stefansson-wrangel-09-15-001

Jan. 21.—(Special).—The statement that the United States proposes to send the airship Shenandoah to the Arctic regions with a view of annexing lands in that area to the United States, and the comment from London that this comes as a challenge to the action of Stefansson in hoisting the Union Jack over Wrangel Island, has excited considerable interest in Government circles here.

Correspondence has been going on between the British, Russian and United States Governments on the one hand, and the British and Canadian Governments on the other. Notwithstanding the fact that Stefansson hoisted the Canadian flag, the evidence presented to the British Government casts very decided doubts on the priority of Stefansson’s claim, and the attitude of the British Foreign Office at present appears to be to let sleeping dogs lie.

RUSSIA’S CLAIM.

A despatch in the Russian paper Isvestia, in which the effect of Stefansson’s action is pointed out, seems to have first aroused then Russian Government, and in communication from the Soviet Ambassador in London it is pointed out that the Russian navigator, Baron Wrangel, discovered and landed on the island in 1821, and there has been Russian occupancy at different times since that date. As far back as 1910 Russia fixed navigation marks on the island.

In 1916 the Russian Government send a circular note to the other Governments declaring sovereignty over the island. In 1918 a British publication, the Arctic Pilot, admits that the island was discovered by Russia. The Soviet Government advised the British Government that Russia “would not submit to this attempt of Canadian or Brittish Imperialism to seize territory belonging to others.”

Again last May the Russian Ambassador in London urged the British Government “to use its good offices with Canadian Govt. to put an end to these raids.” Last June the American charge d’affaires in London entered the controversy, asking what position the British Govt. meant to take in view of the fact that both Russia and the United States were interested. The New York World stated editorially last August that “the United States had a finger in the pie because it had a claim of priority of landing.”

Subsequent notes from Russia pointed out that in 1910 a Russian hydrographic Arctic expedition had made measurements around the is land and erected navigation pyramids for the guidance of ships.

Stefansson is still carrying on propaganda in support of his claim, and in a recent communication from New York refers to a conversation he had with an American admiral whom he names, in which the latter stated that “Stefansson’s action sealed possession of the island for Canada.”

In view of the present action of the United States Government, it would appear that a different view is held there as to Canada’s claims in the Arctic.

The British Government appears anxious to avoid the issue, as it has made no reply to the various notes [...]ceived and is understood to be hos[...] to Stefansson’s claims.