Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, United Nations and General International Matters, Volume II

326. Report by the Operation Coordinating Board¹

Washington, April 27, 1960.

REPORT ON ANTARCTICA (NSC 5905/1)²

(Approved by the President: April 7, 1959)

(Period Covered: From January 22, 1959 through April 27, 1960)

A. Adequacy of U.S. Policy on Antarctica (NSC 5905/1)

1. The agencies represented on the Working Group on Antarctica have reappraised the validity and evaluated the implementation of the U.S. Policy on Antarctica (NSC 5905/1) in the light of operating experience. The Board notes that the NSC Planning Board has agreed to review the policy at an appropriate time in relation to the ratification of the Treaty. The OCB believes that from an operating point of view there is no need for the National Security Council to review the policy prior to that time. However, due to the significance of developments since the last Report on Antarctica, it is recommended that this Report be forwarded to the National Security Council for its information.

B. Summary Evaluations of Progress Made in Accomplishing U.S. Objectives

2. Major progress has been made since April 7, 1959, toward the achievement of United States policy objectives in Antarctica. This progress is reflected in the following developments.

3. Antarctic Treaty. Pursuant to the U.S. initiative of May 2, 1958, in proposing a Treaty on Antarctica for certain stated purposes, representatives of the countries concerned met regularly until September 1959 for preparatory negotiations which culminated in the convening of the Conference in Washington on October 15, 1959. The Conference terminated with the signing of the Antarctica Treaty on December 1, 1959, by all of the 12 countries having an active interest in Antarctica. Although the Treaty is now subject to ratification by the respective governments of the signatory countries before entry into force, it is believed that its provisions already influence the attitudes and activities of the signatory countries with respect to pursuance of their national interests, and their relations with each other, in Antarctic matters. The Treaty provides, inter alia:

a. Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only.

b. Freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica, subject to the provisions of the Treaty.

c. International cooperation in scientific investigation in Antarctica.

d. Prohibition of nuclear explosions and the disposal of radioactive waste in Antarctica pending general international agreement on the subject.

e. The right of each party to inspect and overfly all areas of Antarctica.

f. Accession to the Treaty by any member of the U.N., and other states who are invited to accede with the unanimous consent of the signatories and those acceding states which are active in Antarctica.

In accordance with a provision of the Final Act of the Antarctic Conference,³ representatives of the twelve signatories are meeting regularly in Washington to consult together pending entry into force of the Treaty.⁴ At these meetings representatives of all of the countries have indicated there is a possibility that all signatories may ratify the Treaty before the next Antarctic season.

4. Claims. The policy provides that, if required at any time for the protection of U.S. interests, the U.S. would claim the unclaimed area of Antarctica and reserve U.S. rights or make claims in other areas. The Antarctic Treaty provides that it does not imply renunciation of basis of claims or asserted claims and it does not affect the position of any country as to recognition of claims. However, it does provide that no new claims will be made and that no acts or activities while the Treaty is in force shall constitute a basis for a claim. Ratification and entry into force of the Treaty will protect U.S. interests with respect to the question of claims. However, in the event, which is considered unlikely at present, that the Treaty should not be ratified, and should it become necessary for the U.S. to assert claims and reserve rights in Antarctica in order to protect our interests, preparations have been continued to support such contingency action.

5. Organizational Arrangements. A review of current arrangements within the Executive Branch for conducting, coordinating and funding Antarctic activities in order to assure the most effective arrangements for determining the scope of and carrying out such activities has been accomplished. The conclusions and recommendations of this review, as subsequently approved, provided: (a) that an independent commission to deal solely with Antarctic matters should not be established; (b) that responsibilities of the National Science Foundation for the development and management of scientific and related programs in the Antarctic, and of the Department of Defense for planning and carrying out of operations in support of the scientific and other programs in Antarctica be continued; and (c) that the OCB is the appropriate body to define broad goals in interpretation of U.S. policy on Antarctica and to continue to review the totality of implementing programs on a schedule coordinated with the budget cycle.⁵

6. Traverses. In addition to the broad established programs in scientific disciplines which were carried out at the U.S. bases, the following traverses were successfully undertaken:

a. Victoria Land Traverse: gathered geophysical, glaciological, geological, meteorological, and cartographical data. Made contact with end point of French traverse (1957). Discovered new mountains in Victoria Land.

b. Byrd Land Traverse: gathered geophysical, glaciological, geological, meteorological, and cartographical data. Reached shore of Amundsen Sea.

c. Airborne Traverse: conducted aeromagnetic, airborne gravity, and other studies, as well as extensive program in Marie Byra Land, including establishment of ground control point for air photography.

d. “Mount Discovery Deep” Traverse: currently operating in Ross Ice Shelf, conducting scientific observations as well as testing new model of Snocat type vehicle.

