Page:Alaskan boundary tribunal (IA alaskanboundaryt01unit).pdf/138

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128
ARGUMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

Hpow fo suspen operations for the present and wutil the question of territary eoukd be leviderLe

The report further said:

The stikine River intersects the international honndary, in the vieihity of the 47th degree of north tuditude. with so iuteivate o basis for deteriinine the tee line, it appeam ty the Committee that a satisfactory solution of the question can only he arriveat at by acetrately detining the point where the Ixaundary intersects the stikine River, and as settlements are likely to tnerease along the banks of that river, if -eenis to he obvinnely in the interests of bath countries that the true line shonkt Ie detined _ at this point withont further dehy. ¢

The Privy Council recited the boundary provisions of the ‘Treaty in the report, and then stated that The Stikine River interseets the international boundary in the vietnity of the 47th dewree of north lati- tude.” The summits of the mountains nearest the sea are not in the vicinity of where the 57th degree crosses the river, and could not have been regarded as the mountiins mennt ly the Treaty, for if they had, then no such crossing could have possibly been indicated,

A British trader by the mune of A. Choynette was, Sept. 1, 1576, notified by the United States authorities that he was within United States territory. and this, together with the Peter Martin case. led to a survey by the Canadian authorities for the purpose of determining the boundary line.

The order against Choquette was suspended pending the sarvey.

On Jan'y 1, IST7. Assistant Adjutant General Wood, in a letter to Gener Wownrd said:

Asa matter of fact, Chere is no well defined range af monntiins extending in dire tion paruilel te the eqast-

A roger, broken region extends Jack frotu salt water a vonsiderabile distance; the mientiin peaks viele seeming te stand in gronps or chisters; a confise | mass of hills of varving altitudes “from three thousand te ix thousand feet, the highest being, perbaps, in the vicinity of the puint marke! Grand Cation, in tatitude alyout a7? aN."

it wenkd appear that the Russian Government had caused a nonnient to be set upon the Stlekeen, marking a point ten marine leagues from the coast, and that this incriment! was, or is located sonmw one lanodred and thiety-dive (139) miles from the mouth of the river, in the vietnity of a potnt ralled Shakeryille.?

This letter enclosed one from Captain docelyn of Oct. 1, E876, in which he said:

Attention i= respeectinily invited to the map herewith enclosed,aud to the provi- sions of the treaty between the United States wud Russia provlaimed June 20, 1867,

8. C. C. App., 68. LLL ae s

l GC.

bULS. CL, App, 69. #(, 8, CoC) App. 7