313. Memorandum From the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Merchant) to the Head of the Delegation to the Conference on Antarctica (Phleger)1
Subsequent to our telephone conversation this morning, Mr. Rubottom informed me that he had talked last evening to the head of the Argentine Delegation and had persuaded him to withdraw his proposal that the area in which nuclear explosions were prohibited should be extended beyond Antarctica to include the high seas south of 60° .2
I also raised with the Secretary the difficulty on the accession clause. Opinion is strong and widespread within the Department that this is extremely important and that we should not give easily on it. The Secretary agreed that at least through today’s sessions you should maintain our position, indicating that you had not been able to obtain any change in your instructions. The matter can then be reconsidered tonight or early tomorrow morning when I indicated to the Secretary I would want to take up this matter with him again.