AMERICA MAY CLAIM PACIFIC ISLETS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 232, 28 June 1935, Page 11

AMERICA MAY CLAIM PACIFIC ISLETS

Links in Air Service Chain SOVEREIGNTY QUESTION ARISES By Telegraph.— Preps assu.—Copyright (Received June 27, 7.40 p.m.) Honolulu, June 27. There are indications here that America plans to claim sovereignty over Jarvis. Baker and Howland Islands prejmiatory to an air service between the United States and the Antipodes. The coastguard cutter Itasca placed four Hawaiian boys on each of these islands several weeks ago to establish American colonies. These islands are claimed by Great Britain, but they have been unoccupied for decades. lhe camps are making hourly weather timports under tlie direction of the United States Bureau of Air Commerce. Mr. W. T. Miller, representative ol tlie Bureau of Air Commerce here, declines to discuss the sovereignty question, which is certain to be raised. A schooner is being fitted out now i° r !t South Seas cruise to investigate the question of an air route to the Antipodes. The cruise is reported to be backed bv Pan-American airways interests. Mr. Harold Catty is associated with them, but ho claims that he is here on a vacation en route to Australia.

i-irvis Island is a small island on the Equator. ‘ It is one and a half square miles in area, has a populated of 30. am its chief exports are coconuts, It is aa ministered bv the British High Commissioner for the New Hebrides group. Ihe Baker gepnp of small coral islands am Howland* Island lie in r0XI11nt ? also on the Equator but ful,ller ,Jh west "The Times” Atlas ami the M mlii pictorial Gazette” agreed in describing onlv Jarvis Island as British.