappointment from the Canadian
point of view. but offered no further COM
ment. appearing anxious. however. to as
certain how the decision had been received
in Canada.
Based on Vancouver's Story.
Former Senator Turner Of Washington,
another American member Of the tribunal
was not willing to discuss how the agree
ment came to be reached, but he admitted
that the decision giving two of the islands
in the Portland canal to the United States
was based on Vancouver's narrative of his
on whether he had called the water to the
south of the islands the channel or whether
he had gone to the north of them. 1t was
found that he recorded having gone from
the entrance to a point of land above the
islands in certain time. To do this 1T was
figured that he entered the broad channel
followed it up and turned in between the
four islands.
This led the commissioners to decide that
the two islands lying near the mouth of
n ann nSif nrt
longed to the United States. Mr. Turner
while he was not willing to discuss in de
tail the subject, admitted that this was
true.
Islands Have Strategic Value.
Speaking of these two islands, he said:
They are of very little value to us, except
from strategical standpoint / believe
that the new transcontinental railroad which
is to be built north of the Canadian Pacific
will have Port Simpson for it's Pacific ter
mnal. This makes the islands of impor-
tance to Canada
Touching report that the Canadians
charged that Lord Alverstone had been
practically won over by kindness, the ex-
senator said he did not think such a thing
could be. IF anything" he added 1.-THE
hospitality and kindness was on Lord Al
Verstone'S side. He was hospitable to all
commissioners, and entertained us at his
country place. The question to be settled
was one OF flSht under the International
law, and Lord Alverstone, who is an emf
nent jurist, settled the case on its merits"
Mr.. Turner regarded it as fortunate that
the commission was able to agree, and he
considered 1t a step forward in the settle
ment of all future disputes
LONDON, October 30-Charman Mac
rae at meeting today Of the stockholders
Of the White Pass and Yukon railroad al
luded to the Alaska boundary award. He
said that while he regretted the decision,
which placed twenty miles Of their rail-
road under the Jurisdiction of the American
flag, 1t was in reality more a matter of
sentiment than business. The reciprocal
bonding arrangements between Canada and
the United States would continue. Both
countries would suffer equally and enor-
mously by a disturbance of the arrange
ments. and IT was more in harmony with
the enlightened spirit Of civilization to eX-
tend than to curtail them.
Mr. Macrae further declared that the sug-
gestions for all Canadian all American
roads to the Yukon were Impossible Of
realization for a long time TO Come.