stefansson-wrangel-09-38-004-007

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Arctic islands, and in 1921 he suggested to Arthur
Meighen, then Premier of Canada, that steps he taken
without delay to confirm the claim to Wrangel Island,
which had already technically expired. The Canadian
government, however, had pressing problems to face just
then and nothing was done.

Realising it himself, Stefansson could not believe
that others were not also aware of the value of Wrangel
Island. Particularly did he fear the Japanese. As it
stood in 1921 there was nothing to stop Japan from taking
possession. So Stefansson equipped an expedition at his
own expense.

CANADA NOT ANXIOUS
FOR BIGGER FAMILY

He hoped that when the British flag was once again
actually flying on Wrangel the Canadian government would
recognize his action. But Canada is not a sovereign
nation. In such matters as adding to or subtracting from
the area of the British Empire the powers that be in
London have a say. Furthermore, the Bolshevist government
had entered a protest against Canada's annexation of
Wrangel Island on the alleged ground of discovery by
Baron Wrangel in 1821.

Whether Chicherin, the Russian Foreign Minister,
really believed that the island was Russian or whether
he hoped that the British Foreign Office was ignorant of