stefansson-wrangel-09-15-095-004

Suggestions as to What Might be Done
About Wrangell Island.

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With regard to the ownership of Wrangell Island, either
the Canadian Government or the British Government should announce
that on the basis of discovery by Captain Kellett of the Royal
Navy in 1849, and on the basis of exploration and occupation at
various subsequent times and the raising of the Canadian flag by
order of the Canadian Government on my expedition of 1913-1918
and without such orders in 1921, the Empire of Canada have
acquired rights in Wrangell Island upon which they desire to stand
but which they are perfectly ready to submit to an international
court, to the League of Nations, or to a separate board of arbitra-
tion in case other nations (the United States or Russia) consider
that they have claims to the island.

With regard to recompense in money to those concerned
in the Wrangell Island Expedition begun in 1921 and still going
on, through a comittee or otherwise the Government of Canada
might investigate whether the men who put money into the Wrangell
Island enterprise and the men who died there were actuated mainly
by motives of public spirit. If the finding should be affirmative,
the Government of Canada, or the Government of Great Britain on a
recommendation from Canada, might act upon the proposal which I
have more than once made to the Government of Canada - that the
money actually put in by people still living, by Sir Edmund Walker
and by the men who died on Wrangell Island, should be returned
either without interest or with bank interest from the time the
money was actually put in. There should also be returned the
2,250 pounds sterling loaned by Mr. Griffith Brewer, 33 Chancery
Lane, London, for the voyage of the ship Donaldson which brought
back the news of the tragedy. From this would be deducted the
money actually contributed towards the Wrangell Island relief
through public subscriptions in England the summer of 1923. I
think this amount was a little over 1,200 pounds. The exact
amounts involved could be ascertained by having expert accountants
examine the books and records of the company.

With regard to the future, no expenditure on the part
of the Government is necessary (as I have frequently point out)
if they will give to some commercial company a lease of theisland.
The company would then become responsible for the continued
occupation, which in turn would insure the continuation of British
rights.

There are on the island now twelve Eskimo employed by