‘Greater Canada’ includes Greenland
Greater Canada, on Robert Stein’s map from 1909, includes Greenland as well as Newfoundland and Labrador. (Image from the Kenn Harper Collection)
In the past few weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump’s wish to acquire Greenland has put the Arctic territory in the news like never before.
It has also given armchair geographers opportunities to indulge their fantasies and pet projects on the island’s future.
Trump’s musings were thin on detail. Was he going to buy Greenland? Or just take it? He didn’t say. But some years ago when he first floated the idea, he had hoped to buy it.
At that time, Trump’s offer was simplicity itself compared with a plan that had come out of Washington more than 100 years earlier. But that plan — though it came unofficially from the capital of America — was not for the United States to end up with Greenland. Instead, Canada would acquire it — without paying a penny.
Think of it as “Make Canada Great Again.”
Robert Stein had led one expedition to the Arctic by hitching a ride on a ship supporting an expedition by Robert Peary. He had spent two winters in Greenland and returned to America filled with ideas about the promise of the Arctic. In that respect, he was like Icelandic-Canadian explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson, but without the charisma.
Stein never returned to the Arctic.
He busied himself promoting his pet projects of monetary reform and world peace. As usual, he promoted his ideas by publishing pamphlets. And, as in the past, his ideas found no traction with governments or the public.
But, like a true fanatic, he maintained his interest in the North and from the comfortable vantage point of Washington he concocted a hare-brained scheme. This one would involve a daring feat of diplomacy involving Canada, Britain, Denmark, Germany and the United States.
Stein had long been worried about tensions that were building between Britain and Germany. He knew also Germany had occupied North Schleswig, previously a part of Denmark, since 1864. And he knew Denmark wanted it back.
One solution might have been for Germany to trade it back to Denmark in return for Denmark’s colonial possessions in the West Indies. But the United States would not hear of Germany acquiring territory so close to America.
But what about a trade for Greenland? No; no one wanted to hear of that, either; it violated the Monroe Doctrine of the United States.
Robert Stein had a solution, or so he thought.
The United States would give part of the Philippines to Denmark and in return acquire the Danish islands in the West Indies. Denmark would give Greenland to Canada, because Canada was viewed as being a British possession.
Britain would in return give Denmark some of its possessions in Polynesia and Africa.
Denmark would then turn over its newly acquired possessions in the Philippines, Polynesia and Africa to Germany, in return for North Schleswig. For good measure — and for no apparent reason — Britain would give Newfoundland to Canada. Tensions would thus be defused and the world would remain at peace.
Stein published his plans in American newspapers in early January 1909. They were picked up by other papers in Europe. He claimed that he received great support. Of course, no one consulted the Greenlanders nor, for that matter, the Africans, Polynesians or Filipinos.
Stein even had a map published in which the name GREATER CANADA is plastered in large, bold letters across Canada and Greenland. It bears a legend showing the area of Canada in square miles, and then what that area would be with the inclusion of Greenland, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
For some reason, Stein thought these trade-offs would be relatively simple to accomplish. He believed his plan would create peace.
Stein was employed in a mundane job in Washington, a position with no influence. But he was quite deluded about the worth of his madcap ideas, fancying himself a man of influence.
As usual, he published his plans at his own expense. In 1912, he published Greater Canada and the Peace Problem.
In another pamphlet, he even suggested the United States turn the Alaska Panhandle over to Canada in return for an equally strategic, but unnamed, piece of Canadian territory. Unfortunately, Stein couched many of his arguments in the language of white supremacy, and frankly admitted that he was a believer in eugenics.
He wrote that “every man who knows anything about the matter will agree that Canada ought to have Greenland.”
This was the only way, he claimed, that adequate protection could be given to the resources of Greenland and the Canadian High Arctic.
“Only in this way can the whale receive adequate protection,” he said, adding, “Prospectors could then afford to explore every corner within 100 miles of Baffin Bay. A tourist trade would spring up as soon as regular communication was established.”
In The Canadian Magazine under the title Canada and Greenland, he closed with an impassioned plea:
“Without spending a cent, by simply expressing a wish to own Greenland, she [Canada] can gain that colony, the control of Baffin Bay, a monopoly of its whale fishery, most likely the accession of Newfoundland, hasten the development of her present Arctic possessions, cement the friendship between Britain and Denmark, largely restore the former cordiality between Britain and Germany, and, by thus lessening the naval competition, effect a saving of millions in her own budget and in that of the mother country.”
His final sentence reads more like a taunt: “Will she take her place among those that know the right and do it not?”
In fact, Canada did nothing. Stein’s correspondence ended up on the desk of R.W. Brock, director of the Geological Survey of Canada, who passed it on to Joseph Pope, undersecretary of state for the recently formed Department of External Affairs.
