Page:Alaskan boundary tribunal (IA alaskanboundaryt01unit).pdf/119

 “tothe east the chain of mountains whieh follows at a yery short distance the sinuosities of the coast.”

Here, then, is a still more necurate desigmuition of the mountains had in view, It had already been indicated that the line running up Portlhind Channel was to be curried on up to the mountins which were meant. Here is a frrther specitication. It was a “chain of mountains which follows at a very short distance the sinuosities of the const.”

This chain was to be the boundary on the east. Could anyone propose a general southern boundary with a fixed termination. and then describe from that point a veneral castern boundary, tixed by a chain of mountains as a natural monument, and expect that in druwing the eastern boundary the line would run almost west to reach distant mountains instead of starting north along the nearest mountains for such eastern boundary. and this, too, with nothing to show that such a remarkable method was to be pursued?

How mueh less is such a hypothesis to be accepted when it is shown that. whether it actually existed or not, the mountains referred to had for the negotiators and to their minds a location on an eastern line, beginning approximately at the point which had been fixed us the ter- mination of the southern line. The inquiry is whether or not they could have meant the mountains now claimed by Great Britain as the line. It can be shown that they did not mean them, if it be shown that they meant other mountains situated ina different place and with characteristics essentially different, so far as their relation to the main. and accepted theory of the treaty, was concerned. Tf they contracted With reference to mountains, supposed to exist at a certain locality. and if they attributed to these ideal mountains characteristics which were essential. sid controlline considerations in their selection, then if on inqniry they do not exist, other mountains totally different in these respects ean not be substituted for them, Lf these other monn- tains are loeated far from the vicinity where the ideal mountains were supposed to exist, if they are not such mountains as were contem- plated. if they bring about a result in contliet with that sought to be uttaived, by an agreement made with reference to the ideal mountains, then upon what principle of reason or justice enn it be claimed that they should be so substituted ¢

Uf the line, to reach them must run, a great many miles from where