BROADCASTS TO FALKLANDS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25428, 26 February 1948, Page 7

BROADCASTS TO FALKLANDS

British Governor’s Assurance “GREAT DEAL OF DISPLAY ” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 25. “There is no cause whatever for alarm,” said the Governor of the Falkland Islands (Sir Miles Clifford) m his second broadcast to the islands in two days, according to Reuter’s Port Stanley correspondent. The correspondent quotes Sir Miles Clifford as saying: “The Argentinians and Chileans have made common cause in their claims to British-owned islands, and ships of both countries have been making free use of our territorial waters. The Argentinians have set up a substantial base at Deception Island and a summer camp at Admiralty Bay.

“We are at present witnessing a great deal of ostentatious and provocative display by both countries—naval manoeuvres, military exercises, Presi-

dential visits, solemn declarations, and so on and so forth—which, it may be assumed,, are designed mainly for heme Consumption. “Our own attitude is that we welcome and are ready to further the scientific activities of any nation, provided no infringement of British sovereignty is attempted or implied. Polar discovery and research have been characterised in the past by a spirit of international freemasonry which we, of all nations, are most anxious to see maintained. But there is also the question of international good manners. One does not bore for water on one’s neighbour’s land without asking his consent.” In his broadcast yesterday, Sir Miles Clifford said: “There is nothing whatever to justify the colourful speculation on mineral treasures which are reported to be buried in these frozen islands.” Referring to reports that the Antarctic was rich in uranium, he said that so far the only traces of mineral wealth had been a few isolated copper deposits and unimportant traces of other metals and low-grade coal. Unless the minerals were found in immensely rich fields the task of winning them on a commercial scale could not be attempted. The Antarctic’s only true wealth was its whales and seals, said Sir Miles Clifford. Britain’s “purely unselfish motive” in establishing sovereignty was to avert the extermination of these animals. The area, as a result of Britain’s action and the international conventions following it, served as one of the world’s greatest sources- of animal fats.

Sir Miles Clifford said that Chile had no connexion with Antarctica until she sent a ship to rescue Shackleton’s party on Elephant Island.