Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-22
light Over Greenland Turns
Attention to World Court

Popular conceptions Of Greenland as
a great waste of ice and snow, unim-
portant in the worlds commerce, are
being revised as new interest in this
island is awakened by the controversy
between Norway and Denmark over its
possession. The fact that airplane de-
velopment has extended communica-
tions to the Arctic regions is enc factor
in the renewed conflice of jurisdiction,
while the reference Of the matter to the
World Court Is matter of international
attention.
What healthy example to nations
carrying chips on their shoulders" re-
marks the Minneapolis Star, eff Den
mark and Norway compromises they
probably will-their differences by the
light of logic and reason and abide by
the World Courts decision" The Phila-
delphia Public Ledger locks upon the
dispute as like revival of Viking RI
valries of centuries long forgotten" and
concludes that 1.-The most probable use
for that area-East Greenland, which
has been virtually no-man's land-would
be as an airplane base, and that threat,
combined with Scandinavian rivalrles,
seems to have started the controversy"
Recalling the fact that Comdr. Robert
E. Perry charted Greenland's northern
coast and that his success prompted
Danish explorers to extend the work,
the San Antonio Express emphasizes the
reference to the World Court, and adds:
THE disputants are parties to treaties
providing for such a course and also
are pledged never to war against each
other" The Providence Bulletin COM
ments: "Norvss, while powerful enough
to maintain its claim over Eastern
Greenland, has stated that the occupa-
ton was made mostly to create an issue
for settlement by the World Court, and
that she will abide by the decision
X x
"A few years past" thinks the Buff
falo Evening News, "the fuss over
Greenland would have appeared to be
bootlesS quarrel. Now, however, the
great ice cap is considered important as
base for aerial operations and meteor
illogical observations, perhaps as place
of natural resources other than seals
and polar Bears
Prom a practical standpoint, Den
marks right to so vast an area may be
questioned" according to the Manches-
ter Union, which finds it gratifying
that the matter is to be settled by
peaceable methods of adjudication. ;"
That paper points out that there are
indications that the region may be rich
LII lIOIl, COppCI dIlQ COd4 O1ldU 4AdfC bCCi
found elsewhere in t.lHt vicinity"
AS to the present :lportance Of the
region, the Schenectady Gazette sets
forth: 1.-THE population of Greenland Is
mainly Eskimo, of which there are APP
proximately $4,000. Added to these are
about $50 Europeans, many of whom
have Eskimo wives. The island was set
tied in the latter part of the tenth
century by Norwegians, who established
churches and monasteries and occupied
it for 300 years. - The chief ex-
down, fllrs, whale oil and graphite. Its
deposits of cryoltte are the largest in
the world. American ships fish halibut
off the west coast. The Eskimos live
mainly on seals and whales, killing
about 100000 each year. During the
four years from 1845 to 1849 over
$4,000 reindeer were shot yearly. but
today reindeer are scarce on the island.
A party of hunters and students from
Norway during recent visit to the big
island planted their flag and claimed a
name OF their sovereign. This particu-
lar territory has been long used by
hunters, so, on the old theory that pos
session is nine points of the law, they
have come to feel that it belongs to
them"
y X X
"There ought to be room in Green
land for any who might have the hardi-
hood to 60 there" advises the Charles
ton Is. c. Evening Post, while the
Indianapolis Star, recalling the tradi-
tionai view that the land is "a Jumping
off point for Arctic explorations" con-
cedes that "the progress of aviation may
increase its Importance" The New York
Evening POST AYERS that "the World
Court has n new item on its calendar"
although FoEeenland's icy mountains