Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-21
Title to Alaska

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Reports to the effect that Russia
desires to retrieve Alaska from the
United States need not be regarded
too seriously. Only in the event OF
a complete triumph of totalitarian-
ism in the world will any portion Of
North America be endangered by the
Soviets. Meanwhile some purpose
may be served by reviewing the cir
cumstances Of the transaction Of
seventy three years ago to which
current rumors refer.
It happens that during the six
tenth century an eastward move
ment of expansion began in Mus
covy, and the momentum OF that de-
velopment carried agents OF the
cars down the river valleys Of ST.
IBERIA to the Pacific Ocean. Pioneers
in Kamchatka, hearing Of the ex-
istence of another land across a
narrow sea-" were encouraged by
Peter the Great to explore the region
indicated. He personally sponsored
an expedition headed by Vitus Ber-
ing, a Danish mariner who sought
Ito determine the geographical rela-
ton Of Northeastern Asia to the
American continent"
The record of Behring'S enterprise
shows that on August 8, 1928, his
ship, the Gabriel, rounded the east
ern extremity Of Asia, proving that
the continents of Asia and America
were distinct and separate" A new
expedition in 1741 resulted in the dis
covery Of the Alaskan mainland and
its most obvious sources of wealth"
Rival fur traders, however, soon
made the coast scene Of bloodshed
with the result that the Russian
government, In 1893, granted mo-
nopoly to the So-called Russian
American Fur Company for "exclu-
sive rights of trade" and further ex-
ploration. A central station" was
established at Sitka Island and rep
resentatives of the organization oc-
cupied a port and adjacent real
estate In California, claim even
tually sold to Captain John A. Suffer
in 1841.
But, long before that date the
aspirations of Russia had been chal-
lenged, as might have been expected,
by Great Britain as we'll as by the
United States. In 1866 there was
prospect of war with England. It
was principally to avoid such a de-
nouement that the sale of Alaska
was arranged.
The proposal came from Russia to
Secretary of State William H. Seward
through Edouard de Stoeckl, the
Cars Minister, on or about March 8,
1867. A treaty Of conveyance was
signed three weeks later. The mo-
tives of the Russian government have
been outlined as: 1.-THE financial de-
cline of the Russian American Fur
Company, Discrimination to admins
ter the territory and inability to de-
fend 1t, and a wish to avoid future
difficulties with the United States"
Recently 1t was 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 business was
IAN act Of gratitude for Russia's hav-
ing sent its fleet to American waters
in 1868, supposedly as demonstra-
ton against England and France,
which were sympathetic to the Con-
federacy." That conception, Of
course, was mistaken. But there can
be no question about the regularity
of the proceedings whereby Russia
asked and obtained seven million
two hundred thousand dollars-a
goodly sum In those days if not in
modern times-for land which ad-
mittedly could not be held against
an active foe. The title of the
United States is undeniably sound;
and, come what may, 1t will be main
tanned and defended against any