Pope wrote to Brock, “I do not think [Stein’s proposal] calls for any action.”
And there the matter ended. The world went to war, unaware of Stein’s unorthodox scheme. Stein, despairing of world peace, died by suicide in 1917.
Taissumani is an occasional column that recalls events of historical interest. Kenn Harper is a historian and writer who lived in the Arctic for over 50 years. He is the author of “Give Me Winter, Give Me Dogs: Knud Rasmussen and the Fifth Thule Expedition,” and “Thou Shalt Do No Murder,” among other books. Feedback? Send your comments and questions to kennharper@hotmail.com.
I mean it makes sense… would help unite and strengthen the Inuit nunanga.
Maybe, but is that in the best interests of Canada?
You’re right, we should’ve just joined Denmark, Canada doesn’t do enough to claim sovereignty.
Claim your own sovereignty, Jay?
It would not be in the best interest for Greenland, Canada has done a terrible job for the north, Greenlanders would be stepping backwards if they became part of Canada.
Denmark has done a much better job with building infrastructure, respecting culture, a better education/training, even their residential schools were done much better.
In Nunavut it’s still being very much colonized, education system is not designed for the Inuit in their own homeland, language and culture has eroded quite a lot and continues to decline, most jobs do not go to Inuit, from labourers, stock boys and up. A lot of tokenism for Inuit.
It’s the complete opposite for Greenland and Denmark, the infrastructure is light years ahead, all kinds of technology, all the while they learn in their language with a lot of their test books in their language. A curriculum of their own, trade schools, free university and student financial support that is much higher where you can actually focus on your education. There’s a lot going for Greenland, they seem to be on the rise as Nunavut seems to be going on a downward spiral.
It would be in Nunavuts interest to join Greenland and Denmark.
Would it be better in American hands who has shown how they handle territories like Puerto Rico after the hurricane during Trump 1.0? No help offered at all under Trump. Puerto Ricans can’t vote, don’t have access to any social benefit plans, have no representation in Washington.
Greenland under a US flag should expect the same. It will be a military base and a mining island with no considaration for the environment and people. It will be about greed and power. Trump says drill, drill and drill on the northern shore of Alaska that is environmentally sensitive and is home to am important herd of caribou. Many are say not to do this but that is going to be ignored. The same attitude should be expected on Greeenland under a US flag.
Under a Canadian flag, even if things are not perfect, we are working towards that whereas the US is conquer and rape the landscape.
Canada has regulations for mining and are experts in northern mining while repecting the environment. Mining on Greenland would enrich both Greenlanders and Canadians. Greenlanders would get a territorial block grant similar to other three territories, The is a flight between Ottawa and Nuuk, Greenland’s captital. Canada’s Inuit are related to those in Greenland. Greenlanders would have a similar government as those in the other territories, be able to vote and have a MPP in Ottawa. Greenlanders would have access to all the social programs that all Canadians have which is much more than they get from Danemark or would get from the US.
Greenland is a perfect fit for Canada and Canada if a perfect fit for Greenland.
Greenland would do better with the Danes and Greenland is working towards becoming independent and its own country, under Canada similar to the US where indigenous people are treated as second class citizens it would be taking steps backwards for Greenland and I am sure they would not want to go that route.
Greenlanders have worked hard to educate their people, a very high standard of education tailored to them, while here in Nunavut we continue to use a outdated Alberta curriculum and the language and culture in Nunavut continue to decline at a rapid rate.
The policies in Canada continue to minimize indigenous people in all levels, such as education in their language, minimal training, most of the jobs including low education and labour level jobs go to people not from Nunavut. If you do have a good job you are still expected to do and be like a southerner, the government of Nunavut is a fine example of this, the spirit of Nunavut was set aside and ignored.
Greenlanders will decide what they want, they have control of their resources and what mines can start or not. They have been moving in the right direction and working hard to move towards having their own country in their own lands, while in Canada the indigenous people are still expected to be the same as southerners in their own lands. In 10 or 20 years from now we will have young Inuit moving into employment in Nunavut not knowing their own language and culture. The colonization is still working very well in Canada. This is not what Greenlanders want.
I knew “Knud Rasmussen”, and his son. He lived in Yellowknife. Greenland should be “jointly, Canadian and Danish owned”. How about that!
That wasn’t Knud Rasmussen.
Recent interviews with northern Greenland Inuit show their growing independence from a governance by the distant Danish. The feel closer ties with Canadian Nunavut Inuit both family and culturally. They would prefer to be part of Canada, despite the recent poll showing 68 percent would like to join the US.
