stefansson-wrangel-09-12-119-002

-2- week period mentioned by the [[King, William Lyon Mackenzie, 1874-1950|Prime Minister of Canada]] was from the first considered too short by the officers over here. Later I understood from the [[Great Britain. Colonial Office|Colonial Office]] that the decision depended almost exclusively on the [[Great Britain. Foreign Office|Foreign Office]]. I was informed that memoranda had been submitted by the [[Great Britain. Air Ministry|Air Ministry]] and [[Great Britain. Admiralty|Admiralty]] and was given to under- stand that these had been on the whole favourable. I had several conferences with [[Amery, L. S. (Leopold Stennett), 1873-1955|Amery]] and [[Hoare, Samuel|Hoare]] on the basis of an anticipated decision by the [[Great Britain. Foreign Office|Foreign Office]] but even- tually the [[Great Britain. Foreign Office|Foreign Office]] informed me that my general recommendations, and especially the specific ones about [[Wrangel Island (Russia)|Wrangell Island]], would be referred to the whole Cabinet for action. This caused further postponement, especially in view of the very difficult and absorbing questions (such as the [[Ruhr (Germany : Region)|Ruhr]]) which were then before the Cabinet. So far as I know Mr. [[Amery, L. S. (Leopold Stennett), 1873-1955|Amery]] and Sir [[Hoare, Samuel|Samuel Hoare]] were both strongly in favour of my recommendations. Their advice to me was to the effect that insisting on a quick decision was unfortunate tactics. We felt we were in the right and consequently that time would fight on our side. The longer the matter was considered, the more certain a correct decision. At this stage I became seriously embarrassed about the position of our men in [[Wrangel Island (Russia)|Wrangell Island]]. My best [[London (England)|London]] advice was that the longer decision could be post- poned the better. I then cabled [[Toronto (Ont.)|Toronto]] to see if it were possible to get help from the Government at [[Ottawa (Ont.)|Ottawa]] for the necessary supply ship that should sail from [[Nome (Alaska)|Nome, Alaska]], around August 1. As you know the reply from [[Ottawa (Ont.)|Ottawa]] was to the effect that they could do nothing until there was a favourable action on the part of the British authorities. Thus we were in a hopeless dilemma. We could get no help till action was taken and we could not press for action without lessening the chance of success in [[London (England)|London]]. Somewhat before this time [[Noice, Harold|Noice]] had started from [[Nome (Alaska)|Nome]], his expenses paid privately by [[Taylor, A. J. T. (Alfred James Towle), 1887-1945|A.J. Taylor]] of [[Toronto (Ont.)|Toronto]]. We wanted him in [[Nome (Alaska)|Nome]] so that he could take charge of such ship as we might charter for the [[Wrangel Island (Russia)|Wrangell Island]] work. Towards the end of July my special friends in [[London (England)|London]] became greatly worried about the safety of the men on [[Wrangel Island (Russia)|Wrangell Island]]. They wanted to make an appeal through the press but my best advisors were against that, fearing not only an unfavourable effect on public opinion in [[England]] but also increased excitement in Soviet [[Russia]]. The authorities of the [[Great Britain. Foreign Office|Foreign Office]] had concluded that the British claim to [[Wrangel Island (Russia)|Wrangell Island]] was far better than