stefansson-wrangel-09-13-041

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Toronto "MAIL & EMPIRE" .

HAVE FURLED FLAG ON WRANGEL ISLAND ------------- King Cabinet Has Climbed Down From Absurd Claim of Ownership. ------------- CANADA HUMILIATED ------------- Crawford’s Death Due to Ottawa’s Neglect in Failing to Rescue Him. -------------

Special to The Mail and Empire from Staff Reporter.

Ottawa, Sept. 7.—Great Britain’s assurance to Russia that the question of the sovereignty of that country over Wrangel Island was not in question has ended Stefansson’s ill-starred adventure in the Arctic, and has, through the illadvised participation of the Ottawa Government, brought but ridicule on Canada and discredit to the King Administration. There was never any doubt as to the rightful sovereignty to this ice-bound island, and early consultation with the British Foreign Office by Premier King would have prevented our occupying the humiliating position we do to-day, but the Prime Minister, flushed with power, committed Canada to a policy of expansion in the Arctic that threatened seriously to imperil our rights to contiguous territory in our northern zone of ownership and control.

Stefansson had left Allan Crawford on Wrangel Island to hold this territory for Canada without the slightest authority from Canada. Shortly after the Liberal Government assumed office Premier King was asked if Canada purposed seriously to claim sovereignty over this

land, [and in] inflated langu[age de-][...] clared the flag would n[o][...] down. Even Mr. Fielding [...] infected with the glory of conqu[est][...] and expansion, interrupting to add, "What we have we hold.” Not to be outdone, Hon. George P. Graham, First Lord of our Admiralty, with his fleet of three trawlers, said: "I understand we have Wrangel Island and propose to keep it." After this declaration of defiance to Russia, the United States and other nations interested in the Arctic, the Government consulted the British Foreign Office and received such chilling information that they have never published the reply or taken any further step, making Allan Crawford, in his patriotism, a victim of Stefansson's misguidance and of the King Government's neglect.

King Knew in 1922.

The British Government, early in 1922, informed Premier King that Wrangel Island was Russian by contiguity, and by a one hundred years' tacit acknowledgement by all interested powers in the Arctic.

Stefansson had claimed that Wrangel Island was a future air base between the Orient and Europe, but Great Britain, interested though she was, while Canada was not at all interested, in such an air route, did not propose to become embroiled with Russia over an icebound Arctic island, whose value was extremely problematical.

This was the offical British view of Canada's policy of expansion, but the unofficial intimation was even more interesting. It appears that,

in the sofest language, it was intimated to Canada that a policy of expansion, except in contiguous territory, could only be safely based on sea power, and that Canada had no navy nor a tangible interest in a navy. New Zealand and Australia had been awarded mandatories over rich islands in the Southern Pacific, but Australia had an effective naval force, and New Zealand, through contributions of men, money and ships, a definite right to the protection and assistance of the Imperial navy. So ended the Government’s dream of territorial expansion.

The Canadian Government by its action in regard to Wrangel Island jeopardized Canada’s control of the American Arctic. Both the British and the late Canadian Government had agreed on an Arctic policy which confined Canada’s sphere of control from longitude sixty, just west of Greenland, to longitude 140, the boundary between Canada and Alaska. This includes all the American Arctic but Greenland. Three other nations might claim certain rights in this territory—the United States, from discovery; Denmark, owning Greenland, from contiguity, and Russia. The United States had given an implied, if unofficial, consent to Canada’s claims, while Denmark had designs on Ellesmere Land, but was checked through the late Government establishing police posts in that area. Russia, on withdrawing from Alaska, forfeited all claims in the American Arctic, but strengthened her claims in the European Arctic. Wrangel Island is in the European, not the American, Arctic. While Canada, therefore, confines her operations to-the American Arctic, our control and sovereignty is defensible, but when, as in the case of Wrangel Island, we seek to grab territory in the European Arctic, we challenge interference where we are most interested and we jeopardize our great North for an island far distant and of no known value.

No Government Action.

From the day of the bombastic utterances of Premier King and Messrs. Fielding and Graham early in 1922, Canada has heard nothing of any governmental action to “keep the flag flying.” Hasty and ill-considered action jeopardized our northern interests, but brought a stern realization that a fleet of three trawlers does not justify embarking on a policy of expansion where sea power is the chief requisite.

From March, 1922, when Premier King “annexed” Wrangel Island and defied Russia, no steps were taken by the Government to rescue Allan Crawford, who was keeping the flag flying on Wrangel Island. There have been two victims of this illstarred adventure—Allan Crawford, a patriotic Canadian, who found death among the ice floes of the [...][A]rctic, and a humiliated Canada.

Last edit 4 months ago by Samara Cary
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