The Washington herald., 1910-03-20
By Ex-ATTACHE.

italy. and the Argentine Republic, have
signified their intention of embarking in
the race for the south pole. and the list
OF entries for the contest is not yet
closed. the question of the ownership Of
the territories and islands already found
and still awaiting discovery, becomes one
of immediate interest.
1t is a problem fraught with difficulty
calculated to develop into all sorts Of
controversies of the most acrimonious
character, which could be dealt with by
the international tribunal of The Hague.
had the latter fulfilled the hopes and eX-
pectations entertained with regard to it's
possibilities Of good. at the time Of it's
organization, but which, falling this SUI
preme court OF international law. will
have TO be determined by a congress of
the great powers
Each explorer, on discovering some new
land previously unknown to the civilized
world, Immediately proceeds to raise
thereon the flag OF his own particular
nation. proclaiming that he has assumed
ownership thereof in the name Of his
government,
Commander Peary even went so far.
when he reached the north pole. as to
take possession thereof In the name OF
the President Of the United States. his
action in the matter acquiring official
Significance through the fact that he was
at the time in the service Of the Amer
lean government. This. too, In spite Of
the fact that according to his own adj
mission the north pole was situated. not
on a continent. or even on an island. but
had been found on drifting ice, beneath
which the water was OF so great a depth
that he was unable to fathom It.
While the ownership Of the actual poles
may be left TO the nation which enjoys
the distinction OF being the first to have
its flag planted at the most northern or
most southern extremity of the globe. yet
the other powers viii not submit, with
out some discussion and subsequent
agreement 10 the appropriation OF
islands and more extensive territories
within the polar regions, nor yet to the
conversion OF any portion Of the arctic
or antartic seas. into a mare clausum.
such as Commander Peary seems to have
aimed al doing. when he claimed the
whole of the region of the north pole.
that is to say. a vast area Of Ice and
open water. for the United States
For, in certain cases, these seas are
rich in fisheries. while the lands within
the arctic and antarctic circles may
prove extremely valuable, not only in
connection with the sealing industry. but
also by reason Of their mineral wealth
Thus, Spitzbergen, concerning the own
eTship OF which much difference of opin-
ion prevails. contains rich mineral de-
posits. which are exciting the cupidity.
not merely OF adventurous people IN
various parts of the world, but also Of
number Of governments. The archi-
pelago has long been valuable, in con-
nection with the whaling. the eiderdown.
and the fur industries; but the discovery
Of gold, and OF other mineral deposits.
including excellent coal. and marble OF
particularly fine quality. has ended
by rendering the disputes for the pos
session Of the islands acute.
This question OF the ownership Of
Spitzbergen is one Of particular interest
to the United States. For. in the first
place, there is an American concern,
known as the Arctic Coal Company.
which. employing several hundred men,
is working rich deposits OF coal in Spitz-
bergen. Frederick Aver, OF Massachu-
sets, and James NJ. Longyear. OF Mich
igan, being more particularly interested
In the affair.
Then. too. Senator Lodge has secured
the passage through the Senate of a
bill, which still awaits action by Con-
gress, and that if approved by the latter.
and by the President. viii virtually COM
of its ownership Of Spitzbergen; an own
ership which is certain to be contested
by several European powers.
The bill provides that Whenever any
citizen OF the United States discovers a
deposit of guano. phosphates, coal, or
other mineral. on any island. rock, or
key. not within the lawful Jurisdiction
of any other government, and not occu-
pied by the citizens of any other govern
ment and takes peaceable possession
thereof, occupies and works the same,
such island, rock. or key shall be con-
sidered as pertaining to the United
States"
President Taft evidently had the diff
culties liable TO arise in connection with
this measure in mind, when, In his last
annual message TO Congress. he spoke
-ment. addressed to the United States.
Great Britain, Russia, Sweden, the Meth
erlands, Denmark, France. Belgium. and
Germany. IN which King Haakon pro-
posed a conference between the repre-
sentatives of these countries for the pur-
pose OF devising some means 10 remedy
existing conditions In the Spitzbergen
islands. The congress was to have been
held this spring, with Herbert H. d.
Peirce. Minister to Norway, as the pleni-
potentiary of the United States govern
ment
But it is probable that ii will be post
poned, and that when 1t does occur, its
sphere of operations viii be so far ex-
tended as to take in, not only the archi-
pelago of Spitzbergen. but also the ques-
tions which have arisen in connection
with the ownership OF the other terri
tories. islands. and seas, in the arctic
and antarctic regions.
With regard to Spltzbergen, the own
ership of the archipelago already formed
the subject of fierce debate in the reign
Of King James of Great Britain, when
England pat forth claims thereto, on
the nratext that the islands had been