stefansson-wrangel-09-32-050v

304 THE ADVENTURE OF WRANGEL ISLAND

BELIEVE BRITAIN STILL HAS
FIRST CLAIM UPON WRANGEL

Occupation by Allan Crawford Regarded as Bestowing Rights
of Sovereignty for Period of Five Years—Don’t
Anticipate Political Claim by States

By Henry Somerville

London, June 18.—The report that Vilhjalmur Stefansson has
sold his interests in Wrangel Island to an American citizen who will
finance an expedition to that district this summer, has aroused no
interest in England. The sovereignty is not affected, as the British
claim rests upon the fact of the occupation by Allan Crawford.
The claim arising from the occupation holds good for five years.

An American citizen can, of course, hold private property rights
in the British island. . . .

(Toronto, Ontario, Star, June 18, 1924.)

********

STATES NOT ADVANCING CLAIM TO WRANGEL

Taking No Steps to Establish Sovereignty in Arctic
Till Next Summer

Washington, June 19.—While no official confirmation has been
received here of reports that the Canadian explorer, Vilhjalmur
Stefansson, has sold his interest in Wrangel Island to Carl Lomen,
a United States citizen resident in Nome, Alaska, it was stated here
that no effort will be made by the United States to attempt to assert
sovereignty in the Arctic.

The American government has taken no step to establish any
rights in the Arctic and will take none, until the navy department
attempts to explore the polar region next summer with the navy’s
monster dirigible Shenandoah.

(Toronto, Ontario, Star, June 19,1924.)

********