NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE award of the Alasican Boundary Tribunal, issued on Wednesday, was signed by the Lord Chief Justice of England and the United States Commissioners, the Canadian Commissioners declining to sign. The Tribunal, by a majority, accepts the contentions of the United States in respect of the principal matters considered. It finds that the Treaty of 1825 intended to give to Russia a continuous strip of coast separating the British possessions from the waters of the inlets between the 56th parallel and the 141st meridian. On the other hand, the question of Portland Channel has been decided in the main in favour of Great Britain, and the Tribunal has disregarded the line long claimed by the 'United States, which was drawn at a distance of ten marine leagues from the heads of all the inlets. That is, if reference is made to a map showing the lines claimed by America and Canada respectively, the line of the a,ward is seen to run about half-way between them. The boundary line drawn by the majority of the Commissioners cuts off Canada from the waters of the inlets, but gives to the United States not more than half the territory claimed by her. In accepting the major part of Canada's claim in respect of the Portland Channel, the Tribunal confers on Canada Wales and Pearse Islands, hitherto in the possession of the United States. We have dealt with the main aspects of the case elsewhere, and the not unnatural disappointment of the Canadians, and will only say here that we are convinced that Lord Alverstone, though he must naturally have regretted being obliged to decide against Canada's claim, acted as a just and upright Judge must have acted. We may be certain that he only decided as he did because he believed that no other alternative was open to him as a man of honour and a con- scientious jurist.
