The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-15
NO MANS LAND.

THE Sun has already referred 70 the
anomaly that the large Arctic archipelago
Of Spitzbergen. which yielded last year
more than $5OO, 900 worth Of oils, furs and
| eiderdown. where 200 men were engaged
in coal mining, where six Norwegian whal-
ing expeditions. a~ggregating 40 men, made
their stations in 1905, and to which eKcur-
sion steamers are now carrying some hun
dreds OF tourists every year, is possessed
by no country and is subject to no laws or
regulations.
The resulting evils are now attracting
attention in Europe. Game, such as rein
deer. polar bears, ptarmigan. geese, ducks
and other birds, is fairly plentiful, but is
being wentonly eyterninated A party OF
tourists last summer killed more than 100
reindeer, leaving the carcasses where they
fell and taking with them only a few OF the
finest heads and a~ntlers. Eiderduck nests
are robbed of eggs. which Norway on her
northern coasts and Denmark in Green
land protect by law.
The latest Norwegian newspapers say
that perfect lawlessness reigns and give
a new and fragrant illustration OF the fact.
In 1878 DR.. N~ordensltiold, the renownea
Swedish explorer. erected winter quarters
including a house for scientific observa-
tions, at Cape Thordsen in Ice Fiord. The
buildings were repaired and enlarged by
the Swedish Government in 1882. when 1t
participated in the work Of the interna-
tional polar stations. The structures were
left as a refuge for whAlers, who are occa-
1 sionally wrecked and compelled to winter
on the islands. A lot Of Norwegian hunters,
who worked their sweet will in ~Spitzbergen
last summer, decided that they needed
lumber on their vessel and 30 tore the
buildings down. Shipwrecked whalers will
AVE to shift es they may, as the provision
made for their comfort has been appropri-
ated by irresponsible nimrods who went to
the Arctic merely for a good time.
The fact is that both Sweden and Norway
wish TO annex the archipelago, and this is
the reason why it is still subject to no law
For some months the Norwegian news
papers nave been arguing that the islands
should belong to Norway because its fishing
interests in those waters are paramount,
because Of its nearness to the archipelago
and for other reasons. On the other
hand DR.. Nathorst, the Hestor of Swedish
Arctic exploration, writes in the Stockholm
Ddpbidd that OF right the islands should
belong to Sweden, because that country has
expended about two million crowns In the
exploration Of Spitzbergen and has borne
by far the larger part OF the toll and ex-
pense OF making the islands known, while
Norway has done practically nothing for
scientific investigation there. though she
has benefited enormo usly by reckless ex-
ploitation OF the land and the neighboring
waters.
Authoritative writer's in both countries
say that the present situation demands a
remedy without needless delay. Recent
reports OF fresh lawlessness are attracting
wide attention. The German periodical
Petermdnn's Mitteilungen, commenting on
the destruction OF the refuge for whalers,
says that the long continuance Of present
conditions is inconceivable; and Mr.. Borde-
witch, our Consul General in Norway, writes
that either the islands should be annexed
to one Power or a combination of the Pow
ers should make arrangements whereby
law and order may be maintained. game
and fishing laws made and enforced, and
mining claims protected.
On a small scale it is the case OF Morocco
over again. Each Of two nations desires
to rule the roost exclusively, with the re-
suit that a group OF islands which are play
ing q small part in human interests are al
the mercy Of any provler or pirate who
comes near them.