329. Memorandum of Conversations, Department of State, Washington, May 13, 19571
SUBJECT
- U.S. Policy on Making a Claim in the Antarctic
PARTICIPANTS
- 3 p.m. Meeting
- Amb. McClintock, S/P
- Mr. Watrous, ARA
- Mr. Luboeansky, ARA
- Miss Whiteman, L/ARA
- Mr. Meeker, L
- Mr. Bane, UNP
- Mr. Gerig, ODA
- Mr. Crowley, EUR/BNA
- Mr. Kavanaugh, SPA
- 4 p.m. Meeting
- Ambassador Murphy
- Ambassador McClintock, S/P
- Mr. Snow, ARA2
- Mr. Haynes, IO
- Mr. Watrous, ARA
- Mr. Luboeansky, ARA
- Mr. Bane, UNP
- Mr. Gerig, ODA
- Mr. Crowley, EUR/BNA
As a result of two meetings held on the Antarctic, it was agreed that the State Department should propose to the National Security Council that a determination of U.S. policy in favor of the U.S. [Page 674] making a claim in the Antarctic be approved. The matter of extent of the claim (i.e., whether only to the unclaimed area between 90° and 150° W. Long., or, whether in addition, to other areas as desired by the Defense Department under its present policy), was also discussed though this question was not considered pertinent to the problem immediately at hand. It was generally felt that, if a claim were made, a more extensive claim would be preferable to a less extensive, and that agreement regarding the disputed area could then be made by negotiation with the other powers concerned.
The group favored the traditional type of unilateral claim, and in conjunction therewith, recognition subject to negotiation by the U.S. of claims already made by the other powers. The possibility was recognized, however, that if the U.S. made a claim the entire matter might be thrown into the United Nations. That the Russians might also make a claim, either before or after U.S. action, was also considered possible. In the event that the question of claims in the Antarctic were taken up by the UN, the logical solution seemed to be the establishment of a trusteeship to be administered by the states directly concerned, or as a last resort, a UN trusteeship to be administered by an official of the UN itself. Another possibility was that of a condominium involving joint sovereignty and control, by the claimant powers, with appropriate relationship with the United Nations. A condominium was considered preferable to the trusteeships although in either case the opposition of Chile and Argentina could be expected. Probable opposition of Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand on the trusteeship arrangement also might be expected.
It was agreed that the Russians would probably not, under any circumstances, leave the Antarctic, nor would any claim or establishment of a sovereign administration over the area cause them to leave. … It was agreed then that a determination of policy in favor, in principle, of the U.S. making a claim in Antarctica should be recommended and that the matter of timing would be left to future considerations. A possible date of January 1, 1959, the end of the International Geophysical Year, was suggested.
If a determination of policy in favor of making a claim is approved, it was agreed immediate diplomatic discussions with the other claimant powers should be undertaken to develop agreed positions as to timing of the U.S. claim and form of administration of the area.