stefansson-wrangel-09-31-082r

THE DIFFICULTIES OF 1922 125

American amity, and certainly the last to do so would
have been the Wrangel Island party or myself. They
were destined never to know what the papers were saying.
But I have lived in the United States for thirty years and
I have yet to learn any characteristic of the American
people which would lead me to think that they would
consider it a grievance if the British Empire said to them,
“If there is a question between us as to the ownership of
territory, let us discuss it quietly and, if necessary, submit
it to impartial outside arbitration.”

A glance at one of the common multi-colored political
maps of the world suggests a good many interesting
reflections onof what would happen if there really were a
principle on in international law to the effect that contiguity
(or nearness) gives possession rights superior to those of
discovery, exploration and occupation. The case of the
Falkland Islands is typical. If nearness were the con-
trolling element, they should belong to Argentina; but
they do belong to the British Empire. They are British
through colonization, and the very reason they are im-
portant to the Empire is that they are far away from
England and that Argentina does not belong to Great
Britain. Their significance is somewhat lessened now by
the Suez and Panama Canals but, even so, they are im-
portant to the Empire as stepping stones on the way from
one possession to another or in their mere relation to
international sea-borne commerce. They are in time of
peace a part of the commercial sea power of the Empire.
We wanted Wrangel Island to remain British as a part of
her developing air power for dirigibles and planes to use
as schooners and cruisers have used the Falklands.

Certain editors and members of the Canadian Parlia-
ment had been arguing ever since my campaign for