800.014 Antarctic/12–2346: Telegram
The Minister in New Zealand ( Warren ) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 23—6:10 p.m.]
616. McIntosh,15 under instructions of Prime Minister,16 called me to his office this afternoon, handed me a tentative draft note (which is being forwarded by following telegram)17 and requested my comment. At same time I was shown a more lengthy proposed press release on generally similar lines. I pointed out to McIntosh that New Zealand Government was familiar with American position in regard to Antarctic claims (which he had correctly stated in conversation), that I [Page 1500] was “without information which would substantiate correctness of some statements in note and press release (referring to operations in the Ross Dependency), and that I could see no useful purpose in New Zealand opening a public debate with the US at this time regarding the present American expedition.
McIntosh referred to recent and sustained clamor in New Zealand press (reLegtel 608, December 16, 2 p.m.)17a for positive assertion of New Zealand Antarctic claims and stated that Prime Minister feels it necessary to take some cognizance of press reports that Admiral Byrd proposes to operate the Navy task force from a base in the Ross Sea.
McIntosh undertook to refer both note and press release to the Prime Minister and to notify me later today if the note is to be canceled or modified. In any event, he expected issuance of modified press release in which New Zealand claims will be implied.18
- A. D. McIntosh, Director of the Office of the New Zealand Prime Minister.↩
- Peter Fraser.↩
- Telegram 617, December 23, from Wellington, not printed (800.014 Antarctic/12–2346). The draft note under reference here was cancelled. For the final text of the note, forwarded to the Legation on December 24, see infra.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Prime Minister Fraser’s statement on Antarctica, which was issued to the press on December 28, was transmitted in telegram 624, December 29, from Wellington, not printed.↩