800.014 Antarctic/11–2046: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Chile ( Bowers )
559. Reur 1003 and 1016.6 Official position this Govt re Antarctic claims is that US has never officially asserted territorial claims in Antarctic and, on other hand, has never recognized any claims asserted [Page 1495] by other countries. (See Secret Policy Statement on Polar Kegions7 which Emb received Sept 28).
This policy was conveyed orally to Chargé, Chilean Emb,8 few days ago; and in your discretion you may reiterate same to appropriate Chilean authorities.
Two US Antarctic expeditions are contemplated: (1) Naval task force exercise concerned with techniques for operations that climate under direct command Capt R. H. Cruzen; assisting is Admiral Byrd as Officer in Charge of Project; and (2) small, private and purely scientific expedition led by Commander Finn Ronne, USNR, sponsored by American Antarctic Association; this expedition to base in western Palmer Land and to explore inland.
Dept has informed Chilean Emb by memorandum that this Govt has no objections presence Chilean scientist on Ronne expedition, provided Ronne satisfied qualifications nominee and provided Chile defrays added costs.
Dept also informally advised Emb that Navy not considering accepting any foreign observers on task force expedition.
- Neither printed. Telegram 1003, November 15, from Santiago, reported that the Chilean newspapers had given prominence to an alleged statement by Admiral Byrd to the effect that the United States did not recognize territorial claims in Antarctica. As a result of Admiral Byrd’s alleged statement, an extraordinary meeting of the Chilean Army, Navy and Aviation general staff was convened at which agreement was reportedly reached to undertake a joint expedition with Argentina in order to establish Chile’s claims over territory in Antarctica (800.014 Antarctic/11–1546). Telegram 1016, November 20, from Santiago, reported that the Chilean Foreign Office was resisting pressure to issue a public statement regarding a joint Chile-Argentine Antarctic expedition (800.014/Antarctic/11–2046).↩
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The Department’s Policy and Information Statement on the Polar Regions, undated, which is under reference here, reviewed United States policy in both the Arctic and the Antarctic. With regard to the Antarctic, it read in part as follows:
“It may be stated that the United States policy up to 1939 was primarily one of refusal to recognize the claims asserted by other Governments and to emphasize the absence of acts of occupation or use of the territory which was considered necessary for the perfecting of a valid claim. The United States Antarctic Service Expedition of 1939–1941 was the beginning of what was planned to be a more positive policy of establishing and perfecting United States claims on the continent. The execution of this policy was interrupted by the war and has, therefore, been held in abeyance pending an appropriate occasion for further steps. A post-war policy on the Antarctic territorial question has not as yet been formulated.”
The Department’s Policy and Information Statements were concise documents summarizing the current United States policy toward a country or region, the relations of that country or region with the principal powers, and the issues and trends in that country or region. These Statements, which were begun in the spring of 1946, were generally prepared by ad hoc working groups in the responsible geographic offices and were referred to appropriate diplomatic posts abroad for comment and criticism. The Statements were periodically revised.
↩ - Mario Rodriguez.↩