Please refer to our minute dated 19/88/1955 closing a Commonwealth Relations Office ~ceornndUJll entitled "Proposed Commonwealth Consultation with the United States Government. It is a major co-operative effort of forty nations in nn• n v r the end of the qucot for knorlodge hi nEnvironment. and this happens after you 1 gives aid. o officials are convinced that the United States and Ruoaia, as well as other countries, do not convert the first ocntic camp in permanent baoe for the purpose of granting the territory. The United States has not publicly called for it to do so, but announced on November 2 that it would establish a permanent agon on Antarctic activity, with Adcire.1 Byrd as chief. .
Because all the great nations have implemented their dividers in the polar projection of the lower world zone. It is said that more is known about the moon's sunlight aide than about Antarctica. Somo of~icialo fe 1 is h18h tit:le that the United States et ed outside i t cl 1m d declared 1ta interest and.
In accordance with this policy, the EU government may exempt from acquiring certain territorial rights in the area. It will be recalled that in 1948 the Union Government drew the attention of the US Government to. The way in which the control over the Antarctic continent i.a. exercised must, from a long-term point of view, inevitably prove to be of decisive importance to the Union.
In 1948, the American government's attention was drawn to and reported on the turbulent, centuries-old interstate in the control and sn1etret1on of Antarctica. the United\.
SECRET\
I am also enclosing a copy of the minutes of the meeting referred to in our minutes to Foreign Affairs of 9 December. I am sending those concerned here a copy of your letter and this reply, and will keep in touch with you regarding further developments. I am also enclosing a copy of the minutes of the meeting referred to in our minutes to Foreign Affairs of 9 December.
South Africa House, Trafalgat Square, LONDON, C. devolopnt of the continent Union II. e ropr te s fr 1ch ch enterpr1rse will o reta. lay. I also make two comments. are most concerned that consultations with the Americano start as soon as possible. Secondly, I would be happy to know whether you have taken a similar approach to the governments of New Zealand and Australia.
We believe they would be interested and I feel it would save time if we could gather action on this correspondence with the New Zealand and Australian High Commissioners' offices in London. African whaling interests are well known and South Africa's importance in the meteorological network of the Southern Hemisphere, including the Antarctic continent, has always been recognized. It is further noted that the Union Governor may wish, in furtherance of these interests, to lay claim to certain territorial rights in the area, and that.
They think that in this connection it may be necessary to make a careful study of the principles and method by which such territorial rights may be defined, taking into account the existence of vested rights in. We are glad to see that your Government wishes to be associated with the proposed approach to the US Government and with subsequent consultations. You may, however, be interested in the following comments on the attitude of her 'aJesty's Government in the United Kingdom.
In these discus 1 no Dr1ees from her concern in the future development of the 11.narctic C ntinent, for. Int point on lnterconUnental turhta, Conllncnl" \\ hkh u beln;; ata::~ 1n the Antarctic continent is also be- t hf. And study, for which. Antarctica ob- under !ta icy surface that mta:r scrnUona will 11provide a valuable if rich natural deposit~.
Among lbesc expeditions, for this reason Admiral Byrd blggut and costliest tn ll<'ien• and others are to bin<:omlnr Uflc hlsloty, Is the American "Oper- that aome of the base is now nllon Dttp Freez.e. ," oonslstinit of nations created by variol'"' over seven 1hlp• and l 900 men under Antarctica in th,. Chile and ArgrnUna-are The adf!nllf1c e!fort must be well· really laytns claim 1llce~ of comedy for anything that might add to the continent of Antarctica.
2 - . ell as 1to aaj,>eguardins in the interest of national and intenwtionaJI. For security reasons, the Union Government wants to be included in any mechanism or consultation on the future of Antarctica that may arise. Under this policy, the Union government wants to acquire certain territorial rights in the area. On December 30) to inform you that the Union Ambassador in sh.1.ngton has been instructed to administer the Union Government with a joint approach to the Unitod St too Government in consultation with the United Kingdom, .Au. :Jtr lien ond e Zealand repreaentetiv e in aohington.
According to the information of your Government, we have been requested to inform you of the future policy of the Union in relation to Antarctica, which is proposed to the Government of the Stotea Unit in relation to Antarctica. 34;It will be recalled that in 1948, the Union Government directed the attention of the United States Government to the opposition of South Atrio, intereoto under the control and administration of Antnrctica, and desired the United States Government to do so. ellou1d to bear in mind the desirability of .,)cu.th. When the time comes for the economic exploitation and exhaustion of the continent, the Union, given its geographical position, will be one of the natural ana. In terms of long-term and long-term strategy, the control of Antarctica must always be the primary concern of the UA.
As a result of these considerations 1n end to be enabled to play a t'ull and useful part in the ultimate economic development of the continent, aa. Jordruln wrote on Doc. 28 wrote to you and indicated that the Union Government would be glad to be eoooi with the proposed Co onwealth approach to the United Statoo Government on Antarctica • c led that Union. Ambneeador in aehinl;ton how is illstructcd to aessociot th Ur.ion Govcrlll!lent 1itli th joint approach to coneu1tosion with the United Kingdo. 11 It will be mentioned that in 1948 the Union Government drew the attention of the Unit d 3tetcs Govo:rnoont to the opeoic out-African interests in the control and administration of Antarctica, and it was of the opinion that the United States Govornaont the inability of would keep in mind. South African eo~osiation has any international discussion that deals with this topic.
B caue of these c0ll91dcrot1ono and that ~e oncould play :ful.l and uac:f.'ul part v. As these considerations end up being able to play an important and beneficial role in. Governments with special interests 1on the Antarctic continent.11t to discuss the way in which1 the Union could acquire territorial rights in this region.
He further noted that in the opinion of the Government of the Unitecl Kingdom 1 t may be necessary to do a. Citizens of all powers have the right to visit or live in the area. As the map publi bed m The T1tnt's this 11.cck clc:arly iho11.ed. . bases erected by d11Jcrcnl countries throughout the Anlarcuc contrncnt will be noted, and, although this continuum is large and affords space for all, there . j arc thirty countries participating in the geophysical year, rncludins countneS' with ~'Oofli.:rlns pohucal claims.. uc uploratron 1s moreover in a larger. more mcchaniz:C'd degree than in the past.
Inc. J1mgers or such a collision has so far been ~ mall because the value of the continent appeared slight. Ocrendenc1cs have played their role in two world wllrs, and the s1tlltcgic potcn11ali11cs of the area arcater as scientific warfare develops.
