U.S.A.MAY
CLAIM
BRITISH
ISLAND
Daily Express Staff Reporter
NEW YORK, Monday.
AIR MINDED American
Government officials are
pondering a polite attempt to
haul down the Union Jack on
tropical Christmas Island, in
the Pacific.
Christmas Island has appeared
red on maps since Sir William Wise-
man, of the warship Caroline,
hoisted the flag In 1888. It appears
in the British Colonial Ofnce list.
Valuable Now
No one has ever troubled to
challenge Britain's right to it, but
now Pacific Islands are becoming
valuable to America lor her trans-
pacific air lines.
State Department officials today
siild that America docs not reco£-
nise British sovercijtnty to the
island.
America last year " colonised f
and "annexed" three neighbouring
Islands which have always appeared
as British possessions—Jarvls. Baker
and Howland Islands.
Christmas Island Is larger, and
probably the richest coral island In
the world. It lies 1,300 miles due
south of Hawaii; has two British
settlements.