stefansson-wrangel-09-14-172-001

C O P Y

Toronto, Ontario,
Bank of Hamilton Bldg.,
October 19, 1923.

V. Stefansson, Esq.,
c/o Harvard Club,
New York, N. Y.

Dear Stefansson:-

I have only reached my office afternoon, although
I returned to Toronto last night, consequently your telegrams have
not had prompt attention.

I have wired you, however, a few minutes ago in
reply to yours of the 18th, and if, after you have talked with Mr.
Pickering this evening, you still wish me to send him sort sort of
official notification as to the attitude we take in regard to
Knight's diary and the pictures, I shall be glad to do this.

We have certainly not authorized Noice to use
Knight’s diary. While he was here we suggested that he should dis-
cuss with Mr. Pickering a supplementary story and let us know what
Mr. Pickering felt this would be worth, my idea being that after we
had an offer from Mr. Pickering we could then decide whether or not
we would accept it, and that before accepting it, I would transmit
the offer to you.

I felt I could not take any other position in view
of the fact that you advised me by cable that you had sold the
Wrangel story in London and I also felt, and still feel, that you
are the one who should say what should be done with Knight's diary.

I have only seen a very few of the photographs which
Noice brought back with him, and until you have gone over these, cer-
tainly we would not authorize the publication of any of them.

I understand from Anderson that Noice has agreed to
turn the diary, photographs and letters over to you promptly, and I
hope he has done this.

The Crawfords are anxious to read Knight's diary,
and Knight has written and asked if he might have a copy of it.
In both cases I have told them that the matter had been referred to
you, and that we would certainly send Mr. Knight a copy of the diary
and I would endeavor to arrange an opportunity for the Crawfords to
read it.

******************

Yours sincerely.

(Signed) A. J. T. Taylor