Part of Phoenix Group Was Claimed by Britain Washington, Mar. 6.
The islands of Canton and Ender-bury, forming part of the Phoenix Group of Islands, in the middle of the Pacific, lying astride the CaliforniaNew Zealand air route, were! formally claimed as belonging to the United "States to-day.
The claim was made in an execu tive order signed by President Roosevelt, which alleged that the islands were discovered by American whalers.
The main importance of the is-Jands is owing to their position as a Trans-Pacific aviation station, Great Britain, however, claims sovereignty over' the entire' Phoenix. group of islands. President Roose velt's move is, therefore, regarded here as a frst step towards: negotiations with Grent Britain and other countries in regard to the sovereignty of a number of Pacific islands. President Roosevelt has also claimed United States sovereignty over those Lauds in the Antarctic which were first visited by Americans Reuter,
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