Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-04
THE COMMISSION
10 Settle Alaskan Boundary
Meets in London.
Evidence and Arguments Expected to
Be Closed by Oct. IS.
Commission Organizes, Arranses Pro.
gram and Is Photographed.

London, Sept. 3.-The Alaskan bound
airy commissioners held their first meet
ing, Thursday morning, in the confer
ence rooms of the foreign office.
Prior to the formal assembling the
commissioners selected Reginald Tower
of the British diplomatic service, for
merly attached to the legation at
Washington and recently minister to
Siam, as secretary. j. r. Carter, sec
ond secretary of the United States en-
| bassy, and MIR. Pope, a representative
OF the Canadian government, were ap-
pointed assistant secretaries. Lord
Chief Justice Alverstone was chosen
chairman of the convention. 1t was an
| nounced that oral arguments would
commence, Sept. Is, and Lord Alver-
stone expressed the hope that they
would he finished by Oct. 9.
The conference room of the foreign
office, where the commissioners meet.
is the choicest apartment in the Brit
ish public building. At the end of the
room platform had been constructed
and on it was a long desk with a blue
covering. Behind this desk were six
comfortable chairs, which were occu-
pied by the commissioners, whose inter-
national regulations emphasized the
Importance of the occasion. Elihu Root
and Lord Alverstone sat in the center.
Separate tables We're provided for coun-
sci.
Canadian counsel were the first to ar
rive in the chamber. They were follow
ed by John w. Foster, former secretary
of state and his assistants, accompan-
led by Ambassador Choate. The COM
missioners came in a few moments lat
err and Immediately began a private
conference which resulted in the selec-
ton 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 Sir
Louis Jett formerly lieutenant govern
or of Quebec: Mr.. Root, Mr.. Aver
stone. Senator Lodge, A. B. Aylesworth,
Mr.. Foster and Clifford Sifton, Cana
dian 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 commissioners.
Lord Alverstone, after formally an
nouncing that the commission was in
session, asked counsel when they decid-
ed to begin the oral arguments. Sir
Robert b. Fnlay, the attorney gener-
al, in behalf of the British counsel,
suggested that at least two weeks
would be required for preparation, to
which John M. Dickinson, representing
the American counsel, assented, though,
he said, the American counsel would be
ready in u week. Lord Alverstone ask
ed when the oral arguments would be
finished Attorney General Finlay sug-
@asted Oct. Is, but his lordship remark
cd that a shorter period was advisable,
and Oct. was fixed upon.
The commission decided to sit five
days per week, commencing Sept Is.
/ and excluding Saturday, and they Will
be in session from II A. M. to 4P. M,
daily, and granted permission for a linn
tied number of representatives of the
press to attend the sittings.
In order that the presentation Of the
cases may be exhaustive it has been
arranged that three of the counsel for
each government shall make arguments
for the British opening, and being fol-
lowed alternately by Americans and
British. the former securing the advan-
tage of delivering the closing argument.
The commission removed the injunction
of secrecy on all documents hitherto
exchanged and the sitting was adjourn
ed. the commissioners, agents and
counsel proceeding to the quadrangle,
where they were photographed.
The documents covering the Ameri-
can presentation of the case are COM
prised in three volumes, making to-
tai of about 100 pages. In addition
there also are two volumes of maps.
The largest of the volumes Of text con-
tains the original statement by the
Continued on page 81