stefansson-wrangel-09-12-119-005

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amounts to about £1,500. It is of course my intention to
repay this to Mr. Brewer eventually, if neither the
British nor Canadian Government does. However, that is
not a "bankable proposition" since I have no money now and
am already heavily in debt.

This takes the story down to a point where you know
perhaps more about it than I do. The Soviet threats are
certainly not to be take seriously from the legal point of
view. However, if it takes our Government too long to
make up its mind, the Soviet may take actual possession -
a thing they would certainly not do if our enterprise had
the backing of the Government now. That action of the
Soviets would not change the strictly legal aspect of the
case but it would put a deal of tension into the situation
and make it undeniably serious.

I sent, either through the Toronto or the New York
office, all my cables to Noice and since his to me came
through the two offices I have no doubt that you are in
possession of the full correspondence. I told him in sub-
stance that the Soviet threats were ridiculous since they
had nothing legal to stand on. I advised him, however,
to shape the course of the Donaldson north along the
Alaska coast to Point Hope and then direct for Wrangell
Island so as to avoid contact with Russian territory or
with Russian ships in territorial waters. I told him it
is our plan to continue the work in the island and that
either he or someone else should remain in charge next
winter, but that if no-one can remain the houses and other
things are to be left in the best possible condition for
re-occupation next spring, there being no thought of dis-
continuance of our work.

The Wrangell Island enterprise has been in a curious
dilemma this summer. In Ottawa I was told in substance
that if the British Government were only willing, the
Canadians would probably also be favourable. Over here I
was told that while the probability of the future value of
Wrangell Island seemed reasonable and while the occupation
of the island should therefore be of future advantage to
the Empire, the British Government could not very well act
because of the lukewarmness of the Canadian authorities,
whom they did not want to offend nor commit to any policy.
The logical thing was then postponement for the Imperial
Conference, but we are prevented from getting the public
support which would be so easily forthcoming if it were not
for the suspicion in the public mind that there must be
something wrong since neither government wants to act.
Those who are familiar with the growth of the Empire know