The Pulaskian., 1919-11-14

wN 1896 two Dutchmen, Barents
 and Heemskirk, discovered Spitz-
 bergen, and were immediately
 followed by British explorers. A British seaman-Poole-wa one of these, and he was the first man to find coal in Spitzbergen, in 1904. Two notable British explorers were Foth- erby and Baffin, who sailed to Spitz- bergen on behalf of the well-known company of London merchants known as the Muscovy company. Carrying with them a royal warrant, they au- thoritatively and definitely annexed Spitzbergen in 1914 to the British crown in the name of King James for his heirs and successors. So it is certainly British yet by right of sue cession, whatever the successive heads of the British government have been or will be, since the reign of James VT of Scotland and I of Great Britain, writes Dr. William s. Bruce in Sphere.
 In 1914 Britain consented to sit at a conference table, convened by other powers, at Christiania, to discuss in what way the government of Spitzber- gen should be organized, because of it's increasing commercial develop ment by enterprising miners and hunt CTS of various nationalities-Bri and foreign. There had been an ear Her conference at which Russia, Nor way, and Sweden only had sat, and at which, I understand Britain had re- fused to consent to sit, or at all events definitely did not sit and did not rec ognize it as internationally authori- tative But in 1914-the tercentenary of Fotherby and Baffin's British annex ation-the British government, which had the ancient right and title to Spltzbergen as heirs and successors of King James, took up the very gener- ous attitude of insisting, if a British government delegate was to sit, that every power represented there must first acknowledge that Spitzbergen was Terra Nullius, or No Mans Land, thus not forcing British rights for4 ward, but also refusing to admit the right of any other power present to | conference was sitting in Christiania in July, 1914. Besides Britain. the United States, Germany, Russia France, Holland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark sent delegates, but when the war broke out the different delegates returned to their respective countries and the conference was dissolved with out result, and Spitzbergen is, and re- mains, a Terra Nullius This is quite definite In spite of other unauthentie statements that have recently appeared in the press.
 Who shall Rule the Island?
 What will next happen it is impos- sible to say, even by one who, like my elf, has been very intimately asso- eiated with Spitzbergen for almost a quarter of century But certain things must happen regarding some of the powers which were represented az the conference in 1914 CD Germany must not be allowed in future to take any part whatever in the organiza- ton of Spitzbergen in spite of her AVANCN OdASdAh WILL huSSAd at tltS Brest-Iitovsk treaty. (2) Russia is surely nes able to take fully respon- sible position now with her disorgan- lzed government. (3) The United States has not the same interests, be- cause her citizens have since sold their estates to Norwegians; Holland has only early historical interests, France and Denmark have no special economic interests, and Britain, Norway and Sweden remain the three specially in terested parties.
 Which of these three countries is able to look justly after the rights of its own subjects, as well as those of the other two nationalities who have interests? Personally, for many strong reasons, I most emphatically empha- size that the British government should be asked by the world powers at the peace conference to exercise its rights not only as heir to the Brit ish rights and titles as defined and de clared by Fotherby and Baffin in 1914, but also for the protection of subjects of other nations who have some, but not exclusive, rights there.
 Spitzbergen will soon be recognized