Editorial Note
A Belgian Embassy Memorandum, dated October 8, 1948, called to the attention of the Department of State the Belgian exploration activities in Antarctica in 1898–1899 and indicated that Belgium was entitled to participate in the settlement of the Antarctic question. A copy of the Draft Agreement on Antarctica was transmitted to the Belgian Embassy under cover of a Department of State note of December 31, 1948. The Department’s note informed the Belgian Embassy that only those states which had advanced claims to sovereignty in the Antarctic had been approached regarding a solution of the Antarctic problem. The note further explained that although the United States had not yet advanced claims in Antarctica, the activities of its nationals over a long period of time and covering a large part of Antarctica gave it a sound basis for undertaking an initiative in the matter (800.014 Antarctic/12–3148).