The Tomahawk., 1919-11-20

IN 1896 two Dutchmen, Barents
and Heemskirk, discovered Spitz-
bergen, and were Immediately
followed by British explorers. "A
British seaman-Poole-was one of
these, and he was the first man to
find coal in Spitzbcrgen, in 1904. Two
notable British explorers were Foth-
erby and Baffin, who sailed to Spitz'
bergen on hehalf of the well-known
company of London merchants known
as the Muscovy company. Carrying
with them a royal warrant, they au-
thorftatively and definitely annexed
Spitzbergen in 1914 to. the British
crown in the name of King James for
his heirs and successors. So 1t 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
vi Of Scotland and I of Great Britain,
writes DR.. William 8. Bruce in Sphere.
In 1914 Britain consented to sit at
q conference table, convened by other
powers, at Christiania, to discuss In
what way the government of Spitzber'
gen should be organized. because OF
its increasing commercial develop
ment by enterprising miners and hunt.
ers Of various nationalities-British
and foreign. There had been an ear.
lier 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
Spitzbergen as heirs and successors OF
King James, took up the very gener-
GUS attitude of insisting, If 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 for.
ward, but also refusing to admit the
right Of any other power present to
have any right or title whatever. This
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 unauthentic
statements that have recently appeared
In the press.
Who Shall Rule the lsland7
What will next happen it is impos-
sible to say, even by one who, like my
self, has been very intimately asso-
ciated with Spitzbergen for almost a
quarter of century. But certain
things must happen regarding some of
the powers which were represented at
the conference in 1914. (D Germany
must not be allowed In future to take
any part whatever in the organiza-
ton of Spitzbergen in spite of her
forced bargain with Russia at the
Brest-Litovsk treaty. (2) Russia IS
surely not able to take fully respon-
sible position now with her disorgan-
lied government. (Y 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. d.
Which Of these three countries IL
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
seme, but not exclusive, rights there.
Sp;tzberyen viii soon be recogr.set