Page:Alaskan boundary tribunal (IA alaskanboundaryt01unit).pdf/67

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ARGUMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
57

The subject of the discourse is ‘la ligne,” and unquestionably “elle” grammuatienlly refers to it,

The provision is that ‘de ce dernier point” the line shall follow the crest of the mountains. TL was a pliysical impossibility for Port- land Channel to reach the erest of the mountings,

The negotiutions show very clearly that it was the line that was to proceed along Portland Canalo and that it was the Tine that was to reneh the J6th deyree north latitude. In the amended proposal made by Sir Charles Bagot. he says:

As it bas been ayrewd to recounize as basis of nevotiation the mutnal conveniences of both countries, it iz to he noted, in answer to the proposal offered Iyy the Russian Plenipotentiaries, that a dividing fine, starting from the southermmast extremity of the Prince of Wales’ Islan] aml extending to the mouth of the Portland Channel, thenee, by the middle of thie channel antil it reaches the mainhind, thenee to the mountains bordering the coast, etc.

He makes it plain that the line wis to continoe, frou the point where the channel reached the mainkind to the mountains bordering the voast.

The language used by Mr. G. Canning in the draft convention pre- pared by him has in the second article the following:

Along the channel called Portlaml Channel, ull it strikes the coast of the conti-

nent [ying in the Hith degree of north latitude, From this point it -hall be carrie! along that coast, ete.”

That is to say. the line from the point where it strikes this degree shall he carried along the summit of the mountains.

In Article three of the contre-projet, submitted by Stratford Canning, it is provided, that:

The sai line shall asvend to the north (Prince of Wales [sland helonginyg entireby to Russia} along the passage called Portland Channel until it tonehes the cestet of the mainline at the fifty-sixth degree of north latitule. From the point at which the line of demarcation tonches the tifty-sixth degree. it lau] follow, ete:

The draft in Freneh submitted by Stratford Cunning. Art. 2, contiined this langiive:

La dite ligne remontera ant Nord (I'Isle Prince of Wales appartenant en entier ila Russie) le long de la Passe dite Mortlend Cheteord, jusqu'd ce quielle touche fi la Cote de terre ferme au Mine deaged de Latitude Nord, depuis ce poiut- el, of fa tigne de (Gimuareation tonche pu Sime deer, elle snivea fa crete, etes

KR, Cydpp., 7: COS. App, 159, 1 Se ApS S18: OU.8. C. App., 183: B.C. App, 87. AU. S.C. App. 212,