Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1949. THE ANTARCTIC

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 74, 7 January 1949, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1949. THE ANTARCTIC

The departure of the advance party of the third Chilean expedition to the Antarctic marks the opening' of the expected political manoeuvres and demonstrations,' which, however, are unlikely to reach the dimensions of those last summer. Then Argentina and Chile both sent naval expeditions to Graham Land and the South Shetlands, taking possession of various bases and territories with much display. As a consequence Britain was forced to send a couple of cruisers to reinforce her claims to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands Dependencies. To-day Chile will be the only mover, because Argentina, possibly owing to her internal economic troubles and her pending conference with Britain over meat, has agreed with Mr Bevin to avoid naval demonstrations. Chile’s avowed object is to establish new “scientific air bases” south of Marguerite Bay, the British base, France also has aspirations in Antarctica and an expedition is on its way to Adelie Land to renew long-standing claims which conflict with those of Australia. The United States has a standing proposal that the seven nations with territorial claims in the Antarctic shall set up a trusteeship or administration to look after their joint and several interests until further notice. Argentina wants an international conference at Buenos Aires and Britain offers to meet Argentina and Chile in the International Court of Justice over their claims —a proposal which they naturally find unwelcome. In the meantime whaling, sealing, meteorology and exploration and research are apparently being carried on much as usual, but the position is a most unsatisfactory one, as having potentialities that may endangei relationships in quarters far removed from the Antarctic.