031.11 Ellsworth Antarctic Expedition/89
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Capetown (Denby)
Sir: Mr. Lincoln Ellsworth is planning to make another expedition to the Antarctic and his vessel, the Wyatt Earp is now en route to Capetown. Mr. Joseph Ulmer, brother of Mrs. Ellsworth, visited the Department in June and indicated that Mr. Ellsworth would be interested in making claims to new territory in the Antarctic on behalf of the United States if it were desired that he do so. Mr. Ulmer implied that if the Department were to make suggestions as to the areas to be visited, in relation to their desirability from the point of view of claiming or establishing American sovereignty, it would probably influence Mr. Ellsworth’s plans as to the areas he would attempt to explore. It was explained to Mr. Ulmer that since Ellsworth is conducting a private expedition the Department could not undertake to make suggestions of that character.
It is reported that Sir Hubert Wilkins will accompany Mr. Ellsworth and that his airplane pilot will be a Canadian citizen. It is understood that most of the members of the crew of the “Wyatt Earp are Norwegians.
Upon the arrival of Mr. Ellsworth in Capetown you are requested to inform him, in strict confidence, that it seems appropriate for him to assert claims in the name of the United States as an American citizen, to all territory he may explore, photograph, or map which has hitherto been undiscovered and unexplored, regardless of whether or not it lies within a sector or sphere of influence already claimed by any other country. It is, of course, preferable that such claims shall relate to territories not already claimed by another country. Reassertion of American claims to territory visited by American explorers several decades ago would seem to be appropriate if he should desire to explore such areas. You may suggest the possibility of dropping notes or personal proclamations, attached to parachutes, containing assertions of claims, and subsequently making public the text of such claims, together with approximate latitude and longitude of the points concerned. It should be made clear to Ellsworth that he [Page 973] should not indicate or imply advance knowledge or approval of the Government of the United States but that he should leave it for this Government to adopt its own course of action.
The following information is of interest in connection with the suggestion that Ellsworth might drop notes or proclamations asserting claims on behalf of the United States. Captain Sir Hubert Wilkins, writing in the Geographical Review, July 1930, referring to airplane flights made over Charcot Island, wrote as follows:
The drifts were comparatively high, and it would have been risky to have landed upon them even with skis. We could not afford a landing as we were fitted with pontoon gear. However, in order to strengthen claims that Great Britain has for many years laid to these areas, I dropped, near Cape Mawson and near Cape Byrd, the British flag and a document claiming the area for Great Britain. The flag was suspended on a parachute so that it might float in the air for some time and after the weight to which it was attached reached the snow. The text of the document is as follows:
By virtue of authority to do and perform all and every lawful act necessary to take possession of such territories found between the Falkland Island Dependencies and the Ross Dependency in the name of George, by Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India, etc., etc., etc., signed by His Royal Hand and given at the Court of Saint James on the 21st day of August 1929 I now float His Majesty’s flag above this territory and deposit the record at approximately lat… long… as evidence of this visit and claim, so far as this act allows, this territory, land and sea, in the name of His Britannic Majesty King George the Fifth.
Dated .............
Signed.
You are requested to report to the Department promptly regarding your conversations with Mr. Ellsworth. You may inform Mr. Ellsworth that if he should care to communicate to the Secretary of State a report of his expedition, particularly in relation to areas visited and claims asserted, the Department would be pleased to receive such a report.
Very truly yours,