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could acquit myself much more creditably if I had the opportunity such as you
offer. My father. Prof. J. T. Crawford, is quite in accord with my ideas.
If you are disposed to consider me, we might arrange an interview either in
New York or wherever would be convenient to you.

Yours very sincerely,

(Signed) Allan R. Crawford.

My correspondence with the various applicants from the different
universities gradually led me to the opinion that Allan Crawford was the most
promising. He was eager for a decision and so was I, but we could not get
definite action from the Government. Once we thought we had it, for we received
the following letter from the Prime Minister:

Prime Minister's Office

Canada

Ottawa, Ontario,

February the 19th, 1921.

Dear Mr. Stefansson:

I have discussed the matters which you laid before me to-day
and desire to advise you that this Government purposes to assert the right
of Canada to Wrangel Island, based upon the discoveries and explorations of
your expedition.

I believe this is all that is necessary for your purposes now.

Faithfully yours,

(Signed) Arthur Meighen.

This letter made Mr. Harkin and the rest of us happy for a day.
But a day was all, for we received notice that, while the Government had not
exactly reversed their decision to hold Wrangell Island, they had placed
the matter again under discussion, asking us to do nothing further until we heard
from them a second time. We never did hear favorably except as already indicated when
the Government informed us in general terms that, while the proposed expeditions
would not be authorized in 1921, they were likely to be authorized in 1922.

But the future was dark with uncertainties of a new sort. Mr.