stefansson-wrangel-09-37-020

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protect the rights of the said discoverer or discoverers or
their assigns, as aforesaid.”

Under the provisions of this statute Peter Duncan claimed
to discover a deposit of guano on an island in the Carribean,
not within the lawful jurisdiction of any other government, and
not occupied by the citizens of any other government. The
island, which was called Navasa, was about 45 miles from the
coast of St. Domingo, and about 70 from the coast of Jamaica.
Having taken possession of the island, he prayed that the is-
land might be considered and declared as appertal ning to the
United States, under the statute.

Later the assignee of Duncan wrote to the Secretary of
State, asserting that the Emperor Soulouque claimed that the
island was a dependency of San Domingo, that it had become
part of Haytien territory, and that he understood that the
Emperor was preparing an expedition against the island. The
government of Hayti later sent two ships of war to the island,
and prevented Cooper’s vessels from approaching, even to land
provisions for those on the island. Cooper then wrote to the
President, asking that an American warship be sent to protect
his interests. In a letter from the Secretary of State to
the Secretary of the Navy it is said: ’’The President being of
opinion that any claim of the Haytien government to prevait
citizens of the United States from removing guano from the
island of Navasa is unfounded,....directs that you will cause
a competent force to repair to the island, and will order the
officer in command thereof to protect citizens of the United