South Pacific Islands
p. 48 · Read in the full issue
America Still Claims Many
By A Staff Writer
At a time when the Western nations are busily handing back their colonies to the indigenous people , the United States still has a hankering for possessions in the South Pacific.
THIS is apparent from a map of the Pacific published by the National Geographic Society of Washington, DC, and issued with the National Geographic Magazine for April.
On this map, 23 islands adminis tered either by New Zealand or the United Kingdom are marked with the words: “Claimed by the United States.”
The islands are: Atafu, Fakaofo and Nukunono in the Tokelaus; Danger (Pukapuka), Manihiki, Pen rhyn (Tongareva) and Rakahanga in the Cook Group: Hull, Sydney, Gard ner, Phoenix, Birnie and McKean in the Phoenix Group; Funafuti, Nuku fetau, Nukulaelae and Nurakita in the Ellice Group; and Christmas, Caroline, Flint, Vostok, Malden, and Starbuck in the Line Islands.
The islands in the Tokelaus and Cooks are administered by New Zea land; the others are administered by the United Kingdom.
Although PIM has always known that the United States laid claim to some of the islands mentioned, we were surprised to find the National Geographic Society claiming US sovereignty over others.
Activities of Nationals To find out on what grounds this sovereignty was claimed, we wrote to the National Geographic Society and received this friendly reply from its chief cartographer, Mr. James M.
Darley: “America’s claims are based primarily on the activities of its nationals after attaining indepen dence. American traders, whalers, and missionaries were active in the ex ploration of the Pacific islands in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
“The United States Government also participated in the work of ex ploration through the naval expedi tions of Captain Finch (1829), Cap tain Roberts (1832), and Commo dore Wilkes (1838-43).
“In 1856 the Congress of the United States, in an effort to obtain cheaper guano, passed the Guano Act. Under its terms a number of
islands were subsequently proclaimed as ‘appertaining to the United States’.
“The factors of discovery, explora tion, the Guano Act, etc., have affected the United States claim, al though the actual negotiations with the United Kingdom and New Zea land did not begin until the early 1930’5.
“In 1936, for example, the United States annexed Howland, Baker and Jarvis Islands. Finally, on August 16, 1939, the United States officially claimed the islands in question.
“During World War II the United States built facilities on many of the islands, but, in view of their disputed status, returned them to New Zealand and United Kingdom administration with the cessation of hostilities.
No Solution “Discussions on the status of the islands have been held periodically among the three governments, although no permanent solution has yet been found.
“In 1956, the International Postal Union of Berne, Switzerland, pub lished a pamphlet titled ‘Nomencla ture des Pays, Territoires, etc. du Monde’. The territorial claims of the United States as well as of other countries are listed in this publica tion.
“The United States claims as shown on our Pacific map are also shown on maps published by the United States Government.”
So much for the technicalities.
How substantial are the US claims?
A claim on the ground of dis covery is definitely ruled out in the case of nine of the islands—Atafu, Nukunono, Pukapuka, Christmas, Caroline, Vostok, Manihiki, Penryhn, and Rakahanga, all of which were discovered either by British, Spanish or Russian navigators.
The question of who discovered nine of the others—Flint, Malden, Nurakita, Hull, Sydney, Gardner, Phoenix, Birnie and McKean—is in doubt.
So that leaves only five islands that were definitely discovered by US nationals—Starbuck, Fakaofo, Funa futi, Nukufetau and Nukulaelae.
The fact that some of the islands were explored by Ameri( expeditions does not seem to give US a valid claim to them, as, on t basis, New Caledonia, for examj should be British not French, so of the Solomons should be Span not British, and Hawaii should British not American.
A claim to the 23 islands on strength of missionary effort is a ruled out in most, if not all cas as few, if any, of the islands hi ever seen an American missionar The US can correctly claim t its whalers were active in some of islands—particularly the Phoe Group—before those of ot! nations. But they were also active the Marquesas and Society Groups the early days, yet it has never be suggested that this is sufficient rea{ for those groups to be turned over America.
As for the claim on the basis the Guano Act, this probably has more validity in international 1 than an Act proclaiming sovereig; over the moon. Furthermore, Guano Act was a decidedly unsa factory document as 15 of the islands claimed in it are not kno to exist!
Admittedly, American guano d gers were active in some of islands claimed before those of otl nations, but in nearly all cases tf were followed by British diggers, a the US Government did not disp< their right to dig there at the timi Finally, unlike the Americans, British formally annexed and rai: the flag on all the islands in questi at some time—in most cases, wh the islands are inhabited, with the ; proval of the native governments, . but the uninhabited islands have be actively administered either by ■ UK or New Zealand Governme: ever since.
As possession is nine-tenths of law, the US Government might w be flogging a dead horse in & claiming possession of them. Still, i body really believes there is likely l be a Cold War, even if the Pac: maps do continue to be mark® “Claimed by the United States.”
A central planning committee, which the Governor of Fiji, Kenneth Maddocks, is chairman, I been formed to make arrangemej for next year’s visit to Fiji by r Queen and the Duke of Edinburf The Royal visitors will arrive by at Nadi late on February 1 and w sail from Lautoka in the Royal yau Britannia that night to arrive in Sin the next day.