Evening star., 1941-12-31
Saws Easter Island
Might Be Jap Base
Writer Tells of Pacific Isle
Whose Sale to America
Once Wos Proposed
BIZ Allen Haden,
Foreign Correspondence of The Star and
Chicago Daily News.

Foreign Correspondence OF The star ana
Chicago Daily News
SANTIAGO, December 17-Lost IN
the south Pacific Ocean, 1000 miles
west Of Valparaiso, Chile has a little
possession called Easter Island. 1t Is
only a few miles square and has
population of 800 cat last report.
Alfred Metraux SWiSS-born anthro-
pOlogiSt at Yale University, has con-
tributed much to unraveling the hidden
story CT the ancient, immense stone
ima geS for which Easter Island is prln-
cipally renowned. Besides these images,
Easter Island has perfect volcanic cones
and fertile but uncultivated fields. The
island used until recently only the
barter system, gave shelter to few
dozen leperS, and scorned the fight for
life For on Easter Island the bread
fruit tree grows plentifully; pineapples,
bananas and sheep all flourish.
Yet today, according to Mario Ver-
CARA, commander Tetire6. Chilean
Navy, the japanese can make magnl-
ficent revictualing station, and, perhaps
a naval and Air base at Hanga Roa,
Casters only semblance of port.
Some 10 years ago Don Mario Vergara
who is special writer for the magazine
Zig-Zcg, published in Santiago, proposed
that Easter Island be sold either to the
United States or to Great Britain.
thereby canceling Chile's foreign debt.
He was overruled by his countrymen
who claimed Chile could not ALLEVIATE
any sovereign territory
Chile has given Easter Island even
less attention than the United States
until recently gave the Virgin Islands.
A small garrison Of marines is MAIN
tanned on the island TO operate the
wireless station. A schoolteacher, a
physician and visiting nurse complete
the government establishment
From time to time, Chile sends to
Easter Island few politicians who need
a rest from the hurly-burly of local
politics. Thus Marmaduke Grove a
leader of the Socialist party, has been
the islands most distinguished modern
visitor, has had two spells there and is
none the worse for wear
When Don Mario Vergara proposed
the sale of Easter Island he had an eye
to business He pointed out that Chile
acquired Easter Island in 1890. At that
time 1t belonged TO no one. Pierre Lott,
the great French novelist. few years
before had shifted at Frances appropri-
ating it when he visited the island as
Commander OF the French Corvette,
Flore.
In 1880, Chile flushed with triumph
after her war Of the Pacific against Peru
and Bolivia, dreamed of world empire.
1t was to begin with Easter Island.
Capt. Policarpo Toro, commander of the
transport Agamos, visited the island and
for 10000 pesos bought 10000 sheep be-
longing to Msgr. Thepanos, Bishop of
Papette. Tahiti. The island went with
the sheep
Capt. Toro' hofsted the Chilean flag,
gave 21-gun salute and sailed away,
leaving behind a governor who was
well received by the diminutive island s
population. ! 2 Il
Don Mario Vergara claims relation
ship with the reigning house of Easter
Island. The caretaker of Bishop The
panos. one NJ Bornier, married one of
the relics of the reigning Maori house
Queen Coreto. Her grandson. named
Mario Tuki Beri Beri, is my godSon, "
Don Mario says with wide smile.
When the yearly supply ship touches
the island, he always writes to me long
and friendly letters"
A piece of neat international trickery
involved Easter Island. Some years prior
to the first World War. the British
firm of Williamson. Balfour e. Co. had
rented the island for 1000 pesos a year
and was breeding sheep for their wool
In the late months of 1914 Admiral Graf
Won Spec touched at Easter Island and
loaded water, fruits, vegetables and / 200
head Of sheep.
Admiral Won Spec paid for his victuals
with a note drawn on the imperial Ger
man government. The Easter islanders,
not knowing war had broken out be-
tween Great Britain and Germany, ac-
cepted it. 1t was only when the note was
presented at Valparaiso bank many
months later that Williamson. Balfour
& Co., realized they had been tricked
and had fed Admiral Won Spec free. The
note was ersatz
Copyright 194l BY Chicago Daily News.
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