ACTIVITY IN ANTARCTIC

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28450, 3 December 1957, Page 11

ACTIVITY IN ANTARCTIC

Decisions By U.S. Next Year Important decisions on future United States activity in Antarctica will be made next year, according to Mr Oren Harris, chairman of the House of Representatives Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, who returned to Christchurch on Friday after a six-day visit to American bases in Antarctica as leader of six members of the committee. “It is the general viewpoint of our committee that we have definite recommendations to make to the Department of State and the Department of Defence.” said Mr Harris. “Many decisions will be of far-reaching application, and the determining factor will be the question of supplies to the Antarctic. A year’s supplies are kept there, and consideration to Antarctic spending is being given in the preparation of next year’s budget.” Discussing the development of Antarctica, Mr Harris said that with commercial flights three or four major airstrips would have to be constructed there. But that was looking a long way ahead. Around the Ross Ice Shelf was one of the most scenic spots in the world. Important Area

United States intentions to continue scientific research in the Antarctic beyond the Internationa] Geophysical Year were discussed by Mr Harris at McMurdo Sound before he returned to New Zealand. “If the I.G.Y. is of such importance as it would appear to the United States and all other nations participating in the Antarctic, it is obvious that some sort of scientific programme must be continued here.” he said. ‘‘The Antarctic could become among the most important areas in the world, militarily. If this is so we would seem to have a very big stake here. We do not know much about this 6,000.000 square mile continent. We do not know how much of it is actually land and how much is ice, and we do not know the extent of its resources or how much commerce it is likely to attract, although the tourist possibilities would seem to be tremendous. But we do know that it should be properly explored and its potentialities evaluated.” “Foolish to Withdraw” No political decisions had yet been made, but many would need to be made, said Mr Harris. However, the United States, in common with other nations represented at the conference in Rome, in 1954, of the International Council of Science, had given an undertaking that no political claims would be made in the Antarctic during the period of the I.G.Y.—which would end on December 31, 1958. Some decisions would need to be made upon the termination of the I.G.Y. This was obvious as United States interest in the continent was considerable. "It would be foolish for the United States to withdraw from the Antarctic,” said Mr Harris, lot of people undoubtedly have their eyes on our South Pole base alone. Our station there can obviously contribute greatly to scientific research in a way which can be equalled nowhere el. 2 in the world.”