ALASKAN "PAN-HANDLE”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 March 1928, Page 11

ALASKAN "PAN-HANDLE”

f U.\ ALLANS await with interest any response that may be made in the United States to the suggestion put ioi ward in the legislature of British Columbia, that the Alaska “panhandle” should be acquired by Canada The suggestion took tne form of a resolution asking the Canadian Government to open negotiations with Washington for a. “readjustment” of the boundary, but it may be safely ed that Ottawa, will receive at least sympathetic consideration at Washington. Ais to that possibility Canadians have stronger wishes than hopes. The Alaska pan-liandle has been a bone of contention for more than 100 yeans, first in a triangular controversy between the United States, Russia and Britain, and, since America’s purchase of Alaska in 18S7' between the United States and Britain. Under the Dominion’s new status it is one of the subjects that may be properly discussed directly between Ottawa and Washington. The pan-handle consists of an irregular strip of coastline. (i(X) miles long stretching from Portland Canal on the south to Alaska prosier on the north: It includes a large number of and a strip of mainland which averages perhaps 30 miles in depth. It cuts off half of the province of British Columbia from its natural outlet to’the sea ; in other words, it comprises half of what might be described as Canada’s natural Pacific coastline. Canada’s , Yukon territory north ol British Columbia can only be reached, practically, through Skagway, the most northern port in the pan-handle. If the pan-handle itself contains mineral oi other resources, nothing is being done by Americans to develop them. In the whole 600-mile stretch there are only a few hundred American citizens, who, according to some testimony, would not be averse to transferring their allegiance to Canada, if it would result in their present neglect being replaced by active exploitation. Now that there is prospect of large development in Northern British Columbia, heavily timbered and mineralised, the handicap imposed by the panhandle becomes obvious. All shipments in oi- out have to. pass through American Customs, though, of course, bonding provisions prevail. Canadians can build neither railways nor mads to the

A CANADIAN GRIEVANCE

sea. And while there is some talk of an American railway enterprise little progress it* being made. , Tne pan-hamne, qt course, was not created by the Aiaslca boundary arbitration ot 19d6, tliougti its strategic-im-portance was considerably increased by that award. II Canada’s claim on'that occasion had prevailed ports at the heads of inlets would have fallen into Her territory and tne question of access would nave been largely solved. Canada s conviction that the 1903 award was made on political and not judicial grounds has never disappeared. Her own two. arbitrators, Jette and Aylesworth, .stood fast, but the British arbitrator, Lord Alvei stone, sided with the three American jurists. Recent re relations that the British arbitrator and Government were made acquainted with an ultimatum from Roosevelt that the United States “will not surrender” regardless oif what the judicial award might have bee.u have strengthened the feeling that the Dominion received unfair treatment. Some American residents of Alaska think that there could be an exchange of territory that would be mutually advantageous. Sir Hugh Denison, Australian Commissioner to the United States, who recently visited Alaska, was impressed by existing inequities and gave the initiative to the present movement when in a speech at Vancouver lie said : “It seems a pity that something could not be done to improve the present conditions, of affairs on, these northern coasts. I found Skagway, which is the natural port of entry for northern Canada, practically a. deserted village, with its port improvements falling to pieces and its houses empty. “As it is practically surrounded by Canadian territory, the United States Government apparently are not inclined to spend any money on its improvement or upkeep, while, as it belongs to another country, iiq Canadian company cares to spend anything, consequently it languishes. “I should like to see some endeavour made, either to have that port, with a strop of territory up to ..White Pass, internationalised, or, if this' does not commend itself to the United States, some effort- made by Canada to obtain a long lease of this short- strip of territory, so that the port might be put to its "proper use.”