Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-12
TREATY SIGNED
For Settlement OF Differ
ences OF U. S. and Canada
Secretary Root and kmbassa-
dor Bryce Sign Document
which Provides for DISPOSITION Of
Matters In Dispute.

Washington, Jan. 11.-After long,
ard, patient work. which onssome fea-
lures ran into years, Secretary of
state Root and Ambassador JaEes
i'ryce OF Great Britain signed treaty
t.nght for the settlement of interna-
t.onal differences between the United
!tates and Canada. The signatures
were attached to the instrument at the
it1uc of Secretary Root at o'clock.
This is the agreement which has
hoen popularity alluded to as the "Wa-
trrways. treaty. but its scope is
roadtr than. that designation implies,
rcau.e it contemplates a disposition
IF everything in the nature of differ
,nces between the two countries, and
machinery for questions which may
arise along certain lines in the future.
Provision is made for a Joint high
commission to be made permanent in
rharacter.
The final draft and printing OF the
treaty was not hished until late to-
Cay, almost at the last moment, a
whole page having to be reprinted be-
ause of Il slight alteration in the
text.
Dependent upon the final ratification
o1> the treaty by the United States and
Great Britain rests the settlement of
numerous complex questions connected
with the water boundaries along the
l,orthern border which have Leen the
source of more or less friction at diff
tcrent times. Included in these are
regulations as to the use of the water
cf the Great Lakes. with the secondary,
ut none the less important question
Of the diversion of the waters of these
boundaries, including Niagara falls
''hich involve the amount of water to
O taken out for power purposes; the
navigation of the ST. John river be-
tween Maine and New Brunswick and
the use of the Milk river in the North
west.
| TO some extent the operations of the
treaty viii supersede the work Of the
| International Waterways Commission
| made up of representatives of tns
| United States and Canada whose duty
| includes, among other things the ascer
lairmcnt ana re-establi shment of thai
rortion of the international boundary
etWecn the United States and Can
ada, passing through the Great Lakes
system. Tie feature of it's work, how
| ever. Will be continued by the Water
| ways Commission until it IS completed
its other functions gradually bCins
| absorbed by the joint high colnm,s
son. to be appointed in accordanc,
with the treaty signed tonight.
Although no official statement is OBJ
tainable tonight, it is the understand
ing that the contracting powers hav,
| agreed upon a certain lire of principles
| which are to guide the commission il
IS work, leaving to them the interpre
| atom of those principles as applicable
| to the questions that may require set
! clement Immediately and from thos
| that arise from time to time. Th
takes from the joint high commission
| any functions of a treaty making BODY
and confines its duties simply to tia
of determining to what extent tn
| principles already laid down shall b.
;rnliablc to any particular case.
The treaty is regarded as one o
great Importance and the hope Is OK
| Dressed that its effective operation vii
! result in permanently putting an enc
| to the differences between the Tnitet
| states and its neishbor on the North
| The state department officials breathe.
| 1 sigh Of relief when they announced
| today that the instrument had passet
| Ill it's preliminary stages and wa!
| ready for signature.