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

327. Memorandum From George H. Owen of the Antarctica Staff to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Henderson)¹

Washington, June 24, 1960.

SUBJECT

• Antarctic Developments (Briefing Memorandum)

Interim Meetings. Fourteen Interim Meetings of representatives of Antarctic Treaty signatories have now been held, including four since the first of May.²

Agreement has virtually been reached on the text of a recommendation designed to encourage SCAR to continue its present activities. The desire to avoid “officializing” SCAR had to be balanced against some representatives’ insistence that something be done to dispel SCAR’s anxiety that the treaty would create an organ to replace SCAR.

Agreement is also near on a tentative list of information to be exchanged regarding expeditions and stations. This exchange is required by the treaty, although the use of a detailed list is not. The problem here has been to maintain our public position in favor of agreements for broad disclosure (consistent with disarmament policy) and yet avoid imposing unnecessary administrative burdens on ourselves by too detailed requirements.

We have also had a number of conversations with representatives of embassies since May 1.

I have continued the “Advisers’ Meetings” (S/SA, S/AE, L, CIA, and DOD) to develop U.S. positions for these negotiations.

Ratification of Treaty by U.S. On June 14 the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings on the treaty in both morning and afternoon sessions. Mr. Phleger was the witness for the Department. On June 21 the Committee reported the treaty out favorably, without a dissenting vote, and it should come up for a vote in the Senate soon. We prepared Phleger’s statement, reviewed the transcript of the hearings and the Committee’s report to the Senate, and have prepared material to be used in speeches by Senators.³

Ratification of Treaty by Other Countries. Two countries have already deposited their ratification of the treaty: the U.K. on May 31, and South Africa on June 21. Belgium has also ratified, and ratification by France is expected in July. We have heard of no significant opposition to ratification in any of the signatory countries.

Ellsworth Station, Antarctica. The U.S. gave custody of this station to Argentina in early 1959 but cooperates with Argentina in operating a scientific program there. One U.S. scientist is now at Ellsworth. Due to inability of the Argentine resupply mission to reach the station last season it has been necessary for the men to remain there for a second year. Several means of assuring that the American there is relieved next year have been discussed with the National Science Foundation and the Navy. Reduction or elimination of U.S. support is also being considered due to various difficulties created by Argentina. We will have to deal with the Argentine Embassy on this.

Official Observer Program. Notes were sent in early May to the 11 other countries active in Antarctica, inviting them to exchange official observers with Antarctic expeditions next season.⁴ These invitations have been extended by the U.S. since the IGY. They were sent a month earlier than usual this year to permit time for replies and advance planning.

OCB Working Group on Antarctica. The Working Group met on May 31 and June 21.⁵ Main topics of discussion at the May 31 meeting were implementation of the Operations Plan for Antarctica, and a Budget circular on the planning and conduct of the U.S. program for Antarctica. At the June 21 meeting principal discussion was of an Antarctic mapping program, and feasibility of operation of nuclear reactors in Antarctica.

Organization for Antarctic Activities within U.S. Government. The House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs held hearings on June 13 and 14 on two bills, one to create an “Antarctic Commission” within the Government, and one to assign broad functions to Defense. No vote on these bills will be taken this session. We prepared a letter to the Committee Chairman outlining the Department’s position on these bills (against enactment).⁶

I attach memoranda of conversation, et cetera, turned out during your absence.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 397.022/6–2460. Official Use Only. Drafted by Fisher and initialed by Owen. Henderson wrote on the source text: “Mr. Owen, very good report. Thanks.”
2. Summary records of the four meetings in May are ibid., 397.022.
3. A draft of Phleger’s statement, dated May 24, is ibid., 399.829/5–2760. For the final text, see Department of State Bulletin, July 11, 1960, pp. 49–52.
4. Not found.
5. Records of these meetings are in Department of State, OCB Files: Lot 62 D 430.
6. A copy of this letter, dated June 8, is ibid., Central Files, 397.032/6–860.