The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1940-09-05
Title to Alaska

washington STAR
Reports to the effect that Russia desires to re-
trieve Alaska from the United States need not be
regarded too seriously Only in the event of a COM
plete triumph of totaltarianism in the world will
any portion of North America be endangered by the
Soviets Meanwhile purpose may be served by
reviewing the circumstances of the transaction of
70 years ago to which current rlmors refer
1t happens that during the sixteenth century an
eastward movement of expansion began in Muscovy,
and the momentum of that development carried
agents of the Cars down the river valleys of Siberia
to the Pacific Ocean. Pioneers in Kamchatka, hear
ing of the existence of another land across narrow
sea-" encouraged by Peter the Great to explore
the region indicated He personally sponsored an ex-
petition headed by Vitus Boring, Danish mariner
who sought ito determine the geographical relation
of Northeastern Asia to the American continent"
The record of Behring'S enterprise shows that
on August 8, 1873, his ship, the Gabriel, rounded
the eastern extremity of Asia, proving that the
continents of Asia and America distinct and
separate" new expedition in 174l resulted in the
discovery of the Alaskan mainland and its most OBJ
vious of wealth." Rival fur traders, however,
soon made the coast of bloodshed-with the
result that the Russian government in 1799 granted
monopoly to the so-caled Russian American Fur
Company for exclusive rights OF trade and further
exploration A central station" established at
Stka Island and representatives of the organization
occupied port and adjacent real estate in California
claim eventually sold to Captain John A. Suffer
in 1841.
But long before that date the aspirations OF
Russia had been challenged, as might have been ex-
peoted, by Great Britain well as by the United
States In 1866 there prospect of war with
England 1t principally to avoid such denoue-
ment that the sale of Alaska was arranged.
The proposal from Russia to Secretary OF
State William H. Seward through Edouard de Stoeck,
the Cars Minister, about March 9, 1857. A
treaty of conveyance signed three weeks later
The motives of the Russian government have been
outlined as: THE financial decline of the Russian
American Fur Company, Discrimination to administer
the territory and inability to defend it, and a wish
to avoid future difficulties with the United States.
Recently it disclosed that Great Britain had
threatened to take the peninsula during the Crimean
War in 1854 Opinion in this country at the time OF
the purchase supported the view that the whole bust
ness IAN act of gratitude for RuSsias having
sent its fleet to American waters in 1863, supposedly
as a demonstration against England and France,
which sympathetic to the Confederacy.' That
conception, of course, mistaken. But there can
be question about the regularity Of the proceed
ings whereby Russia asked and obtained seven million
two hundred thousand dolars-a goodly sum in those
days if not in modern timeS-for land which adj
mittedy could not be held against active foe. The
title of the United States is undeniably sound; and,
come what may, it will be maintained and defended
against any threat from any quarter