Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1921-03-24

=
and Heemskirk, discovered Spitz-
h 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 Spitzbergen, 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-
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
vi of Scotland and l of Great Britain.
writes DR.. William S. Bruce in Sphere.
In 1914 Britain consented to sit at
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 British
and foreign. There had been an ear
Her conference at which Russia, Nor
way, and Sweden only had sat, and at
which, l 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- j.
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 e
King James, took up the very gener- q.
GUS attitude of insisting, if a British =
government delegate was to sit. that .
every power represented there must ;,
drst acknowledge that Spitzbergen :,
was Terra Nullius, or No Mans Land. :,
thus not forcing British rights for +,
ward but also refusing to admit the :.
light Of any other power present ito e
nave any right or title whatever. This
conference was sitting in Christiania -
n July, 1914. Besides Britain, the -
United States, Germany, Russia ~
Trance, Holland, Norway, Sweden and II,
Denmark sent delegates, but when the -
7ar broke out the different delegates -
eturned to their respective countries
nd the conference was dissolved with V.
ut result, and Spitzbergen is, and re- o., az
lains, a Terra Nullius. This is quite ',i
efinite in spite of other unauthentic "a
atements that have recently appeared .ei
the press. ar
49,. ini
Who Shall Rule the Island? I'm,
What will next happen it is impos- EN-
Die to say, even by one who, like my sw
II, has been very intimately asso- mo
ited with Spitzbergen for almost q ale
arter of a century. But certain cea
ngs must happen regarding some of life
: powers which were represented at col
: conference in 1914. ID Germany 9th
list not be allowed in future to take tur
part whatever In the OrganiZa- )
n of Spitzbergen in spite of her and
ced bargain with Russia at the of
treaty. (2) Russia is so
ely not able TO take a fully respon- sire
lS POSAtiOii uOW WIFI nef QlSOrEan- ! ~
government. (3) The United Let
ties has not the same interests, be- won
Sc her citizens have since sold their Spit
ties to Norwegians; Holland has heal
early historical interests, France you
Denmark have no special economic Their
rests, and Britain, Norway and full,
den remain the three specially in fuses
sted parties. sets
'hich of these three countries is the
to look justly after the rights of "hei
OWN subjects, as well as those of ana
other two nationalities who have part
rests? Personally, for many strong
ons, l most emphatically empha-
that the British government Pc
I'D be asked by the world powers Even
he peace conference to exercise or Ia
lights not only as heir to the Brit The
lights and titles as defined and de- wher
ID by Fotherby and Baffln in wind
but also for the protection of from
'0.s VI other nations who have by 2
p put not exclusive, rights there wbicl
htzbergen win soon be recognized sourc