Island, as is contended for in the United States Case.” then the line should be down from the southernmost point of Cape Muzon to the parallel 54° 4055 and along this parallel to the channel, until it strikes its center,
The line does not. as Great Britain claims, go north from the beginning, except so far as may be necessary to gain the latitude of 54 40", if it shall be determined from all that uppears that it was the intention that it should proceed alony that parallel. In this event it will go north from the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island only in obedience to this controlling intent and on account of the relative positions of the end of the ishind and the parallel, and not on aceount of the words “au Nord” in the text. They apply only to the direction of the line as it proceeds up Portland Channel to the 56°. ‘This is not only the fair gram- miution! construction, but it is demonstrated by the physical situa- tion. ‘The mouth of neither of the channels claimed ly the eon- testants to be Portliund Channel is so located in respect to the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island as to make it at all probable that the negotiators would have deserihed a line connect- ing them as proveeding “au Nord.” Both mouths are almost due east from the southernmost point of the island.
EIGHTH.
Fourth Question, “Zi what potat of the wifty-sieth parallel is the line to be drawn fram the head uf the Porlland Chewuiel. dnd wheat course should HM jollow hetween these points?”
ANSWER PROPOSED BY THE UNITED Sates:
The United States requests the Trifminal to answer and devide that the tine chould he drawn from the bead of Portlaud Channel northeasterly alone the same
course on which said line touches the mainland at the head of Porthint Channel until it iuterseets the 46th parnilel of north latitude.”
The linguage of the Treaty between Great Britain and Russia of February 16-28, 1825, has been given on page 3.
It ix questioned in the British Case whether * elle” in the words “of elle atteint le Sime deyré de lititude Nord.” refers to the line, the channel, or the main lend.
aU.s. C., 104 PUL CL. 104, eB, C., pp. 68-9,
