281. Memorandum From the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Murphy) to the Secretary of State1

SUBJECT

  • Status of Preparatory Talks for Antarctic Conference

Since June 13, 1958, thirty-one meetings of preparatory talks on Antarctica have been held,2 attended by representatives of the United States and of the Embassies in Washington of the eleven countries to whom our note of May 2, 1958, was addressed. It has been agreed that the conference should be held in Washington but no announcement of this will be made until there is a decision on the date of the conference. A number of representatives, particularly Australia, supported by the United Kingdom, have insisted that there be prior agreement on the main substantive points before the date of conference is decided. The preparatory talks have also dealt with the Rules of Procedure of the conference.

For a long time any discussion of the substance of the proposed treaty was resisted by the Soviet representative. However, at the last several meetings the Soviet representative has, in fact, engaged in extensive discussions of substance. Considerable progress has now been made in discussing the substantive points presented in working papers by the United States and other representatives. This has resulted in making known to each of the representatives the preliminary views of the other governments on several of the important features of the proposed treaty discussed until now. It has also shown where agreement will be difficult.

Except for differences as to formulation there is general agreement for the provisions that Antarctica be used for peaceful purposes only and that there be freedom of, and continued international cooperation in, scientific research in Antarctica. The differences as to formulation are related in most cases to other points which have either not yet been discussed as fully or on which agreement will be difficult.

The problems on which there may be difficulty in reaching agreement include: (1) The inclusion of a provision setting aside the question of rights and claims (”freezing the legal status quo”). The U.S.S.R. has expressed opposition to the inclusion of this provision and France, for other reasons, has also expressed a difference of view regarding its formulation. (2) There is a difference of opinion as to whether high [Page 519] seas should be included in the area of application of the treaty. (3) The U.S.S.R. and Australia have opposed a provision which would expressly reserve the right to use military personnel and equipment for peaceful scientific uses. (4) Provisions for an adequate inspection or observation system in order to assure compliance with the principle of peaceful use remain to be discussed among all twelve. (5) For some time now the Soviet representative has not repeated his suggestion that participation in the conference be broadened, which all of the other eleven oppose. Beyond this, the question of the relationship of the treaty to states other than signatories has not been threshed out as yet among the twelve. A revised position paper on Antarctica for the Frondizi visit has been placed in your briefing book.3

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 399.829/1–2059. Confidential. Drafted by Owen; cleared with ARA; sent through S/S; and initialed by Daniels, Herter, and Murphy. The source text bears the notation “Sec saw.”
  2. Memoranda of the first 31 meetings are ibid., 702.022.
  3. Briefing books for President Frondizi’s visit to the United States, January 20–23, 1959, are ibid., Conference Files: Lot 64 D 560.