Evening star., 1939-07-28
Polar Claims

Aoody, unoer the auspices Of the
National Research Council, scientists
representing every field of research
which could possibly benefit through
studies to be made by the forthcom-
Ing American Antarctic expedition
will meet here to confer on the types
OF studies to be made by the explorers
The conference holds much of
interest to American citizens, but
perhaps one of the most important
tasks, the establishment of per-
manent colonies" on the Antarctic
continent, is the one which will have
the most immediate world effect.
Scientists will be the first to
have an inkling of the true value of
Antarctica. Perhaps many genera
tlons will elapse before this value is
realized to a point where it will be
OF vital Importance to any nation.
But already the first steps have been
taken In the contest for ownership
OF the vast territory about the South
Pole. Recently Argentina has served
notice OF its claims to approximately
one-fourth Of the continent, a claim
which conflicts to a large extent with
British claims, and to lesser degree
with those Of the United States.
Norway and Germany.
The situation is more complicated
than that involving ownership in
the Arctic area. In the North the
nations whose lands were on the
borders OF the unclaimed areas served
notice OF possession on other coun-
tries. marking of triangles on the
globe directly north of their possess
slons with the Pole as the apex,
Thus. the area north of Alaska was
claimed by the United States, north
OF Greenland was taken by Denmark,
while Russia and Canada "staked
out" the remainder. But the Arctic
mainly sea area, is bordered almost
entirely by inhabited continental
land masses, while the Antarctic's
limits are principally high seas, with
only few island possessions of Eng
land and Argentina in the vicinity.
Actually, the American claims to land
IN the Arctic have not been STRONGLY
pressed, since the declared policy Of
this country is never to claim land
which it does not colonize.
In the South, Argentina and Great
Britain make their claims under an
extension of the Arctic formula, with
aooltlonal arguments of exploration
by Ross, Shackleton and Scott on the
part OF the British, and of colonial
tlon' through establishment of a
meteorological and magnetic station
on Laurie Island by Argentina. But
Germany and Norway also make
claims by virtue of aerial exploration,
while the United States has the dis
coveries and explorations of Byrd and
Ellsworth. If the coming expedition
succeeds in establishing a permanent
American station on continental Ant
arctica it will have by far the
strongest claim. The areas in dispute
between England and Argentina in
volve whaling waters, while the small
section which both the United States
and Argentina dispute has little
known worth at this time. The major
point OF dissension between these two
nations lies in Admiral Byrd's
advocacy of extension of the Monroe
Doctrine to the South Pole.
Much depends upon the work of
the scientists who will confer in the
Capital. Their findings will decide
the extent of values to the civilized
world, and will make necessary a
f1nal and decisive partition of the
Earth's only uninhabited land mass.