New-York tribune., 1906-07-22
TITLE TO ARCTIC LANps.

The voyage of the Canadian government
cruiser Arctic 10 the Far North suggests for
consideration the question of the ownership OF
some far northern lands. For many years ex-
plorers Of various nationalities British, Ameri-
can, Scandinavian and Others have ventured
into the frozen wilderness lying between the
Dominion of Canada and the North Pole,
and have there discovered lands hitherto un-
known, and have named them and planted flags
upon them. There has been much international
rivalry in the work of celebrating the Arctic
map and of pushing on toward the Pole. But
there has been little thought in the minds of
the adventures or in that of the public of
the delimitation of international boundaries in
the realms Of paleocrystic ice and eternal snow.
But now the Canadian government brings that
thought to mind in the intimation that the
Dominion extends clear to the North Pole. and
that all the lands which have been discovered
and explored in those regions, no matter by
whom, are under the British flag.
Academically, the question is somewhat COM
plicated. and might form the subject Of inter
minable argument There are those who hold
that discovery and exploration give title to
new lands while others insist that title is not
perfected without actual occupation and per-
manent settlement But how If the lands in
question are not fit for or susceptible of settle
ment? There is no doubt that Americans have
discovered and explored for the first time con-
siderable stretches of Arctic territory. The
names on the map indicate the fact-Grant
Land, Grinnen Land Arthur Land, United
States Mountains Hayes Peninsula, Hazen
Land, Hall Land. Cape Washington and many
more There is no disputing the fact that title
to these lands was acquired by the United
States. so far as it could be acquired by dis
covery and exploration. If this country did
not further confirm that title by actual col
onization, why, neither has any other country
done so, and we do not expect any other will
do so, for obvious and convincing reasons. Den
mark has colonies on the southern part Of
Greenland, but not up where Peary is working
Great Britain does not appear to have plHnted
any colonies north of Bafin Land
Practically we do not suppose there will ever
be any serious controversy over the matter
The regions north of Bafin Land are not sus-
cepttble of colonization, and 1t does not ap-
pear that there are any natural resources there
capable of profitable exploitation, unless in the
fisheries and fur hunting. These it is to be
assumed, no country will attempt to monopo-
lie. 1t may be that there should be some reg
ulation of those industries, as Of the seal fish
cries in Behring Sea- but that can probably
be effected through international agreement
Probably, too it is desirable that the welfare
Of the Esquimau tribes should be safeguarded
but that, too, can be effected without serious
trouble. The shores Of Hudson Bay are doubt
less all Canadian, and so are Bafin Land
Prince Albert Land and other regions included
in the province of Franklin. But the more re-
mote lands and waters beyond Jones Sound,
which have been discovered and explored by
Americans, Scandinavians and others, If they
are not actually partitoned up among their dis
coverers will doubtless remain open to the
equal exploitation of all, a sort of international
domain. If specific title should he taken to
any of them it would doubtless be taken by the
nation under whose flag they were discovered
and explored.