Page:Alaskan boundary tribunal (IA alaskanboundaryt01unit).pdf/68

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58
ARGUMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

This linetiawe was altered by Matuseyich to read aus follows:

La dite ligne remontra au Nord le long de la Passe, dite Portland Channel, jusiya'a Pendroit of cette passe se termine dans lintérieur de la terre ferme au ‘Give dog’ de Latitude Nonl—lepuis ce dernier point la lizne de démarcation suivia la eréte, ete.

It will be noted that he substituted “passe” for “ligne.” In the tinal draft, however, it will be noted that in this respect the lan- guage followed ore closely the draft of Mr. Canning, — [t is quite apparent that it was supposed that the channel reached to about the fifty-sixth degree.

The line is to run ‘tau Nord.” that is, nortlowardly along Port- land Channel, and to continue northwardly to that point on the land where it reaches the fifty-sixth decree.

It is to ron “tan Nord,” not only “le long de la passe dite Port- land Channel.” but northwardly to the point where the line touches the fifty-sixth degree. The words “tau Nord,” qualify the entire distance along the channel and to the fifty-sixth degree, and not merely the length of Portland Channel. The line shall ran north- wardly until it reaches the said devree,

As will be shown under the discussion of the Fifth Question, the treaty was made with reference to certain maps, and to a chain of mounttios which was depicted on them. It was admitted by the negotiators that there was ereat uncertainty as to the maetual location of these mountains. The summit of the mountains ts represented on Vuncouver’s chart seven, as existing in this vicinity in about latitude 4a 50". and on his general chart in latitude about 56° 10". Stapleton sity:

The tine . . . was . . . to asec! to the north along Portland Chan- nel as fe as the point of the continent where it would strike the MiP of north latitude, ete."

The Russian map of L802, shows the mountains approximately at the sume point, ax Vancouver's Chart Seven,”

Faden’s map shows the totuntains to be abort 50-07"

If it shall be made clear that the negotiitors contracted, with reference to a chain of mountains supposed to be near the head of Porthind Channel. and near the 56th degree at its newest approach

  1. U S.C) App., 218: * Britivh Athis, No. 4,

“Memorandum by Dall, Us, C.C. App., Lob,