7. Reconnaissance and Mapping. Efforts were continued to obtain conventional mapping photography in selected areas. These included photographic coverages in Executive Committee, Sentinel, Horlick, Commonwealth, and Victoria Land Mountain Ranges. In addition, reconnaissance and photo mapping was accomplished on flights between South Pole, and USSR station, Vostok; Vostok and McMurdo; McMurdo and Wilkes; McMurdo and Cape Hallett; and to Coulman Island, Thurston Peninsula, and in Byrd Land (Byrd Station to Sentinel Mountains, Horlick Mountains and return), and along route of Byrd Land Traverse and Victoria Land Traverse. There remains, however, the urgent need to put our mapping efforts on a more systematic basis in order to achieve the required results. Such steps are being taken by the agencies concerned.

8. Bellingshausen Sea Expedition. After two previous attempts since inauguration of Deep Freeze, a successful penetration of the Bellingshausen Sea for the first time by any country afforded a two-week period of geographical and photographic (including establishment of ground control) studies in Thurston Peninsula area, plus an initial program in hydrography, oceanography, meteorology, geology, and biology. In addition, the USS Burton Island conducted oceanographic surveys on its voyages to and from the Bellingshausen Coast area and stopped briefly at Peter I Island to afford brief scientific survey.

9. Air Operations. Experience gained in previous Deep Freeze operations helped the Air Force task unit to drop more tonnage (1331 tons (net) in 99 drops) in less time with the least amount of material loss (less than 1 per cent) to date. Operations with C–130 aircraft proved the feasibility of landing heavy 4-engine aircraft on snow air fields at the Pole and Byrd Stations, operating from an airstrip on the ice shelf near McMurdo Sound. Seven Air Force C–130s delivered a total of 400 tons of cargo to the inland stations.

10. Rescue Missions. Task Force 43 aided and helped to evacuate injured members of the New Zealand traverse party, and evacuated an Australian patient from Wilkes to McMurdo Sound, thence to New Zealand. The Bellingshausen Sea mission was cut short in order to respond to calls from the Argentine icebreaker San Martin, and the British ship Kista Dan, both of which were trapped by ice in Marguerite Bay off Palmer Peninsula. The U.S. icebreaker Glacier was successful in freeing the British ship Kista Dan after ice conditions had allowed the San Martin to extricate herself from the ice.

11. Scientific Programs. The summer and winter programs supported include observations and studies in aurora and airglow, the life sciences, cosmic ray, exploration geophysics, geodesy and cartography, geology, geomagnetism, glaciology, gravity, ionospheric physics, meteorology and climatology, oceanography, seismology and related advisory and special services. The programs have been carried out in the areas of our stations and in the field in Byrd Land and on the Victoria Plateau.

12. Scientific Personnel. A total of eighty-one scientific personnel for USARP ‘60, thirty-six winter-over and forty-five for summer work, gathered for a period of indoctrination and study before going to the field. Thirty-nine of these personnel are from Government agencies and forty-two from private institutions. The changeover of scientific personnel has been completed. Fifteen grants to Government agencies and thirty-seven to private institutions to a total of $3,939,733 have been approved by the National Science Foundation in support of the U.S. Antarctic Research Program, USARP ‘61, in conjunction with support furnished under Deep Freeze ‘60. This total in dollar support represents approximately 50% of requests received.

13. Cooperative Scientific Programs. The joint administration of the scientific program at the U.S. Hallett Station with New Zealand continues as in the past with New Zealand supplying this year’s Station Scientific Leader. The changeover of scientific personnel and resupply of equipment has been accomplished at Wilkes Station, cooperatively administered with Australia. Due to severe ice conditions which prevented the Argentine resupply vessel from completing its mission, the changeover of personnel and resupply of Ellsworth Station could not be accomplished this season.

14. Foreign Observers and Resident Scientist Exchanges. Observers were exchanged during the summer support season with Argentina, Australia, Chile, and the United Kingdom. In addition, observers from Belgium and Japan participated in Deep Freeze operations while an American accompanied the Norwegian cruise to Queen Maud Land. A French observer participated in the U.S. Victoria Land Traverse. Exchange of scientists with the Soviet Union placed a Russian at McMurdo and an American glaciologist at Mirny for the coming winter.

15. Improvement in Operations. During the past year, closer coordination and more detailed operational planning between Task Force 43 and the National Science Foundation have resulted in considerable savings. More efficient utilization of personnel and resources has resulted in the conduct and support of a scientific program nearly double that previously accomplished within the same general level of effort. Indications are that this trend can continue in the future.

1. Source: Department of State, S/P–NSC Files: Lot 62 D 1, Antarctica Subject File. Secret. A cover sheet and a memorandum of transmittal, dated April 29, are not printed.
2. Document 286.
3. For text of the Final Act, see The Conference on Antarctica, Washington, October 15–December 1, 1959 (Washington, September 1960), pp. 56–60.
4. Summary records of the 10 interim meetings held by April 27 are in Department of State, Central File 397.022.
5. A copy of the memorandum recommending these changes, dated November 19, 1959, is ibid., S/P–NSC Files: Lot 62 D 1, Antarctica Subject File.