ADELIE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19032, 1 June 1925, Page 11

ADELIE LAND.

DISPUTED OWNERSHIP. FRENCH CLAIM ASSERTED. [from: our own correspondent.] SYDNEY, May 21. A decree of the French Government, the text of which has been received by the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. 8. M. Bruce, indicates that up to December 30 last the French had not abandoned their claim to be regarded as the rightful owners of Adelie Land. The decree, which was promulgated on the date mentioned, formally proclaims a national park of refuge for certain species of marine birds and mammals in the Kerguelen and Crozet Archipelagoes, the Islands of St. Paul and Amsterdam, as well as Adelie Land. The decree asserts an application over the whole of the Crozot Archipelago, and, in particular, Possession, Hog and West Islands; the whole of St. Paul and Amsterdam Islands; to the north of the Kerguelen Archipelago, the whole of the Howe, MacMurdo and Briant Islands, and to the south, the coast comprised between St. Anne's Point and Rabbit Bay exclusively, to a depth of 1000 metres from high water mark. According to the French decree, in all these territories it is forbidden to hunt marine mammals in general and, in particular, sea lions, sea bears, seals, sea elephants, sea leopards and penguins. This decree has revived in specific form the disputed ownership of Adelie Land, which is due south of Australia, and to which the Commonwealth has strong claims, both in respect of exploration and the precedent created by Canada," which proclaimed its ownership of territories between its northern boundary and the pole, and the award of Spitsbergen to Norway by the Paris conference. The Prime Minister states thai; the Question of ownership of Adelie Land is still in negotiation between the British and the French Governments.