Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 126, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1903 — DECIBJS IN OUR JFAYOE [ARTICLE]

DECIBJS IN OUR JFAYOE

UNITED STATES* CLAIMB IN ALASKA ALLOWED. International Tribunal in London Gives to Canada Only Portland Canal and Outlet to Pacific Ocean—Other American Contentions All Confirmed. American ownership of the entire Alaska “panhandle,” which at times since 18G7 lias caused serious friction between the L nited States and Canada, is recognized by the Alaskan boundary commission, which reached its decision Saturday. By a majority of one, Lord Alverstoiie, chief justice of England, casting the deciding vote, the commission confirms tlie United States in its title.to all the land and every avater way and inlet it claimed except the Portland Canal, which Canada gets as its only outlet to the sea. America Vastly Enriched. This triumph for America, means, in brief, that Great Britain admits the right of the United States to about 20,700 square miles of territory, instead of a small fraction thereof, and continued control of the many important bays and inlets throughout the 60 miles of seacoast. It means besides American supremacy in the northerp Pacific and American possession of much valuable mineral land that Canada has claimed for ye'ars. Portland Canal is at the southernmost end of this strip of and the American boundary line is merely shifted

from the southern to the northern side of the channel. A Canadian factory and a small settlement of Canadians are at its head, and the American commissioners, seeing that Lord Alverstono was disposed to grant the justice of their contentions on every other point, agreed to allow Canada to have it. The agreement was arrived at only after deliberations extending over a week. All this time the chance seemed to be that the commissioners would reach no definite judgment and that the deadlock of the joint high commission which met in Quebec and Washington in 1898 and 1899 would be repeated. When the first vote was taken Saturday, however, the uncertainty was removed, for Lord Alverstone said he had made up his mind that the American contentions were just, except as to the Portland Canal. After luncheon the American commissioners agreed to cede tlii6 point, and the controversy was settled. Canada Mach Disappointed. While Canada will be much disappointed; the opinion is widely held in official and diplomatic circles that the decision will help to cement Anglo-Amer-ican friendship. The .Canadian claims did not find a great number of active supporters in London; in fact, only a languid interest was felt in the proceedings. The first days were dull and the trial of the case in the foreijfti office in Downing street ■was attended by few outside of the persons concerned and the wives of the American commissioners and counsel. Not until toward the close, when Attorney Jacob M. Dickinson, of Chicago, made liis eloquent and forceful appepj, did the British commissioners rouse themselves from their semi-lethargy. Lord Alverstone on that occasion complimented Mr. Dickinson on his argument. Gold Hastens Claim. Canada’s claims were strongly combated by the American counsel, who brought out the fact that these claims were not made seriously until late in the ’7os, when gold was discovered in the disputed territory; in fact, most of the evidence agninst Canada was from the utterances of prominent Canadians and Englishmen. From the time tlie AngloRussian treaty of 1825 until long after Alaska’s transfer to the United States in 1867, official Canada did not contest the boundary lines laid down by Russia. John W. Foster, former Secretary of State, managed the case for the United States, while the Canadian side was under the leadership of Hon. Clifford Sifton, Canadian Minister of the Interior. D. T. Watson, of Pittsburg, and Hannis Taylor, of Mobile, were the other American attorneys. There was the best of feeling between the commissioners and counsel, which was heightened by a dinner given by the Pilgrim Club, which they all nttended, Thursday. Toasts were drunk, one to President Roosevelt and King Edward jointly, and to Britons and Americans of promineuce, while British cabinet ministers ~and other prominent representatives of English public life, including Lord Roberts, responded to toasts expressing amity and cordial good will.*