800.014 Antarctic/9–2048
The Department of State to the French Embassy
Aide-Mémoire
The Department of State refers to the French Embassy’s aide-mémoire of September 20, 19481 which requests information on several points of the United States Government’s proposal for discussion of the problem of Antarctica. The views of this Government on the questions raised are given in the following paragraphs, numbered to correspond with the numbers In the French Embassy’s aide-mémoire.
1. The United States proposal envisages the joining and merging of national claims. This would eliminate the establishment of individual national sovereignty over particular portions of the area. It would establish the joint sovereignty of the interested Governments over the area as a whole.
2. The United States proposal is intended to provide for complete liberty of bona fide scientific research. In order to promote the rational planning and carrying out of such research, the proposal recommends the development by the interested countries, acting through [Page 1006] the Antarctic Commission, of an overall plan of scientific investigation. It is hoped that each of the participating countries might undertake, upon completion of the general plan, so to plan its individual projects as to contribute to the accomplishment of some portion of that general plan. It is felt that this would be a useful arrangement to avoid duplication of effort, and to promote full, well-rounded investigation. However, with the single exception that no two expeditions should be stationed in such immediate proximity as to interfere with each other’s operations, the United States Government feels that each country should be entirely free to send independent expeditions into any part of the area.
It is the thought of the United States Government that the regime would, as a minimum, promote and facilitate the exchange and common availability of scientific results.
3. It is the judgment of the United States Government that the cost of administration would, for the foreseeable future, be very small. Administrative functions would be at a minimum. Although no prospectus of a budget has been worked out, it is thought that the expense of each country would be limited to the part-time assignment of one or two officials to serve on the Commission and a share in the maintenance of a permanent Commission office to serve as a clearing house for information, exchange of data, preparation of agenda for Commission meetings, and similar functions.
4. It is the thought of the United States Government that the scope of an agreement with regard to Antarctica should not extend to matters which involve the oceans surrounding that area. This concept seems appropriate with regard to defense and security as well as with regard to other aspects, such as whaling.
The United States Government will welcome suggestions for the clarification or improvement of the proposed Article VI. The United States Government considers that a provision should be included in the proposal for agreement which would permit defense measures to be taken individually or jointly should the need arise. It is felt, however, that the eight nations, jointly, acting through the Commission, should retain the right to disapprove measures of defense proposed by any individual nation.
5. The proposal put forward by the United States Government envisages, under Article IV, an informal cooperative relationship between the Antarctic Commission and the specialized agencies (especially the scientific agencies) of the United Nations, for the mutual benefit of the Commission and the United Nations agencies. Practicable suggestions looking towards a closer or more formal relationship will be welcomed.
[Page 1007]The Department of State hopes that the foregoing will be useful to the French Government in understanding the views of the United States Government on the points covered. The Department of State is gratified at the expression of the French Government’s willingness to enter upon discussions seeking a solution of the Antarctic problem. The Department of State will welcome any observations or suggestions from the French Government on the subject.
- Not printed. Airgram A–1046, September 25, from Paris, not printed, reported that the French Foreign Ministry desired to have further information about the Draft Agreement on Antarctica before reaching a decision. The Embassy commented that the request for clarification might be in the nature of a stall to avoid giving a more definitely negative answer. Conversations between Embassy representatives and Foreign Ministry officials indicated a pronounced reluctance on the part of the French as regards the reunuciation of Antarctic claims and their merger in an international body (800.014 Antarctic/9–2548).↩