The Washington times., 1904-01-11
CANADA MAY ANNEX
NEWFOUNDLAND ISLAND
Plans to Admit 1t Into Fed
GRAFTON.
INSURE FUTURE BOUNDARIES
Recent Adverse Decision in Alaskan
Case Stirs Dominion Officials
to Action.
INSURE FUTURE BOUNDARIES

| OTTAWA. Ontario. Jan. 1.-THE Can
au-an government is taking an import
ant step with a view to settle for ali
time the possibility OF ans internatior-aI
dispute between the United States and
Canada arising over territory in tho
eastern and northern boundaries Of the
dominion. This Is expected to be ac-
complished by the admission OF New
Ioundland into the Canadian confedera-
tion and the acquisition OF Greenland
Oy purchase This scheme Of territorial
expansion probably includes the French
islands OF St Pierre and MiqueIon.
NO official statement has yet been
made as to the scope OF the plan and
no announcement will likely be made
until negotiations have been suffcsentI,,
advanced. Should the present arrange
ments be successfully carried out how
ever. IL will give Great Britain com
mand Of this continent and its adjacent
islands from the 18th parallel north "a
me poie' with the single exception OF
Public Feeling Stirred.
Ihe recent decision OF the tribunal
on the Alaskan boundary has so stirred
pubic feeling in Canada that the pov-
eiuinent mas no other alternative b,,t
- lespono 10 popular opinion. ard is
no" making determined effort 70 s,,o-t
the possibility Of any future los ,,S
rltory which Canadians believe sho,,1..
Iorm part Of their domains. The ,S,s-
Patch OF an expedition last fan - -.
hudson Bay region to proclaim Fs~,.tst,
sovereignty over the vast inIand -.
,uo Islands to the north marked ,bo
ward step in this direction.
NS~Iounoland would have haoo~
p@i' VI Sanada ten years ago but for tba
Z ppsli ilohlous haggiing OF the Domirjo,,
soNein nment OF that time over tbe -
suInpuon OF the public debt of the is1s,,d
so'ony. The people OF that COLONY vve-e
men eager Tor confederation. bur Can
10 was iukewarm- Today the situation
= reversed The island Of Newfound-
: il,,.t ~ iias an area Of 1920 miles. but in
Acoitlon TO the island itself its eovern-
ment exercises control over a st-f.s>--s
territory OF the mainland of Canad. eoo
niles long with an area Of 10000 souara
niles. ~
Permanent Population.
Tnis mainland district has a nerna-
tent population OF only 1900 persons. bur
I possesses valuable fisheries and un-
United forests Of merchantabIe timber
mo mo Pu pWood, and also gives promise Of
'lcn mineral development The owner
nip OF this fringe OF the Labrador coast
~ newfoundland, as well as that
stands strategic position at the gate
Fay to Canada's great inland water
communication. makes it Of paramount
Importance that nc other than the Brit
sh nag should float over Newfoundland.
Greenland. Of course. is not regarded
'ith SO much soiicitude. but Canadians
\ general would approve the purchase
1 that territory rather than zaa - ro..
nto' the possession Of the United States.
'reenland's resources are as vet practi-
ally unknown and may be Of compare
Ively small value. but 1t is feared that
t some future period there might arise
lcmentous cues ions involving that
Ountry. as well as Hudson Bay and the
"a orador coast, and may occur at
me when these territories might ils
eveloping second Yukon in impor-
ince.