800.014 Antarctic/10–1949

Memorandum by the Officer in Charge of Northern European Affairs (Hulley)1 to the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Miller)

confidential

Subject: Antarctica

Discussion:

Pursuant to the recent policy decision as reported in NSC 21/1, dated August 30, 1949,2 we expect very shortly to be taking up with the Chilean Embassy here the appropriate manner of bringing their proposal for an Antarctic modus vivendi, as revised by us, before the interested countries for discussion.

Recommendation:

It is suggested that during your visit to Chile next week you say to the Chilean Foreign Minister that the United States has given careful consideration and study to their proposal for a, modus vivendi for Antarctica, that in present circumstances we believe that this constitutes a most useful approach to the problem, and that we will be taking up with the Chilean Embassy in Washington in the near future the question of the most desirable method of bringing it before the interested countries for discussion. It is recommended that you add that while we view favorably the substance of the Chilean proposal, we have a number of suggestions which we very much hope the Chilean Government will study sympathetically and find itself in a position to accept.3

Concurrences:

BNA, EUR, L/P, OIR/GE, NWC, RPA, ARA—Mr. Barber.4

[
Benjamin M. Hulley
]
  1. In the Department of State reorganization of October 3, 1949, Hulley was in the Office of British Commonwealth and Northern European Affairs of the Bureau of European Affairs.
  2. See Secretary of State Acheson’s memorandum of August 29 to the National Security Council, p. 804.
  3. A marginal handwritten notation by Caspar D. Green (of the Office of British Commonwealth and Northern European Affairs after October 3) on the source text as this point reads as follows: “Mr. Miller reports statement made to Chilean For Min [German Riesco], who was very pleased.”
  4. Willard F. Barber, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs.