Office of the Historian

294. Memorandum From the Head of the U.S. Delegation to the Conference on Antarctica (Phleger) to the Secretary of State1

Washington, October 16, 1959.

The Antarctica Conference met in plenary session at 11 A.M. It adopted the rules of procedure as submitted,2 with an amendment to Article 37, eliminating the “in accordance with the purpose for which the conference is convened.”

It then directed the constitution of two working committees and the allocation to each of specified subjects, these being the topics dealt with by the Preparatory Committee.

It also directed the Secretary General to submit as a conference document the draft articles contained in the working papers last considered by the Preparatory Committee.3

Committee One, meeting at 3 P.M., commenced the consideration of Topic 2 “Freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica” and Topic 3 “International Cooperation in scientific investigation in Antarctica.” The committee then adjourned until 10:15 A.M., Monday, October 19.

Committee Two is to meet at 3 P.M., Monday, October 19, to begin consideration of items commencing with “Use of Antarctica for peaceful purposes.”

During the noon hour the French representative informed the United States and Australian delegations that he had received further instructions from his government respecting draft Article IV dealing with questions of rights and claims in Antarctica. This consisted of a draft proposal which followed generally the draft contained in the Preparatory Committee’s draft, but with the significant omission of paragraph 1(c), which is a provision to the effect that parties to the treaty would not, by signing, recognize the claims of other parties not heretofore recognized. The U.S. delegation made clear to the French that it considers a provision as above mentioned to be essential in any treaty, pointing out that it was agreeable to appropriate provisions protecting the rights of claimants and that it expected similar appropriate [Page 582] provision maintaining the position and rights of those who would not recognize claims. It was suggested, and the French representative agreed, to take the matter up further with his government.

For the U.S. Representative:

George H. Owen4
Alternate Representative
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 702.022/10–1659. Confidential. Drafted by Phleger.↩
  2. Not found.↩
  3. See Document 290.↩
  4. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