Evening star., 1925-06-07
CANADA'S ARCTIC LAND CLAIM
MAY BE VALID ON FINE POINT

zenland. In 1905 Admiral Peary en-
tered the same area and confirmed
Lockwoods discovery. Yet the
United States never has disputed the
claims of Denmark to all this terri
tory, although both discoveries We're
the work of Americans.
Recognized Denmark.
simultaneously with the Virgin Is
lands transfer in 1915, however, spe-
cial convention was signed by Whlch
the United States specifically recoS
nized the claims of Denmark to all OF
Greenland, thus removing any possl-
bility of a doubt.
Mr. Constantin Brun, Danish MIN
lister to the United States, who signed
the convention, said yesterday that IL
was his understanding that the paper
was merely a matter of form ana tnat
the name Of peary or Lockwood was
not mentioned in the transactions.
The right of nation to claim Ter
ritory north of it's Arctic shores,
however, is further complicated by the
fact that Norway's claims TO spit
bergen previous to the war were uis.
puted by both Germany and Holland
and that these were recognized oHly
by a special document after the war
On the other hand, the Russian ciaiin
to Nova Zembla never has peeh dlS-
puted, although the country mas peeii
freduented at times by Enghsh huht-
ers.
y The onlv two territorial conventions
affecting the United States and can
ada which might by any stretch OF tn1
imagination be brought into the case
are the Oregon treaty and Alaska-
Yukon boundary settlement.
Boundary Limit Set.
In the latter, however, the boundary
line is extended specifically only as
far as the Arctic Ocean.
In the FORMER Great Britain Is &C,
corded the territory north OF the
forty-ninth parallel-but this would
apply only TO the North American
continent and the islands within
miles of its coast.
What Macmillan seeks is not an ex-
tension of this continent, but new
continent.
AT present Canada lays claim TO
total Of $4,000 square miles OF lana IN
the Arctic Ocean. all of 1t dlrectlS
north of her shores. Her claims 10
most of II would be supported pg the
fact of discovery.
The most pretentfous of the areas
was discovered and charted by the
English sailor. William Bafiin, IN 1910.
His discoveries included not only the
21l 900 square miles Of Baffin Land,
named in his honor, but also Ellesmere
Land, rs 900 square miles, and some OF
the smaller areas.
The claims were further Substanti-
ated by the Inflated Sir John Franklin
who, 20 years before his disastrous
last voyage into the Arctic, traVersed
and charted the northern coast OF
North America.
Canada Backs Claims.
The Canadian government is max
ing good its claims TO these lands by
new expeditions almost yearly by
which they are explored and charted
There are mounted police stations on
Baffin Land and Ellesmere Land, |
which constitute a definite adminfstra-
ton, a valid claim to ownership even
without the further action or dis
covery.
The total country claimed by
Canada in the Arctic is as follows:
South Hampton. 1900 square miles;
Baff1n Land, 1900; Bylot, 5,l0O: J
North Somerset, 1900: Prince of
Wales Land, 1,40o; King William
Land, $500: Victoria Land, 70,400;
Banks Land, $4,000; North Devon,
q 900; Ellesmere Land. 10000; Axel
He1burg Land. 13,200; Cornwallis
Land, 2,700; Bathurst Land, 1000;
North Cornwall, 500; King Christian
Land, $500; Amund Ringnes Land,
Land, 1920; Prince Patrick Land,
7,100.
This list does not include Wrangell
Island, much in the news during the
past few years, which is claimed by
Canada, the United States and Rus
sia. 1t was discovered by an Amer
ican and lies directly north of Rus
sian territory. The necessity of
colonization to make good the Cana
dian claim apparently was recognized
by the Canadian explorer, Steffans
son, who established an ill-fated col
ony on the island, TO keep the British
flag floating over II for a year.
Title Not Discussed.
The ownership of the deduced land
has not been made the subject of
any communications between the
United States and Canada, il was
stated at the British embassy.
Neither has there been any official
exchange on the establishment of a
naval airplane base on Cape Thomas
Hubbard, Axel Heiburg Land, which
Canada claims.
Matters relating to the expedition
probably we9e discussed, it was said
at the British embassy. during the
visit here last month of j. ]. Corey,
deputy minister of the interior, but
these discussions are believed to have
amounted only to a request that
Canada be informed officially of the
Macmillan expedition in order that
mounted police posts and Hudson Bay
Company posts might be notified to
be on the lookout for the Americans
and render them any assistance pos
sible. The embassy disclaimed any
knowledge of a protest by Mr.. Corey
on establishing an Axel Heiburg Land
post.
With the single exception of the
Wilkes case the United States al
ways has proved jealous of her rights
Of discovery and there are a number
of controversies on the records where
these rights We're disputed
The majority of these arose over
the so-called Guano Islands, little un-
inhabited dots in the Pacific and Car
ribean, which were sighted first by
c;ft. e.