[Inclosure 1.] Mr. Choate to Lord Lansdowne. AMERICAN EMBASSY, London, March 19, 1903. MY LORD: I have the honor to inclose herewith copies (2) of the President's proclamation of the convention between the United States and Great Britain for the settlement of questions between the two countries with respect to the boundary line between Alaska and the British possessions in North America, signed at Washington January 24, 1903, and to inform your lordship that the President has appointed the Hon. Elihu Root, Secretary of War of the United States, the Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge, the Senator for Massachusetts, the Hon. George Turner, ex-Senator of the State of Washington, as American members of the tribunal provided for in the convention. I have the honor to be, etc., JOSEPH H. CHOATE. [Inclosure 2.] Lord Lansdowne ta Mr Choate. FOREIGN OFFICE, March 28, 1903. YOUR EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency's note of the 19th instant, inclosing copies of the President's proclamation of the convention between the United States and Great Britain for the settlement of questions with respect to the boundary line between Alaska and the British possessions in North America, signed at Washington on the 24th of January last. Your excellency at the same time informed me that the President has appointed the Hon. Elihu Root, Secretary of State for War, the Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge, and the Hon. George Turner as American members of the tribunal provided for in the convention. I have the honor to be, etc., LANSDOWNE. Sir M. II. Herbert to Mr. Loomis, BRITISH EMBASSY, Washington, March 13, 1903. DEAR MR. LOOMIS: In accordance with a request made to me by the Secretary of State on the 5th instant, I telegraphed to the Marquis of Lansdowne, suggesting that, in order to save trouble and the waste of time involved by two journeys across the Atlantic, the purpose of the second article of the Alaska convention might be considered as complied with by the appointment, on each side, of the commissioners and the presentation of the respective cases, and even of the counter cases, without an actual meeting in London. I have now received a telegram from his lordship in reply, in which he states that there may be some difficulty in preparing the cases, evidence, etc., within the period of two months after the exchange of ratifications for which provision is made in article 2 of the convention. I am accordingly directed to inquire whether the United States Government will agree to extend the period, either by an exchange of notes, or, if necessary, by a supplementary convention, until the 31st of May, or, better still, until June 30? When the date is fixed, an arrangement could be made for the simultaneous exchange of all the documents without a formal meeting of the tribunal in London. The members of the tribunal might later on themselves arrange the date of meeting after the counter cases and arguments have been presented. Believe me, dear Mr. Loomis, yours, very truly, MICHAEL H. HERBERT. Mr. Loomis to Sir M. H. Herbert. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 14, 1903. YOUR EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of March 13, respecting certain suggestions for carrying out the purposes of the second article of the Alaska convention. In reply permit me to say that the matter is now under consideration, and it is hoped that a definite answer may be given you in a few days. Believe me, your excellency, very truly, yours, Acting Secretary of State. No. 59.] Sir M. II. Herbert to Mr. Loomis. BRITISH EMBASSY, Washington, March 19, 1903. SIR: In accordance with instructions which I have received from the Marquis of Lansdowne, I have the honor to inform you that the lord chief justice of England, His Honor Sir Louis Aimable Jetté, K.C.M.G., retired judge of the supreme court of Quebec, and the Hon. John Douglas Armour, judge of the supreme court of Canada, have been selected as the British members of the Alaska boundary tribunal. I have the honor to be, with highest consideration, sir, MICHAEL H. HERBERT. Sir M. II. Herbert to Mr. Hay. BRITISH EMBASSY, Washington, March 23, 1903. DEAR MR. SECRETARY: With reference to our conversation of the day before yesterday, I hasten to inform you that, in view of the inconvenience which would be caused to the American commissioners by any postponement of the delivery of the cases to the Alaska tribunal, His Majesty's Government do not desire to press the proposal for an extension of time. The British case will be ready for delivery in London on May 3, in accordance with the stipulation of Article II of the convention. I am, dear Mr. Secretary, yours, very truly, MICHAEL H. HERBERT. Mr. Hay to Sir M. H. Herbert. [Personal.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 24, 1903. MY DEAR MR. AMBASSADOR: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your personal note of the 23d instant, stating that His Majesty's Government will not press for an extension of time for the delivery of the cases to the Alaska tribunal, and that the British cases will be ready for delivery in London on May 3 next, in accordance with the stipulation of Article II of the convention. I take it for granted that it will be regarded as a compliance with the stipulations of the convention if our case is presented on the same day to the American members of the tribunal in Washington, and to your embassy for transmittal to London. I am, my dear Sir Michael, very sincerely, yours, JOHN HAY. Sir M. II. Herbert to Mr. Hay. [Personal.] BRITISH EMBASSY, Washington, March 25, 1903. DEAR