Letter from Alfred J. T. Taylor to Vilhjalmur Stefansson, 26 June 1922

I am writing on the train en route to Vancouver, and so far am without definite information as to what Ottawa intends doing in regard to Wrangel Island, but should hear on my return home by Monday, June 26th.

I think I told you in a previous letter that both Finnie and Cory had said that the lease would be forthcoming within twenty-four hours of receipt of word from the Government to go ahead, and Finnie in my presence told Cory to get the preliminary work on the lease under way. I am afraid of the delays at Ottawa, but perhaps we will get word in a few days.

On the supposition that the Government do nothing, what is our next move? We must, I take it, send to Wrangel in August. Supposing we take all the men off the Island, will this seriously jeopardize our claim to the Island, or simply lose one season for us? I told Dr. King that we must continue occupation, and this was my plea for quick action.

Assuming the Government do nothing further, would you feel that the debate of May 12th in the House had definitely committed them to retain Wrangel Island and that your conversation with the Premier and others constituted adequate assurances that we would ultimately be given a lease, even though there were delays?

I am trying to plan how to get all further finances the Company needs without calling upon you, but a lease now or at any rate in the not too far distant future, is an absolute essential; otherwise the Company has no assets except glory.

I did not see the man I wanted at MacMillan's, Toronto, but have written suggesting the plan I spoke of for selling

V. Stefansson, Esq. -2- June 26/22.

more copies of "The Friendly Arctic", and asking for their terms.

Your next book, "Northward, the Course of Empire", which I have just read, is splendid and full of information, wonderfully well written. It should meet with instant success and I hope will be published soon. I am having the chapter on the ovibos typed for W. R. Brown, so that he may read it at once, and I am sure you may count on his enthusiastic support. Whenever you are ready to go ahead with the domestication of the ovibos, it’s a worthwhile undertaking.

I had dinner with the Princes at Ottawa, all of whom were so glad to hear of you, and the Professor told me that the Anderson aspersions were now being discounted on every side, and were beneath contempt. I heard nothing of them, and I listened well.

Mrs. Crawford, whom I visited while in Toronto, was mortified by seeing a friendly letter she had written to a friend of Allan’s, on the staff of the Associated Press, published broadcast throughout America, and she felt sure that your anger at this was the reason you had not written to her. I assured her you were much too busy to be angry with anyone and that you had probably not noticed the incident at all, but that it would be wise for her to be very careful not to write or say anything that might be published.

That brings up a point: Will you please write a letter of instruction to the Party on Wrangle mentioning the importance of not making any statement concerning their experiences or conditions on Wrangel until they have permission.

By registered mail I am returning the correspondence and newspaper reviews that you lent me, and I have retained two newspaper clippings, one from Leslie’s headed "Stefansson offers Great Britain an Island", and the other "The Literary Digest" for April 8th. These will be helpful to me, but I will return them at once if you need them.

You will see from John Anderson’s letter of May 25th that the Company is in debt for wages about $510., $350. of which is overdue to Ada Blackjack. It would be well to arrange to send to Vancouver during the next month say $1,000. in the event that the lease does not come through in time to enable me to get funds from outside sources.

I will wire you so soon as I hear from Ottawa, and I have someone there following matters closely. Please wire me if you get any word direct.

Meanwhile, with my best, I remain,