New-York tribune., 1910-05-23
LAST DISPUTE WITH
CANADA REMOVED
Boundary Treaty Signed by
Secretary Knox and
Mr.. Bryce.
NOT WORTH ARBITRATION
Lines in Passamaquoddy Bay
and Grand Manan Channel De-
limited-Convention May
Go to Senate To-day.
rFrou7 The Tribune Bureau I

OF State and the British Ambassador
signed yesterday a treaty deliriting the
boundary between the United States
and Canada. running from point in
Passamaquoddy Bay. between Treat
Island and F'riar Head. and extending
through the bay to the middle OF Grand
Manan Channel The treaty. II is ex-
pected, will be submitted TO the Senate
Tomorrow for approval
This action. subject to the approval CT
the Senate, settles the one remaining
boundary question between the United
States and Canada. or New Brunswick,
to be more exact The exact location
of this boundary had been in dispute
ever since 17S3. In that year the great
er portion OF the boundary was delirn-
tied, but no agreement could be reached
regarding the line at this point Soon
thereafter a joint COMMITTEES was Gre
ated and charged with the duty OF reach
ing an agreement on the line, but failed
of its purpose
In the comparatively recent general
boundary treaty IL was provided that II
no agreement could be reached on tina
period the question should be submitted
TO arbitration. Secretary Knox and Ar
bassador Bryce concluded. however. that
the point at issue was not OF sufficient
Importance to warrant the expense and
trouble OF an appeal to arbitration and
accordingly undertook negotiations which
have been concluded TO their common
satisfaction, compromise having been
reached which is expected TO meet ths
approval of all concerned
The present era Of good feeling, follow
ing the recent tariff agreement, was
deemed particularly auspicious for this
settlement of the one remaining point ar
issue between the United States and
Canada
Final Chapter in Negotiations.
The signing of this convention com.
pIetes a chapter of diplomatic relations
with Great Britain which reflects the
highest credit on both the British and
the American diplomats who have
la bored so assiduously and successfully
to remove the last possible occasion OF
friction between the United States and
more particularly between this country
and the Dominion Of Canada
The completion Of the pecuniary
claims treaty with Great Britain. first
announced in The Tribune OF May t.
provided the means of disposing by
arbitraI methods Of the last bone Of con-
tention between Great Britain and GER
tain Of her colonies. notably Australia
AS has been told in The Tribune. that
convention was recently submitted to
the Foreign Office by Mr.. Bryce after a
complete agreement had been reached
between Secretary Knox and the ambas-
sadOr. and the ambassador is now only
awaiting authority from London whers
the draft Of the convention has already
arrived, formally to afix his signature to
the copy which is retained in Washing
ton.
The principal boundary waters treaty,
which not only deIimited the water boun-
diaries between the United States and
Canada but provided for an equitable
disposition OF the water 20 be withdrawn
for power purposes, and was negotiated
by Secretary Root, was ratified IN tn.
closing hours Of the last Congrcss-o1
the morning OF March 4 1909 to bs
exact-but before giving its approval ths
Senate, as will be recalled. added an
amendment in the form OF an appended
resolution which was insisted on by SEN
ator Smith. Of Michigan, which was de-
signed to provide for the proper dis
tribution Of the waters OF the St Mary
River, and which occasioned such oppo-
sition at Ottawa that it demanded the
exercise Of the most skilfuI diplomacy on
the part OF Mr. Knox to induce the Ca
nadians to accept ii. With the hearty
cooperation Of Mr.. Bryce the powers ar
Ottawa were finally persuaded TO give
their approval. and. having already been
ratified by the Senate. the convention be-
came a part of the supreme law OF the
land.
Work Of the Boundary Convention
The boundary waters convention fol-
lowed a more general boundary treaty.
which provided for q commission to
mark clearly and permanently the boun-
daries entirely across the continent.
That work IS now being performed. and
only the short line through Passams-
quoddy Bay and Grand Manan Channel
remained the subject OF contention. The
final deIimitation Os this line is accom-
plished by means OF the convention
signed yesterday. and as far as il is pos
sibIe TO foresee the last occasion for a
boundary dispute with Canada has been
dispelled.
Pursuant TO the negotiations conducted
by the American Ambassador 70 Great
Britain and the Foreign Office. the con-
tentiOns which have menaced the peace
ful relations between America and New
foundland fishermen ever since 1912 ara
10 be settled this summer by arbitraI
proceedings at The Hague. so that every
thing augers well for the most peaceful
relations between the United States and
it's neighbor TO the north.
This country. as is known. has award
ed it's minimum tariff rates TO Canada.
and within the last ten days Mr. Bryce
has been requested TO take up with the
authorities at Ottawa some plan of ne
gotiations looking To closer trade rela-
tions with the Dominion
The eminently successful diplomatic
relations which have characterized the
tenure OF Messrs- Root and Knox as
Secretaries OF State and OF Mr.. Bryce
as Ambassador from Great Britain augur