stefansson-wrangel-09-08-019-003

The Hon. J. H. King. -2- April 25/22.

most northerly possessions are valuable. In that connec-
tion he urged the Canadian Government to follow up their
Wrangel Island work before some other nation stepped in and
occupied the island. The nation he had particularly in
mind was Japan. Mr. Stefansson has the greatest respect
for the shrewdness of the Japanese and had some private in-
formation in addition to what everyone possesses through
the newspapers to show that they were extending their com-
mercial and other operations steadily northward into Siberia.
He thought it would be likely that within a few years they
would see the value of Wrangel Island. Probably no nation
would have protested against such Japanese action, for there
would have been no legal or reasonable ground of protest.
Furthermore, had there been such a protest and had the ease
been submitted either to Impartial arbitration or to an in-
ternational court, the decision would certainly have been in
favour of the Japanese (or whoever had occupied the island
subsequent to the lapse of British claims in 1919).

You have no doubt seen the recent newspaper ac-
counts of the claiming of Wrangel Island for the British,
and the many other interesting details of the story I will
leave to Mr. Stefansson to tell you when you meet in Ottawa.

I feel, however, you would like to have be-
fore you the information I have given you in this letter,
and to know that I regard Mr. Stefansson as one of the out-
standing figures in the scientific world to-day, actuated
by the broadest patriotic motives, and desirous of doing any-
thing in his power to awaken Canada to the great value of
her Northern possessions.

The expedition just referred to, financed entire-
ly by Mr. Stefansson's own expense, with no serious commer-
cial side and from his point of view entirely for the purpose
of continuing the British occupation of the extremely impor-
tant Wrangel Island, is an example to others who have far
greater means. Up to the present the expedition to Wrangel
Island has cost something over $20,000., and the expense of
retaining the party of four men on the Island, where they
will be until well on in the summer, is still being borne by
Mr. Stefansson personally.

I hope that you are not working too hard at Ottawa
in the carrying of the much increased responsibilities, and
that you will have occasion from time to time of coming back
to visit us in British Columbia, and that on your next trip
I may have the pleasure of seeing you. Meanwhile, with all
kind regards, I remain,

Yours sincerely,