ISLANDS CLAIMED

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1928, Page 4

ISLANDS CLAIMED

DISPFTK BFTWEFN BUITAIX AM) XOIIW AY. JU'GBY. Kcli. 20. Viscount Sandon asked tlic Foreign Secretary in tlio House of Conmions what information lie had had regarding the existence, which was denied by Norwegian whalers, or the whereabouts of Thompson Island, claimed by this country, and what was the position as to the rival claims of the British Government and ihe Norwegian Government to Bouvet Island. Sir Austen Chamberlain replied that Thompson Island was first discovered by Captain Norris in December, 1825, and had only once been sighted since, namely, by Captain Fuller, an American seaman, in 15915. The island was unsuccessfully searched for in 1898 and in 1926, but in view of Captain Norris’s definite statement, and the confirmation afforded by Captain Fuller, there appeared to be no ground for questioning its existence, although there was some degree of uncertainty regarding its position. The British Government had in formed the Norwegian Govormiieu that it considered the title acquire! bv virtue of occupation of Bonvo Island by Captain Norris in 1825. t: he valid, and that in the circumstance: it must formally reserve all its right: in connexion with that island. [Bouvet Island, which is south-wes of the southern extremity of Africa was recently claimed by Norway, whirl held it had been occupied by an expedition in 1927 and the Norwegian flat hoisted. According to the British Colonial Office, however, the island was discovered in 1769 liy the French, win: made no use of it, and was claimed in 1898 by Captain Lindsay for Britain.]