stefansson-wrangel-09-37-050

-49-

believe that the Soviet government regarded unfavorably
the sailing of the Noice expedition; that it addressed a
note to the British government on the question, and that
it received the reply hinted at in the newspapers. And,
from the British reply to this note, stating that the
Noice expedition was of a private character, an argument
may be inferred, it seems, in favor of the declaration of
1916.

If that declaration exists, then, without adverting
to the sufficiency of the occupation by the Crawford ex-
pedition - it seems doubtful that five men could effective-
ly occupy an island as large as Jamaica, within a hundred
miles of the Russian mainland, which was hostile to their
object - and without discussingthe claims based on dis-
covery, the right of Russia in the territory is clear.
For, if the declaration claimed the island. Great Britain
it seems ought to be denied the opportunity of claiming
any rights by discovery or occupation, whether prior or
subsequent, since she did not at the time contest or
deny the claim. That Russia has abandoned the island
cannot be argued. Her protests against the Noice exped-
ition, and her note to the British government on the
subject, show that she vigorously asserts her claim to
the Island, to the extent of taking measures for its
protection.

If, however, the declaration of 1916 does not exist.