Evening star., 1950-03-11
Statehood for Alaska
Is Declared Vital for
West Coast Defense
Many in Area Believe
U. S. Considers Territory
dependable With War

U. S. Considers Territory
dependable With War
By Dorothy Thompson
Several months have elapsed
since an article by Gov. Ernest
Gruening of Alaska, in the United
States News and World Report, u
attracted wide attention by Its
unfavorable report of Alaskan de-
fenSeS.
So absent-minded are our citi-
zens about Alaska that not long
ago a distinguished journalist
after visiting Northeast Norway
described the area as "the only
frontier of the Atlantic powers on
the Soviet Union," forgetting the
frontier on this continent, sep
arated from Soviet Siberia only
by a narrow strait.
Recently. in Seattle, an ener-
getic visiting Alaskan told me
that many Alaskans believe the
United States considers Alaska
dependable" in case of war.
Alaskans are acutely aware that
the territory once belonged to
the Russian empire, whose widest
limits Stain has showed himself
determined to restore regardless
of how the territories were origi-
nally acquired or by what agree
mentS they were subsequently
relinquished.
Semi Colonial Status.
These factors, and others, de-
mand the entrance of the great
Northern territory as a full
f1edged State into the Union. It
is absurd for the United States
to support anti-colonialism every
where while retaining a semi
colonial status for integral parts
Of American territory.
The opposition to Alaskan state
hood has come, in the first line,
from grasping economic interests
who want the, territory as a privi-
legged market, but not as a pro-
ducer even for its own needs. 1t
comes, in the second place, from
members of Congress represent
ing populouS States who protest
against two Senators for a State
with only 100000 inhabitants.
In a letter to the New York
Herald Tribune, Mr.. Paul H. Whit
ney reminded such congressional
critics that some of them represent
States which entered the Union
with much smaller populations
than Alaska's, among them the
great States of California, Illi-
nois and Michigan, and that, all
together-apart from the original
13-21 States have been admitted
with under 100000 population.
Senators are United States
Senators, and in our history small
States have often furnished
superior craftsmanship. The
United States of America is rep
resented in U. N. by a former
Senator from Vermont, whose
entire population does not exceed
that of middle-sized city. The
present Vermont Senators
George D. Aiken and Ralph E.
FlanderS-are among the most
respected members of the higher
legislative body.
Rapidly Growing Area.
1t by no means follows that a
community of a million will pro-
duce 10 times as many men of
brains and virtue as a commu-
nifty of 100000. Athens produced
immortal sages when it's popula-
ton was, in present-day terms,
that of a large village. Washing
ton, Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison
and Franklin appeared when the
largest American State was a
tenth the size Of present-day
greater New York City. And If
there are now any of their like
about, we could certainly use
them!
The population of Alaska will
stagnate as long as Alaskans
have only second-rate citizenship
despite the fact that the North
west States are the most rapidly
growing part Of the Union, and
the Northwest Passage probably
the most important global ali
route. During the war the heavi-
est air traffic was through Ed
monton in Canada's Alberta.
But Americans have not been
north-minded. Many conceive OF
Alaska as an icebound waste
Alaskan experts. however. insist
that it could absorb and support
at least 100000 people in areas
where the climate is as favorable
as in several well-settled States
Of the Union and Canada.
The neglect of the north may
cost us dearly one day. Such
neglect is not shared by the
Soviets, who rank first in Arctic
science. Eskimos, who often have
family ties on both sides of the
Strait and pass back and forth,
have reported greatly increased
activity on the Siberian side, near
and beyond the frontier.
Finally. it is practically a
natural law that no nation. in
the long run, holds territory it
fails to colonize and develop
Russia became the vast power
she is largely by colonization. in
which she has had no historical
rival. And with growing popula-
ton pressures. this law is not
likely. in the next generations.
to fail to operate.
(Released by the Bell Syndicate, Inc.)