Antarctica, 1973–1976
55. Memorandum NSC–U/DM–39A from the from the Chairman of the National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee (Rush) to President Nixon
The memorandum considered U.S. policy options concerning extraction of Antarctic mineral resources and recommended consultations with other parties to the Antarctic Treaty.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, OES/OA Files: Lot 90 D 234, Box 1, Antarctic Mineral Resources 1974, 1975. Confidential. Drafted by Yoder. Forwarded on April 29 by Grove to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Director of the Federal Energy Office, and the Secretaries of Defense, Interior, Commerce, and Transportation. Sections 4 and 5, covering Federal Energy Office comments and a summary of the Antarctic Mineral Resources Study, have not been published.
56. National Security Decision Memorandum 263
The President outlined U.S. objectives concerning Antarctic mineral resources and authorized consultations with other parties to the Antarctic Treaty.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 364, Subject Files, NSDMs, Nos. 145–264. Confidential. Copies were sent to the Assistant to the President for International Economic Policy and the Counselor to the President for Economic Policy.
57. Guidelines for Consultations on Antarctic Mineral Resources
The guidelines directed negotiators to secure the views of other states while reiterating fundamental U.S. principles.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, L/OES Files: Lot 98 D 419, Antarctica, 8th Consultative/I. Confidential.
58. Report on Preliminary Consultations with Antarctic Treaty Negotiations Regarding Antarctic Mineral Resources
The report summarized discussions with, and outlined the positions of, parties to the Antarctic Treaty concerning exploitation of Antarctic mineral resources.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 53, NSDM 263, U.S. policy on Antarctic resources (2). Confidential. Forwarded as NSC–U/SM–55F on November 22 by Gathright to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration, the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretaries of Defense, Interior, Commerce, and Transportation.
59. Executive Summary of the Report Prepared by the Antarctic Policy Working Group on United States Policy on Antarctic Mineral Resources
The report considered policy options for resolving the principal issues related to extraction of Antarctic mineral resources.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential File of NSC Logged Documents, Box 14, 7500581, U.S. Policy on Antarctic Mineral Resources. Confidential. Forwarded as NSC–U/SM–55G on January 27, 1975 by Gathright to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration, the Assistant to the President for International Economic Policy, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretaries of Interior, Commerce, and Transportation.
60. Memorandum NSC–U/DM 39B from the Chairman of the National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee (Ingersoll) to President Ford
An ad hoc working group of the Under Secretaries Committee summarized department and agency positions and submitted recommendations on major policy issues concerning extraction of Antarctic mineral resources.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential File of NSC Logged Documents, Box 17, 7501481, U.S. Policy on Antarctic Mineral Resources. Confidential. Attachments 1 and 2 have not been found.
61. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Ford
Kissinger explained the interagency disagreements about Antarctic resource extraction policy and recommended a course of action intended to preserve U.S. options.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential File of NSC Logged Documents, Box 17, 7501481, U.S. Policy on Antarctic Mineral Resources. Confidential. Sent for action. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. Ford approved the recommendation. Tab A is published as Document 62. Tab B is published as Document 56. Tab C is published as Document 60. Tab D was not found.
62. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Chairman of the National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee
The President confirmed established U.S. policy principles, international negotiating approaches, and interagency coordination procedures concerning Antarctic mineral resource extraction.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential File of NSC Logged Documents, Box 17, 7501481, U.S. Policy on Antarctic Mineral Resources. Confidential. Scowcroft signed for Kissinger above Kissinger’s typed signature.
63. Memorandum NSC–U/DM–39C From the Acting Chairman of the National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee (Sisco) to President Nixon
The memorandum forwarded a report by the U.S. delegation to the Eighth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, L/OES Files: Lot 98 D 419, Antarctica, 8th Consultative/II. Confidential. Forwarded on August 20 by Gathright to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration, the Assistant to the President for International Economic Policy, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretaries of Interior, Commerce, and Transportation. The attachments were not found.
64. Memorandum NSC–U/DM–39D from the Chairman of the National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee (Ingersoll) to President Ford
The memorandum recommended an “active and influential” policy toward Antarctica, taking into account U.S. political, economic, security, and scientific interests.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 53, NSDM 263, U.S. policy on Antarctic resources (4). Confidential. Forwarded on November 30 by Gathright to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretaries of the Interior, Commerce, and Transportation. The attachment was not found.
65. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford
The President approved continued Department of Defense expenditures for logistical support of National Science Foundation activities in Antarctica.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential File of NSC Logged Documents, Box 28, 7507950, U.S. Policy for Antarctica. Confidential. Sent for action. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. Ford approved the recommendation. Tab A is published as Document 66. Tab B is published as Document 64. Tabs C, D, and E have not been found.
66. National Security Decision Memorandum 318
The President approved continuation of an active U.S. presence in the Antarctic and directed federal agencies to support NSF programs.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, National Security Decision Memoranda and Study Memoranda, Box 1, NSDM 318. Confidential. Copies were sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Chairman of the Under Secretaries Committee, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
67. Position Paper for the Special Preparatory Meeting for the Ninth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
The paper identified general objectives and elucidated positions on environmental, economic, technological, legal, and political issues for the U.S. delegation.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, L/OES Files: Lot 98 D 419, Antarctica, 1976 Paris spec. prep. Confidential. Drafted by S. J. Burton; and cleared in OES, DOD, EPA, NSF, Interior, Commerce, CEQ, Treasury, FEA, and ACDA. Tab 1 has not been found. The underlined sections and other handwritten comments appear in the original text. In the margin of page 9, third full paragraph, second sentence, is written in an unknown hand, “demonstrable progress is required.”
68. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International and Scientific Affairs (Irving) to the Undersecretary for Economic Affairs (Rogers)
The memorandum reported the results of the Ninth Antarctic Consultative Meeting.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, L/OES Files: Lot 98 D 419, Antarctica, 1976 Paris spec. prep. Confidential. Drafted on July 15 by Burton. A copy was sent to the Legal Adviser, Monroe Leigh.
69. Memorandum From the Director of the Office of Ocean Affairs (Busby) to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International and Scientific Affairs (Irving)
The memorandum and attached Issues Paper discussed U.S. policy concerning exploitation of Antarctic living resources.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, OES/OA Files: Lot 90 D 234, Antarctic Marine Living Resources, 1974, 1975, 1976. Confidential. Drafted on September 23 by Busby and Scully (OES/OFA). Copies were sent to OES/APT, OES/ENP, and OES/OFA.
70. Memorandum for the Record of a Meeting Between the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International and Scientific Affairs (Irving) and Council on Environmental Quality Representatives
CEQ representatives registered concern about the potential negative environmental impact of unregulated Antarctic marine living resource exploitation.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, L/OES Files: Lot 93 D 558, Antarctica USG 1976. Confidential. Drafted by Sellin. The attached list of attendees has not been published.
71. Memorandum From the Federal Energy Administration Representative for Antarctic Treaty Matters (Dugger) to the Chairman of the Antarctic Policy Group, Political Working Party (Burton)
The memorandum recommended an enhanced plan of action in preparation for the Ninth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, L/OES Files: Lot 93 D 558, Antarctica USG 1976. Confidential.
72. Department of State Briefing Paper on Antarctic Resource Exploitation
The briefing paper identified issues to be addressed in forthcoming negotiations about the Antarctic regime.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, OES/OA Files: Lot 90 D 234, Antarctic Mineral Resources 1976. Confidential. Drafted by OES staff.