Desiring closer ties to Canadian Inuit by Greenlanders does not necessarily mean wanting to be part of Canada. What sounds more accurate is an broader Inuit state.
An interesting historical recollection that I have never heard of before. Well done.
Another Harper gem! Thanks Kenn.
Greenland as part of Canada makes perfect sense. Pairs up the 1st & 2nd most northerly land masses on earth. Many current inhabitants came from Canada’s high Arctic too. Greenland being part of the United States makes sense from a strategic/military standpoint (Thule is a prime example) too. And moves them much further north than Alaska. What dosen’t make sense is Denmark. Hardly an Arctic superpower. Why do they have it? Some Viking boat bounced off an iceberg & struck land centuries ago?
Well, I believe it only ended up Danish because Norway came under Danish rule and Greenland with it. When Norway was ceded to Sweden after Napoleon, Greenland was forgotten it seems. So….
Trump is full of what the bull lift in the barn.
I believe that he Inuit of Nunavut and the Greenland Inuit should be linked in some way by association, trade and/or political connection. It could be me but I think it would be better than being taken over by the USA. It could be a new territory under it’s Inuit name.
Like Quebec in Canada is an independent nation within the state. The Inuit could form a similar alliance throughout the arctic.
Let
greenland become part of canada….good plan….Canada is not for sale
But Greenland is apparently?
Great article.
Well written and timed perfectly to fend off the MAGA onslaught
on Greenland.
Keep up the good work
Thank you
Interesting story showing how colonial powers worked at the time and some comments show that colonialism is still alive and well in Canada. At the time, the US had bought Alaska from the Russians (Tsar) without asking Inuit people and later the US would occupy part of Greenland with the Thule base during the Cold War (that would also be an interesting story with the relocation of many Greenlander Inuit to Qaanaaq).
In terms of colonialisme, it’s neither for Denmark, the US or even Canada to decide the fate of Greenland but for Greenlanders themselves, in particular that there is a significant independence movement in Kalaallit Nunaat. Greenland has a special status in the EU through Denmark and once independent, it should be able to retain that status and Canada would be well placed to negotiate a free-trade agreement with Greenland as a bridge to the EU. Both Greenland and Canada need to distance themselves from the US and we could do that together while respecting Greenland’s independence.
For those who seem oblivious to Arctic realities, Denmark is an Arctic power and Danes have been in the Arctic for a very long time while having a Norse colony in Greenland for over 500 years. It’s a colonial power that is no better or worse than other colonizers, at least much less violent than the Americans with their Manifest Destiny.
Greenland was occupied by the Norse (Norway and Denmark) from 982 to roughly 1500 and the Danes returned in 1721 with missionaries who wanted to christianize the Greenlanders. Danes have been very active in the Arctic, in particular in the Canadian Arctic and documented the life of the Inuit at the time. No, it’s not a Viking boat bouncing on an iceberg, it’s a real colony with Norse living there, building communities and having tough relations with the Skraelings (the Inuit in the Norse language) for the best of five centuries. The colony disappeared around 1500 probably because of a small ice age. Canada has no legitimate claim on Greenland, much less than Denmark but yet it’s for Greenlanders to decide of their future.
The Norse who settled Greenland were from Iceland, which was settled by Norwegians and the people they’d taken from the British Isles (mostly women). The Danes weren’t part of that.
Good points though, the Norse who first settled Greenland did so in the time of the paleo-eskimo, prior to the arrival of the Thule (Inuit). In a way their claim to Greenland is just as deep, if not deeper, than the Kalaallit who came after them.
Canada is a sovereign country, and will remain as such.
We will not sell our souls .
Canada is not for sale. If Greenland joins Canada that would really throw a wrench into Trumps plan.
Ummm, because the Vikings settled it before the Inuit newcomers, that’s why.
Yep, then they had centuries of war with the settler colonialist Inuit.
Maybe we should annex alaska
See what tge fool thinks about that
It is quite interesting the logic we claim due to pride in one’s country. However we aren’t
meeting our international commitments for defense spending now, what would we do with more land to protect with our limited resources. Our current government is to limp wristed to demand the armaments we have paid for from our neighbors to the south. We are constantly searching for Dr’s and medical short comings. Massive housing issues, a government that continues to drive us deeper in debt without thought for future, or the idea that throwing money at any issue solves it, (literally billion $ bandaids). Our $ is at a low international rate, so the costs just keep climbing. That doesn’t include infrastructure, maintenance, upgrades, new housing, governing, patrolling. I don’t have the answers either but I think before we we blow a bunch of smoke up our asses in the name of pride, we really need to think about the commitment to such an endeavor.
