The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-09-02
THREE POWERS CLAIM t.
MORE ABOUT GOV. FREETH'S
FIND.
Clipperton Island and Its Rich De-
posits of Guano Much Sought After
-Freeth's Company in Possession.

Since Governor George ID. Freeth of
Honolulu returned to San Diego from
Clipperton Island in command of the
schooner Navarro, considerable con-
troversy has arisen over the owner
ship of the little guano island.
Governor Freeth represented the
Oceanic Phosphate Company, who are
now in possession of the island. j. T.
Arundel of London, representative of
the Pacific Island Company, pros
pective purchaser of the island, says
in an interview published in San
Francisco on the gath of last month:
81 have read with considerable in
terest the article regarding the claim
Of Captain Permlen Of Oakland, to the
ownership of the island, and some OF
the assertions contained therein were
revelation to me. If Captain Per-
mien is the rightful owner of the ISL
and, and if he was the instrument
through which the island became the
property of the United States, | am
not aware of the fact. He declares
that he raised the American flag over
the island few years ago and that it
has been flying ever stree. / only
know that l have never seen any
American flag floating over the rock
Even if he did raise the American flag,
! that does not constitute legal am
neXation of the island. There must
be a formal acceptance of the prop
erty by the Government, or the island
must be taken over through some
flag raising ceremony conducted by a
regular man of war So far as /
know there has never been any ac-
ceptance of the island by the Ameri-
can Government, and this is manifest
from the records offered by Captain
Permien in proof of his ownership.
81 have heard Captain Permien's
name mentioned repeatedly in con-
nection with Clipperton Island, but
just what his interest is in the prop
erty have not the slightest idea. My
negotiations are entirely with the
Oceanic Phosphate Company, of which
Governor Freeth is the representa-
tive. The people interested in the
company all seem to be men of wealth
and standing in the community, ana
since they are in actual possession Of
the island, that is sufficient for the
purpose OF our negotiations. If we
decide that the guano deposits are
worth anything and we wish to effect
enough to determine who are the
rightful owners of the property. We
are not worrying about matters that
do not concern us. If we decide TO
accept the offer of the Oceanic Phos-
phate Company, we shall expect the
company to give us a clear title. or
there will be no purchase. AS for the
nationality of the island, that is Il
ms tpr in inf ta1
"The guano deposits on Clipperton
Island are not by any means so rich
as they have been made out to be.
Captain Permien is quoted as saying
that Professor Shaw estimates the
guano deposits to be worth about
$50,OOO,OOO. 1t is difficult to harmon
ize that statement with some other
reports he has made in regard to the
Clipperton guano. I met Professor
Shaw in New York, and have since
had considerable correspondence with
him on the subject. He is Harvard
graduate and has carefully examined
and analysed the guano, and while
he believes there is considerable qua
no on the island, he declares in his
correspondence with me that there is
"A question in his mind whether it
would pay to transport it. / brought
some samples of the guano with me
from the island to my recent trip there
and they have been sent to England
to be analysed by English chemists.
On their report will largely depend
what action we shall take in regard TO
the purchase"
The photographic records in the
French Maritime Bureau contain
much information that may throw
some light on the nationality of Clip
perton Island. Captain Permien lays
claim to the island as a result of a
visit he made in 1881, and subsc-
quent trip in 1892, when he raised the
American flag on the highest pinnacf>
of the rock. 1t transpres that he was
not tie first discoverer of the island
by about two centuries. The history
of the island dates back to the seven
teenth century, when it was claimed
by right of discovery by France
France never pressed her claim, how
of the year 100, soon after the first
report of discovery by Captain Clip
perton was made to the British AID
miralty, Sir Edward Belcher took pos.
session of the island in the name OF
Great Britain. Since that time the
island has been repeatedly explored
by crews of merchant vessels.
Despite these facts, Governor Freetl
= and his company are in full possession
of the island.
NfTJJJnN. corn nOTTARC