Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-07-04
HOLD CONFERENCE
UNIQUE IN HISTORY
United States and European
Nations Framing Laws for
No Mans Land.
SESSIONS BEING HELD
AT CHRISTIANIA, NORWAY
Americans, Norwegians and Rus
slams Interested in the Reputed
Rich Coal Deposits.
NEW YORK.

An international conference, unique in
history, is now in progress in Christiania,
Norway. in which representatives of the
United States. Russia, Norway, as well
as other northern European countries
are endeavoring to frame a government
for the administration of affairs in the
Spitzbergen islands, commonly known as
No Mans Land. Alvey A. Adee, second
assistant secretary of state, and Fred
erick f. Nielsen, assistant solicitor Of
the State Department, are the United
States delegates at the conference. Mr..
Adee was in France on his annual yaca-
ton when he was sent to Christiania to
take the place of William *. Collier OF
New YORK, specially employed for the
service. who had been taken ill during
the sessions.
Although No Mans Land has been
known to the rest of the world for CEN
turtles, it was not until within the men,
DRY OF men still living that 1t was found
to hold valuable coal deposits. 1t is de-
void of vegetation and has little or no
animal life. During three months Of the
year foreign coal miners work the rich
deposits. Throughout the rest Of the
year silence reigns over the rockbound
wastes.
men go which has no government.
American expIoiters were among the
first to discover the coal deposits there.
They and other Nenturesome spirits from
Norway and Russia staked out for them
selves generous claims, which they took
possession of as individuals and not in
the name Of their respective countries.
Reached Islands About Same Time.
he Ar,,n in$n
trolled by Boston corporation said to
have some S750. 900 invested in the far
away islands The Americans and their
Russian and Norwegian brethren reach
ed the islands about the same time. but
the Americans said to have staked
out the best claims. With no govern
ment, the only means of settling differ
ences has been that resorted to by
primitive man. SO only the stronses;
survive in No Mans Land.
II the commissioners now assembled IN
the Norwegian capital erect govern
ment for that remote corner OF creation
they Will have accomplished a feat With
out a parallel.
State Department officials said today
that there is no precedent for the AZ
sembly Of an international congress 70
formulate a government for land over
which none of them claims sovereignty.
Norwegian Plan Submitted
The couferees have before them y plan
drawn up by Norwegian diploms:ists
This was submitted to the Anne ican
State Department several months ago.
While its provisions were not disclosed.
officials were known L. have told its
authors that the proposed plan was too
complex 80 II * expected that the pla \
when is approved finally viii be con-
siderable modification of the Norway
scheme
While NORWAY. the United States and
Russia have 4 primary interest IN thr
government OF No Mans Land. because
OF the preponderant interests OF Their
nationals in the islands, several OF the
northern European nations have q geo
graphical interest IN all that Is gong
On there Hence Great Britain. Ger
many. Denmark. The Netherlands and
Belgium are represented the delbera-
lions at Christiania.