FLOATING VISITOR

Lowell Thomas Jr. '46 is a visitor in a Soviet-claimed area of the world under most unusual circumstances. An American-manned scientific ice island has for the first time drifted into arctic waters where the Russians claim they have territorial rights. The massive floating ice which is two and a half miles wide and long and fifty feet thick was occupied at the time of its entrance into Soviet areas by eleven American scientists, six polar bears and Thomas. What happens next may provide the answer to whether or not the U. S. and Russia can achieve a normal scientific union in the Arctic.

American courier planes periodically service the island. To do this now, they must fly over Russian "territorial" waters. The U. S. does not recognize the Soviet claim to this arctic area. In the American view, Soviet territorial water is limited to the area three miles beyond Soviet borders.

Thomas, a veteran of rigorous scientific expeditions, will leave the island shortly by Air Force plane. Whether he needs an exit visa, or where he might find one if he did, is still in doubt in the land of the midnight sun.