54° 40′, through Dixon Entrance until it intersects the center of Portland Channel, at its opening into Dixon Entrance, Fixing the latitude of 54 40° as the boundary was a dominant idea in the negotiations. The boundary was to be carried below 54- 40° on Prinee of Wales Island, only for the purpose of wiving all of that island to Russia. and it would be in harmony with the pliin iment which the parties had in view by this departure, to accomplish this particular purpose, and then carry out the yeueral intent of the ‘Treaty. by running the line along the pundlel 54 40',
The language of the treaty is:
A partir do Point le plus meéridional de (Tle dite Prince of Wales, lequel Point se trouve sous la parallMle du S4me deagré 4) minutes de latitude Nord, et entre le 3tme et T35me degré de longitade Onest (Méridien de Greenwich), la dite ligne remontera au Nerd le long de la passe dite Portland Channel,
It further provides: (jue Pe dite Prince of Wales appartiendra tonte entiére a it Russie. }
This would seen: to indicate that in the description the pandlel was regurded as the veal point of departure. and so to wourd against the result that. Prince of Wales Island might be divided. the express provision was inserted so that, notwithstanding the designation of the parallel. the whole of the iskind should belong to Russia. This shows the significance given hy them to the parallel aud the teees- sity they felt for adding the special provision to guard aguiust the possible effects of running the line from the commencement alony that parallel This view is reinforced when taken in connection with the discussion of the question as to what channel was meant by Pordand Channel, in which tt was endeavored to show that the parallel 54- 40°. as it was considered and treated by the negotiators. is demonstrative of what they meant by Porthind Chunnel.
Ditferent lines are proposed by the United States and by Great Britain, but the difference arises out of the controversy as to what constitutes the entrance to Portkud Channel.
Tf the Tribunal shall agree upon an answer to the second «ques- tion, then from the positions assimed Inv hoth parties in respeet to the third question, the answer to that question invelyes no dilli- culty. Tf it be decided that Portlaml Channel is the hody of water Which enters Dixon Entrance between Wales Island and Coniptou
_ lg _
- 0, 8, C, App., 3. OU, S.C. App. 4.
