471. Memorandum of Conversation1
SUBJECT
- Inspection of Bases in Antarctica
PARTICIPANTS
- Mr. Viktor Karpov, First Secretary, Soviet Embassy
- Ambassador Paul Daniels, ACDA
- Mr. William Mills, OES
Ambassador Daniels explained that because of his Antarctic background he had been asked to help in the planning for implementing the inspection provision of Article VII of the Antarctic Treaty, the article [Page 1065] included to ensure no violations of the treaty. He said that there has never been any need to inspect and is none now so far as he knew, but it wasn’t desirable to let this valuable article atrophy through disuse. In any case, inspections might well serve to inspire confidence. He said that it seemed a good idea to inform other governments—especially the USSR—of our planning, to maintain the mutual confidence and cordial relations which exist in Antarctica. He said it is too early to make definite statements about details of the inspection since we are in the planning stage. He hoped that Mr. Karpov’s government would look upon any inspection in Antarctica as the United States does, namely as a routine Antarctic operation. The United States would, of course, welcome inspection of any of our bases. The Ambassador said that he did not anticipate an immediate response from Mr. Karpov, but would like to exchange views as soon as Mr. Karpov could report this conversation to his government.
Mr. Karpov asked whether it was visualized that each nation active in Antarctica should inspect all other bases.
Ambassador Daniels responded that that would be too expensive but we might inspect, say, the French D’Urville base, Mirnyy, where we would expect a cordial welcome, and the Australian base at Mawson with possibly inclusion of bases of Argentina, Chile and the U.K. in the Palmer Peninsula.
Mr. Karpov asked whether United States scientists working in Antarctica would be included in the United States inspection program.
Ambassador Daniels said that they would not, emphasizing that any inspection would be completely separated from the scientific program in Antarctica. He said that later on we will inform all treaty signatories of the names of our observers as required by the treaty.
Mr. Karpov asked whether all governments would be informed simultaneously. Ambassador Daniels said yes.
Mr. Karpov asked how long inspectors would stay at any one base.
Ambassador Daniels said that no very lengthy stay was planned and there was no desire to abuse anyone’s hospitality. He added that we have made no announcement about this matter and do not plan to do so. We hope that any inspection would be a “low key” matter not to be “glamorized.” The United States views this inspection strictly in the Antarctic context without any connection to the rest of the world.
Mr. Karpov asked whether there was any special reason for planning the inspection now.
Ambassador Daniels said there was none but that we did not want this valuable treaty provision to atrophy from disuse. The Ambassador added that if nobody used the inspection provision until six or eight years had passed, then initiation of an inspection would indeed cause comment and speculation.
[Page 1066]Mr. Karpov asked if any procedures had been worked out, noting that there could be many important practical considerations. He also asked whether detailed procedures would be decided by consultation among governments.
Ambassador Daniels said that presumably there will be conversations on this subject, and procedures would be the same for all countries. He noted that there were no rules for the details of inspection and expressed the belief that the matter would resolve itself with the use of common sense.
Mr. Karpov said that he would inform his government and see if we could reach an agreement on detailed procedures.
Ambassador Daniels said that there was no need to reach an agreement about inspection but that we would be interested in any comments on procedural matters. He added that it might be good if Soviets inspect United States bases and others. The Ambassador reiterated that we view this inspection as purely an Antarctic matter, unrelated to other parts of the world. Mr. Karpov proposed “a hypothetical case” in which only the United States and the USSR designated inspectors. He then asked whether we would agree upon procedures to be used. Ambassador Daniels said that there would not be much to agree upon because the right to inspect is established.
Mr. Karpov asked whether the United States would go ahead and inspect if no other country did so because of costs involved and so forth.
Ambassador Daniels said yes.
Mr. Karpov asked whether we had any procedures to avoid overcrowding the base being inspected.
Mr. Mills said that we would not abuse anyone’s hospitality.
Mr. Karpov asked whether these things will be subject to agreement “on the spot.”
Ambassador Daniels said in most cases, yes. He reiterated that we hope any inspection will be viewed as a routine non-glamorous operation.
Mr. Karpov said that he could not assume a very quick response to this conversation.
Ambassador Daniels reiterated the fact that we have no suspicions about any present activity in Antarctica and are very happy about the cordial relations there.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, IO Files: Lot 69 D 191, Antarctica Files, Inspection 1963. Confidential. Drafted by Mills.↩