Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Olney.

Sir: On the 6th of September last the Acting Secretary of State addressed a note to Viscount Gough, Her Majesty’s chargé d’affaires, on the subject of the proposals which had been made to the United States Government by Her Majesty’s Government for a partial delimitation of the frontier between Alaska and Canada along the one hundred and forty-first western meridian. Her Majesty’s Government had proposed that the United States Government should take part in a joint survey; or, in the alternative, should recognize provisionally the results of a survey actually in progress by a well-known Canadian surveyor, Mr. William Ogilvie. Mr. Adee inquired whether the proposed survey could not be delayed until Congress had “had an opportunity to act upon the alternative proposition for a joint survey, and to make the proper appropriation therefor.” This suggestion was at once communicated by Lord Gough to the Canadian Government, and I have now received a dispatch from the Governor-General, in which his excellency transmits to me copy of an approved minute of the Canadian privy council, which I have the honor to inclose herewith. In that minute it is represented that it would not be possible to communicate with Mr. Ogilvie before next summer, when a considerable portion of the one hundred and forty-first meridian should already be marked on the ground.

In view of this fact, and of the delay that must necessarily ensue before a joint survey can be begun, it is suggested that the United States Government might consent to recognize Mr. Ogilvie’s demarkation for the present.

I have, etc.,

Julian Pauncefote.
[Inclosure.]

Extract from a report of the committee of the honorable the privy council, approved by his excellency on the 23d January, 1896.

The committee of the privy council have had tinder consideration a dispatch, hereto attached, dated 12th September, 1895, from Her Majesty’s chargé d’affaires at Washington, representing that the Acting Secretary of State of the United States has inquired whether the survey of the boundary between Alaska and the adjoining territories of Canada, now being made by Mr. William Ogilvie, under the authority of the order in council of the 1st June, 1895, could not be delayed until Congress has had an opportunity at its next session, to act upon the alternative proposition for a joint survey, and to make the proper appropriation therefor.

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The minister of the interior, to whom the matter was referred, reports that when the dispatch from Her Majesty’s embassy was received, the season was too far advanced to communicate with Mr. Ogilvie, and that instructions to delay his survey would not reach him before next summer, when a considerable portion of the one hundred and forty-first meridian should he marked on the ground.

The minister, in view of this circumstance, and of the fact that if Congress were to act upon the alternative proposition for a joint survey, such a survey could not possibly be commenced before the fall of 1896, and probably not before the spring of 1897, suggests that perhaps the Government of the United States may consent to recognize for the present Mr. Ogilvie’s demarcation of the one hundred and forty-first meridian, until such time as a joint survey can be made—the Government of Canada being ready to join in such a survey whenever the Government of the United States is in a position to act in the matter.

The minister further states that from information received from General Duffield, superintendent of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, it appears that the difference between the United States surveyors and Mr. Ogilvie is only 600 feet at the crossing of the Yukon River, and 6 feet at Forty-Mile Creek; so that the proposed arrangement does not involve any considerable extent of doubtful territory, so far as can be ascertained from the information available. The Dominion Government desire only to be in a position to maintain law and order in this distant territory, and will favorably consider any proposal from the Government of the United States.

The committee advise that your excellency be moved to forward a certified copy of the minute to Her Majesty’s ambassador to the United States with a view to ascertaining whether these suggestions are acceptable to the Government of the United States.

All of which is respectfully submitted for your excellency’s approval.

John J. McGee,
Clerk of the Privy Council.
[Subinclosure.]

Lord Gough to the Earl of Aberdeen.

No. 67.]

My Lord: With reference to your excellency’s dispatch No. 30 of the 22d June, on the subject of a suggested cooperation of the United States Government in determining a portion of the treaty boundary line between Canada and Alaska, I have the honor to inform your excellency that on the 20th ultimo I addressed a note to the United States Government in the terms of the privy council minute approved by your excellency on the 1st of June, and that I have now received a reply, of which a copy is inclosed, inquiring whether the proposed survey could not be delayed until Congress meets.

I have the honor to call your excellency’s attention to the concluding paragraph of the note of the Acting Secretary of State, undertaking, if the survey can be so delayed, to bring the matter to the attention of Congress upon the assembling of that body.

I have, etc.,

Gough.