Christmas Is.: A Claim by U.S.A.

Frank Pryke.

Christmas Is.

A Claim by U.S.A.

IT is understood that the United States has put in a claim for ownership of Christmas Is’and, and that the matter is being argued, in gentlemanly fashion, between the British and American Governments.

Christmas Island was discovered by Captain Cook on Christmas Eve, 1777, and annexed by Britain in 1888. The U.S.A., in 1888, issued a “reservation on all questions” relating to Christmas Island. It was included in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony in 1919; and in 1914 it was leased to Central Pacific Coconut Plantations Ltd., of London, for 87 years.

It is a very large atoll, 100 miles in circumference. It does not appear to be very valuable, but probably it is now of interest to U.S.A, because it is almost on the direct route of the proposed seaplane service, Hawaii-Samoa-N.Z.-Australia.

In this part of the Pacific there is a line of six atolls, all of which were regarded, until recently, as British. Reading from north to south, they are as follow, and it is interesting to note that on a new map of the Pacific, issued by the National Geographic Society a few weeks ago, their ownership is indicated now in the manner shown hereunder: Kingman Reef, United States.

Palmyra Island, United States.

Washington Island, Great Britain.

Fanning Island, Great Britain.