MR. SECRETARY: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your personal note of yesterday's date, in which you state that you take it for granted that it will be regarded as a compliance with the stipulations of the Alaska convention if the United States cases are presented on the same day to the American members of the tribunal in Washington and to this embassy for transmission to London. In reply, I beg to inform you that in my opinion you are correct in your assumption, but I have forwarded a copy of your note to the Marquis of Landsdowne. I am, dear Mr. Secretary, yours, very truly, MICHAEL H. HERBERT. Sir M. H. Herbert to Mr. Hay. WASHINGTON, April 16, 1903. SIR: On the 5th March last you suggested to me verbally that, in order to save trouble and the waste of time involved by two journeys across the Atlantic, the purpose of the second article of the Alaska convention, signed on the 24th January last, might be considered as complied with by the appointment on each side of the commissioners, and the presentation of the respective cases and even of the counter cases, without an actual meeting in London. I have the honor to inform you that the Marquis of Lansdowne agrees to your suggestion, and proposes the following arrangements FR 1903-32 shall be considered as fulfilling the provisions contained in the second paragraph of Article II of the convention. The delivery on May 2 (May 3, the correct date, falling on a Sunday) of the British case at the United States embassy in London for the American members of the tribunal and the American agent. The delivery on May 2 of the American case at the British embassy in Washington for the British members of the tribunal and the British agent. Lord Lansdowne further suggests that the members of the tribunal might, later on, themselves arrange the date of meeting after the presentation of the counter cases and printed arguments. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, MICHAEL H. HERBERT. No. 110.] Mr. Hay to Sir M. H. Herbert. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, April 17, 1903. EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note No. 86 of the 16th instant, by which you inform me that the Marquis of Lansdowne agrees to the suggestion which I made to you verbally on March 5 last, that, in order to save trouble and the waste of time involved by two journeys across the Atlantic, the purpose of the second article of the Alaska convention of January 24, 1903, might be considered as complied with by the appointment on each side of the commissioners, and the presentation of the respective cases, and even of the counter cases, without an actual meeting in London. His lordship proposes that the following arrangements shall be considered as fulfilling the provisions contained in the second paragraph of Article II of the convention. The delivery on May 2 (May 3, the correct date, falling on Sunday) of the British case at the United States embassy in London for the American members of the tribunal and the American agent. The delivery on May 2 of the American case at the British embassy in Washington for the British members of the tribunal and the British agent. This Government understands these arrangements to be now accepted on both parts, and will in accordance therewith deliver, on the 2d of May next, the American case at the British embassy at Washington for the British members of the tribunal and the British agent. Note is taken of Lord Lansdowne's further suggestion that the members of the tribunal might, later on, themselves arrange the date of meeting after the presentation of the counter cases and printed arguments. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, your excellency's most obedient servant, JOHN HAY. Mr. Hay to Mr. Choate. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I inclose for your information copies of notes exchanged with the British ambassador here concerning the delivery of the respective cases of the two Governments under the second article of the Alaska convention of January 24, 1903. In accordance with the arrangement set out in the notes, you are authorized to receive on May 2 the British case for the American members of the tribunal and the American agent. By agreement of both parties the cases are to be delivered here and in London to-morrow, so as to catch Saturday's steamer. No. 117.] Mr. Hay to Sir M. II. Herbert. HAY. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 1, 1903. EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to transmit herewith a letter of this date from Mr. John W. Foster, agent of the United States before the Alaskan Boundary Tribunal, addressed to the Hon. Clifford Sifton, British agent, accompanied by twenty copies of the printed case of the United States, delivery of which is made to you in accordance with an agreement, and as a compliance with Article II of the treaty signed by us on January 24 last. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, your excellency's most obedient servant, JOHN HAY. [Inclosure.] Mr. Foster to Mr. Sifton. MAY 1, 1903. SIR: In accordance with the terms of the treaty of January 24, 1903, between the United States and Great Britain, and of the agreement between the two Governments, I transmit herewith, through the British embassy in Washington, copies in duplicate of the printed case of the United States before the Alaskan Boundary Tribunal for the British agent and the British members of the tribunal, and twelve additional copies for the use of yourself and British counsel. I have the honor to be, with high respect, your obedient servant, JOHN W. FOSTER, Agent of the United States before the Alaskan Boundary Tribunal. |