CENTRE OF INTEREST

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 70, 24 March 1938, Page 9

CENTRE OF INTEREST

CHRISTMAS ISLAND

COLONISATION PLAN

WESTERN SAMOA FOR

GERMANY?

NEW YORK, March 23.

Christmas Island has become a new centre of interest in the growing race for Pacific insular possessions among the major maritime Powers, says the Honolulu correspondent of the United Press. The United States has already made plans to colonise Christmas Island and may claim it despite Britain's proclamation of sovereignty of December 28, 1919. There are also persistent rumours that Western Samoa, and Apia mar be turned over to Germany in a "British colonial deal." . There are definite indications that the United States navy regards Christmas Island as having considerable strategic'importance from a military as well as a commercial viewpoint, since Christmas Harbour is capable of development for warships.

Christmas Island lies 164 miles southeast by east of Fanning Island. It is about 100 miles in circumference. Under terms of a licence dated October 27, 19i4, Central Pacific Coconut Plantations Limited, of Tahiti, was granted the exclusive right to occupy the island for its own use, for the production of coconuts, oil, pearl shell, and guario, during the term of 87 years from January 1, 1914. There is a population of 23. The port of entry is Fanning Island, and all inward entries and outward clearances must be made at that port. Labour used on the island is brought from Tahiti. ■

The island is under the direct control of the Resident Officer at Fanning Island, and periodical visits of inspection have been paid by British warships. The first' visit by a district officer since the inclusion of the island in the Gilbert and'Ellice Colony was made in March, 1922, in H.M.S. Calcutta. The area is about 60,000 acres, pf which 1200 acres are under coconuts. The leasing company pays £200 a.year to the Government of the colony and is thereby relieved of all taxation.

The island was discovered by, Captain Cook on Christmas Day, 1777. It is described by American experts as the most readily-adaptable seaplane base between Honolulu and American Samoa. Its ownership, according to American admissions, may be debatable today. A coral atoll encircling a placid and deep lagoon, it lies about 1200 miles south of Hawaii. Though too far east for a direct Hawaii-Aus-tralia air line, according to the '"San Francisco Chronicle," it is well placed for the day, now foreseen, when a straight route is established from the United States or South America to the Antipodes. Great Britain has claimed sovereignty over the island on the ground of annexation in 1888, but the atoll is also listed among the guano islands held by the United States, which declares that about 1872 the United States ship Narragansett took possession of Christmas Island, which was then occupied by . Honolulu setlers. These subsequently departed.'

Towards the end of January last year H.M.S. Leith took Mr. Oscar Barrack, a radio operator, of Suva, to Christmas Island, and left him there with six months' supplies. In July of last year Mr. Barrack was replaced by Mr. William Cowie, an English wireless ■ operator, who was taken to the island by H.M.S. Achilles. Mr. Cowie had supplies for twelve months.