stefansson-wrangel-09-08-017-001

Stef Arctic Explor & Devel
Co.

May 3, 1922.

Dear Taylor:

Your letter of April 26th came too late. I spent
just one day in Ottawa, and during that time I did not have an
opportunity of looking up Dr. King because I spent so much time
getting interviews with the Prime Minister, the Minister of the
Interior, and Mr. Crerar. I had to wait around a good deal for
the two ministers, which is natural for they are distracted with
all sorts of cares during the session. I always have plenty of
opportunity to see Mr. Crerar. Most of my ideas have his whole-
hearted support, which I take to be pretty valuable in Ottawa now.

So far as I know, I shall be in New York from the
20th of May till about the 3rd of June. Accordingly, I have good
hope of seeing you. I think we should make a point of getting
together because important plans may develop out of present condi-
tions.

As to paying customs duties at Wrangel Island, you
and I are in complete agreement. The customs minister, Mr. Bureau,
said at a meeting of part of the Cabinet yesterday that he did not
think it necessary for us to pay duty so as to make a showing of
our rights to the island, in view of the fact that the Department
of the Interior intends to lease us the island.

Both the Prime Minister and the Minister of the
Interior asked me what I expected in a financial way with regard
to our Wrangel Island enterprise. I said we would prefer to have
returned to us without interest the money actually spent on the
Wrangel Island expedition. As a second choice I would like them
to give our company a lease on Wrangel Island which would enable
us to develop its resources ourselves or else to sub-lease so as
to get our money back. They both seemed to prefer that method and
Mr. Stewart asked me to speak to the Deputy Minister, Mr. W. W. Cory.
Mr. Cory turned the matter over to Mr. O. S. Finnie, Commissioner
of the Northwest Territories, and Mr. Craig in Mr. Finnie's office.
I do not know Mr. Craig’s present official status in the Department
but he is one of those most in touch with northern developments.

We discussed the terms upon which the lease should