100 % agree on all counts. We have become a lazy country and unfortunately ended up with a government that has a leader trying to buy a seat at the BIG table. The liberals don’t care about Canada and would prefer the world become one large socialist government. The money they have given to foreign entities would have give this country a decent military and still had money left over.
Vernon, I could not agree less. Joining the war band wagon benefits whom, a military industrial which has given us a Deep State, a failed democracy, a failing West. There is no need to continue to kow-tow as the Trudeau administration has done, no need to continue paying the American protection fee, a grand scale corporate welfare. We are in a time where a population mass slaughter (Ukraine, Palestine) is/has become standard operating policy by the machine. It needs to stop that bending to their will and evil.
Canada doesn’t need another large island to support. We have little or no military resources to provide security and our financial resources are already far exceeding budget. It should go to the Americans who can provide Greenlanders with everything they need.
Exactly. Canada at the moment is a financial basket case. You can blame Trudeau for sure. But by world standards,we were not a powerhouse in terms of military or border security before. Love ‘m or hate ‘m, Trump is absolutely right that Canada and most other countries have relied on friendly US muscle in times of need or security.
Denmark subsidizes Greenland at about $600 million a year. 50% of their power comes from oil. They produce no oil. Their main industry is fishing and fish products is their main export. It has only 2 minor operating mines (opals, sapphires and anorthosite). It has “potential” for mining but the land is covered 80 by ice…and no, it’s not melting fast enough to make any difference in mining.
Trump wants Greenland because it is on the great circle fro Russia where ICBMs would cross inbound to the US. Methinks Greenland is in a great place to lease out a few spots to Trumpy for his anti-nuke systems. Social independence for Greenland, less dependence on the fishery, cash flow for Denmark, not another fiscal black hole for Canada,
Maybe America should give the land back to Mexico like Texas
No, they shouldn’t. The US took the land from them (also a colonial state. incidentally) and it’s over. If Mexico wants it back they can try to take it.
Interesting that Stein’s “Greater Canada” also includes the nonexistent Crocker Land.
A non binding referendum would be great
A- keep ties with Denmark
B- Join canada
C- Join USA
D- Full independence
Let the polls reveal their true desires
The usa just stripped the native name from Alaskan mount Denali and restored the anglo name.. NOT respect for northern peoples.
A Sunday Times article by Tom Hoyem,former rep to Greenland from Copenhagen claims that by a 1917 treaty Britain has first dibs with Denmark to any purchase of Greenland..quoting from Yahoo news which was referring to a Daily Beast source
Might makes right
Of course there would be a dialogue with Greenlanders to determine if they would like to join Canada. There are many good reasons to join Canada as the people will gain enormously from their assoication. Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut and even far north Quebec have similar peoples and get much support from the Canadian Governement. Being part of a group is much better than being an isolated population. Greenlanders would get a northern block grant similar to the other territories, have a self government, have a representative in Ottawa, have voting rights and access to all the social programs offered to Canadians. Canada has the expertise of working in the high north while respecting the culture and environment of the people. Mining would greatly enrich Greenlanders and create opportunities to develop local infrastructure. Canada is an expert in high arctic exploration and mining under specific regulations to minimize environmental impacts. Sounds like a win-win situation. And of course this would be in the hands of Greenlanders.
The tiny country of Denmark does so much more Greenland then what Canada does in comparison to the three territories, our education system in the north especially in Nunavut is horrible, we have one trade school in Nunavut while almost every town in Greenland has a trade school. Inuktut is declining rapidly in Nunavut, our schools don’t even have a Inuktut education curriculum and it’s now 2025.
Grown,Andrea hold a lot more positions of power in their government as apposed to Nunavut where it’s more of a token position.
Canada likes to dress things up and do more token things and pretend Inuit are directing their government but in reality Inuit still so not have control of their own government.
I think it would actually be in Nunavut’s interest to Join Greenland and Denmark, more Inuit need to travel to Greenland to really see how a government can actually do things productively and effectively for Inuit, not for the transient population.
Ken is right. I’ve been to Greenland several times and Denmark has much more respect for Greenlanders than Canada for Inuit. In Greenland, they have their own District Courts with local people and a University in Nuuk which Nunavut cannot even dream of. The Greenland government has much wider authority and is self governing in almost everything while Nunavut is still in a very colonial status, Greenland could vote for its independence if they want, Nunavut doesn’t have a chance. So, it would be far more dangerous for the Greenlandic culture and Kalaallisut if they joined Canada. I had 3 visitors from Greenland decades ago to see how we were doing things and they were appalled of the extent of Canada’s colonialism. Mr Prevost obviously never went to Greenland.
Canada had Alaska – NWT. make our country the greatest over the US.