031 Byrd South Polar Expedition/161

The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador ( Lindsay )

My Dear Sir Ronald: Referring to your recent inquiry, I beg to inform you that so far as I am advised the only action taken by my Government relative to the Byrd Expedition to the Antarctic since your note of January 29, 1934, and my reply thereto of February 24, 1934, consists in the Postmaster General of my Government having instructed a representative of his Department to proceed to Little America, Admiral Byrd’s base, “for the purpose of assuming charge of the handling of the mail at that place.”

It is understood that His Majesty’s Government in New Zealand bases its claim of sovereignty on the discovery of a portion of the region in question. While it is unnecessary to enter into any detailed discussion of the subject at this time, nevertheless, in order to avoid [Page 1013] misapprehension, it is proper for me to say, in the light of long established principles of international law, that I can not admit that sovereignty accrues from mere discovery unaccompanied by occupancy and use.

I am [etc.]

Cordell Hull