Detroit evening times., 1945-12-24

" invasion of the Aleutians
resulted in a great develop
ment of American protective
establishments in Alaska and
on the long line of islands that
extend American territory to
the coasts of Arctic Asia.
This Alaskan development
had long been anXiously recon-
mended by our own military
planners.
1t took the Japanese threat
to make its Importance clear to
our people, and the war itself
TO provide the means for MAX
ing IL secure.
Henceforth we will regard
the strategic significance of our
northwestern American possess
slons as on a par with Hawaii
for the protection of our in
-tcrcsts and the general peace
in the North Pacific.
IN ADDITION, by agreement
Il with the Canadian govern
ment, during the war, we ac-
quired numerous air fields in
Canadian territory, and an eX-
tensive staging area and army
base at Prince Albert, which is
connected with the network of
railroads of western Canada.
The war being concluded, the
United States has sold to the
Dominion of Canada the air.
fields, built under war arrange
ments, that lie between the
range of the Rocky Mountains
on the west and the Hudson
Bay territory on the east.
But it is understood that, by
this postwar agreement, the
United States retains use OF
arfieldS built within both hankS
of Canadian territory. while
selling to Canada its facilities
in the great central northern
basin.
The protection, as well as the
development, of this interior,
subarctic area, becomes as it
should be, Canada'S response
bility, and it fits into the Joint
defense plan of these two
neighboring countries.
To put the matter in 4 geo.
graphical way, the Dominion of
Canada faces on three of the
worlds oceans, the Atlantic,
the Pacific, and the Arctic.
The United States must bear
the major part OF the co-opera-
tive defense on the first two
oceans, but the third ocean,
which concerns Canada, covers
the whole of her very extensive
northern portion, both mainland
and islands.
The ice-bound Arctic that
surrounds the North Pole was
long regarded as without use
or significance, but in recent
years. Russian scientists and
explorers have proved the con-
trary.
AirwayS which may be of
great future Importance cross
this polar sea.
These possible airlineS and
tho need for planned defense
against aIE-attack explain Cana
dian interest IN the far north.
TiIS northern region OF Can
Il ada is a huge block Of very
ancient rock.
1t has vast forest areas, tho
home of the small fur-bearing
animals whose peltS were the
economic basis for Canadian
development.
Beyond these forests arc the
trcclcSS barren grounds. or
tundra, which still supports
herds of caribou and muskoX.
and along the icy coast of this
Canadian region live that enlg-
matical people. the Esquimos.
But the main attraction Of
this cold. rocky system lies in
its mineral wealth.
This rock mass contains enor-
nous lake areas like Athabaska
and Great Slave Lake. and,
lying furthest north. right on
the Arctic Circle, the Great
Bear Lake.
1t is from mines at the east
ern end of this lake that the
relatively rare product which
yields radium was obtained for
the atomic bomb.
These mines, that have sud-
denly risen 10 sensational i'm
portancr lie loss than ! 500
miles from Russian establish
mcntS IN northeastern ASiar or
on the Arctic island of Wrangcl
They could he reached and
presumably destroyed by Rus
sian bombing fleets in the event