454. Memorandum From Wayne H. Fisher of the Office of the Special Assistant for Antarctic Affairs, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, to the Assistant Secretary of State (Cleveland) and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Gardner)1
SUBJECT
- Recent Antarctic Developments
The Antarctic Treaty, which was signed at Washington on December 1, 1959, entered into force on Friday, June 23, 1961 upon the simultaneous deposit at noon on that day of the instruments of ratification of Argentina, Australia and Chile. Attached is a White House announcement made on the occasion of the entry into force of the Treaty.2
The Treaty provides that a Consultative Meeting shall be held at Canberra within two months after the date of entry into force of the Treaty. The Canberra Meeting convenes today and is expected to last [Page 1034] about two weeks. Ambassador Sebald is the U.S. Representative to this Meeting. George Owen is the Alternate U.S. Representative. Attached is a press release listing the members of the U.S. delegation.3
At the Interim Meetings of representatives of Antarctic Treaty signatories which have been held regularly in Washington since January of 1960, a proposed agenda (copy attached) for the Canberra Meeting was developed.4 U.S. position papers on Items 6 through 20 were prepared and cleared with the various interested offices in the Department, as well as with other Government agencies concerned with Antarctica.
The Canberra Meeting is expected to be of a more technical nature than was the Conference on Antarctica. We have had no indication up to now that the Soviet Union or any other country plans to raise highly controversial questions at the Meeting. The proposed agenda does not include items that directly concern such important Treaty provisions as nonmilitarization and inspection in Antarctica, but several countries, including the United States, may make reference in their opening statements to the inspection provision and to their intention to exercise their inspection rights, not necessarily as a result of suspicion but as a normal activity under the Treaty.
Poland acceded to the Treaty on June 8, 1961. She has not, however, sought to be included among the countries participating in the Canberra Meeting. In the event of such a request, our position has been that Poland is not entitled to participate in the Meeting since she is not engaged in “substantial scientific research activity” in Antarctica, which is a Treaty requirement that acceding countries must fulfill before they are entitled to participate in the Consultative Meetings.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, IO Files: Lot 69 D 169, Antarctica Files, 1961–1962, Administrative Within USG, 1961. No classification marking.↩
- Not printed. For text, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1961, pp. 471–472.↩
- Not printed. For text, see Department of State Bulletin, July 24, 1961, p. 167.↩
- Not attached. A copy is in the National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, IO Files: Lot 69 D 169, Antarctica File, 1961–1962, U.S. Policy Matters, Department of State, January–July 1961. Agenda items 6 through 20 were: exchange of information regarding plans for scientific programs; exchange of scientific personnel; exchange and making available of scientific observations and results; relations with SCAR, relations with other international organizations having a scientific or technical interest in Antarctica; exchange of information concerning expeditions and stations under Article VII, Paragraph 5; matters relating to logistic support; preservation and conservation of living resources; preservation of historic sites; reciprocal assistance among expeditions; arrangements for radio communications; cooperation in mail services; exchange of information and advice relating to the application of nuclear energy in the treaty area; administrative arrangements; and date and place of the next meeting.↩