During the past week the breakdown in the negotiations between
this country and Canada and the United States in regard to the Alaskan boundary and other outstanding ques- tions has been causing a great deal of public comment. It is very difficult to decide upon the merits of the case, but we fear that there is a tendency on the part of Canada to ask for more than she probably would ask for were she an independent Power, while America is too apt to take the line that Canada is hopelessly impracticable, and is always making difficulties which Great Britain, if left alone, would never raise. Our position between the two combatants is a very difficult one. Canada is part of the Empire, and one of the best parts, and we cannot let her suffer, even in the smallest degree, in order to make things easy with America, but, at the same time, we cannot support unreasonable demands. If, however, it is true that Canada desires to submit the whole Alaskan boundary dispute to arbitration, and that America refuses, then Canada, it appears to us, has right on her side. America's absolute insistence on arbitration in regard to the Venezuela boundary dispute, and our agree- ment to her demand, binds her in honour not to refuse arbitra- tion in the present case. That is a fact which we cannot believe will be ignored by the American people, who have never wavered in their support of arbitration.
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