Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-01
u. S. Work
In Arctic
Inks Canada
BY GERALD WARING

OTTAWA. There is an I'M
eaSinesS in Cans da about
American activities and inten-
tons III the Canadian Arctic
to which it is difficult to assign
a rational reason.
What it seems to amount to
is apprehension lest concen-
trations of Americans in the
sparsely populated Far North
somehow undermine Canada'S
contention that it has sover-
eighty over all the land be-
tween Alaska and Greenland,
right up to the North Pole.
This uneasiness persists in
spite of solid reasons for be-
lieving it is utterly groundlesS.
II is noticeable in reactions Of
the Liberal government and
the Conservative and Socialist
opposition parties. Govern
ment officials harbor the same
misglvlngS.
1t cropped up in Parliament
recently when Prime Minister
Louis st. Laurent was asked
these questions: Is there full
protection of Canadian Sover-
eighty in American construc-
ton and manning of radar
stations? What basis is there
for complaints that United
States contractors working on
the distant early warning ra-
dar line are flouting Canadian
sovereignty? Is Governor
General Vincent MaSsey's pur-
pose in visiting the Arctic to
reassert Canadian sovereignty?
Concerning Mr.. Masseys
l0,000-mile trip, Mr.. st. Lau-
rent replied that Il do not
think any reaSSertion OF
Canada's sovereignty is re-
quired, but 1 think it tMr.
Massey'S visit is a demonstra-
ton to the whole world of the
fact that that is territory
within Canadian sovereignty"
Mossey's Congress Speech
Government statements have
been less clear on the broader
question Of the possible effects
on Canadian sovereignty of
the presence in the Arctic of
large numbers of United States
citizens. Probably for domestic
political reasons. the govern
ment seems not TO like to
talk about American &C
tivities in Canada. But
its lack of complacency has
been on record since May,
1854, when Governor-G General
Massey addressed the United
States Congress during a visit
to Washington.
In a speech approved by the
Canadian government before
delivery, Massey told the Con-
gress that I'VE would not have
our visitors show too strong
a preference for those parts of
Canada which are not yet in
habited by Canadians.
Since then thousands of
American civilians and serv-
icemen have invaded Canada
with Canadian consent. of
course-to build the DEW line
of radar defenses. They have
travelled in American planes
from the south, and in Ameri-
can ships which have pene-
trated the Canadian Arctic
archipelago from the east.
through Hudson Strait and
from the west, around the
north coast of Alaska.
No Feor of Expansion
There is no indication that
the uneasiness of any respon-
sible Canadians over this Joint
defense project goes SO far as
suspicion that the United
States wants to displace Ca
madam sovereignty. Govern
ment officials here admit
American authorities have
leaned over backwards to re-
spect Canadian sovereignty
and sensibilities. Moreover.
the United States record in
the Arctic is one of admission
of Canadian claims. and fail
ure to advance any Arctic
claims of its own on the basis
OF American explorations, as 1t
might well have done.
Canada'S claim is to all land
In the triangle encompassed
by the North Pole. the west
coast of Greenland and the
Alaska border. The bases for
the claim are the discoveries
OF British and Canadian ex-
plorerc, the purchase of a quit
claim from Norway respecting
the discoveries of Morse ex-
plorer otto Sverdrup, and fin-
ally, effective occupation of
the area.
Canadian misgivings might
have some legalistic reason
in that concentrations of
Americans constitute much
more effective occupation of
certain Arctic areas than Ca
nadians have provided. 1t is
conceivable that over many
years this might support u
United States claim TO en-
claves in the Canadian Arctic.
j But the notion is so far-fetched
as to lead TO the conclusion
that Canadian uneasineSs Is
mainly a not too rational
manifestation OF this coun-
try's growing spirit of nation