Treaty “Of Great Significance”

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29067, 2 December 1959, Page 17

Treaty “Of Great Significance”

j WELLINGTON, December 1. The Antarctic treaty would ensure that Antarctica would “forever remain an area of peace, free from war and warlike preparations, shielded against political rivalries and devoted to pursuits which will be of benefit to all mankind,” the New Zealand representative, Mr G. D. L. White, said when the treaty was signed in Washington today.

Mr White said the Prime Min-j ister (Mr Nash), had asked him to conVey to the Antarctic conference his keen personal satisfaction at the successful conclusion of the treaty. He said: “We have just recently been reminded that the enlargement of our knowledge about Antarctica, even in today’s conditions, has its own hardships and dangers. A few weeks ago, during the course of this conference, a tractor carrying three New Zealanders fell down a hidden crevasse in Antarctica. One man was killed and two were badly injured. “A United States party in the area lent valuable assistance in rescuing the injured. These men were on scientific expeditions and were risking their lives, as many other brave men have done before in Antarctica, in seeking to add to what is known about the southern continent,” said Mr White.

“It has always been the New Zealand view that scientific activity in Antarctica should be carried out in the future, as it has been in the past, in peaceful conditions, by co-operative means, and for the benefit of all,” Mr White said.

“The present treaty will assure these objectives. The New Zealand Government therefore believes its conclusion to be a step of the greatest significance. “New Zealand is geographically close to Antarctica. It has a lengthy record of Antarctic achievement.’ We have asserted our claim to sovereignty, we have conducted exploration and scientific research both in our own right and in co-operation with other countries, for example, in the epic Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1957, in the International Geophysical Year, and in programmes of mutual assistance to American expeditions at present operating in Antarctica. “However, we look towards future co-operation with other countries also. The treaty provides for the accession of additional countries who may wish to subscribe to its objectives. It does not endeavour to set up a monopolistic regime for the

[original 12 signatory parties,” he i said.

“We believe that this treaty conforms with the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter.

“The negotiation of this treaty has not been a simple task. We have had to overcome many difficulties of detail in drafting a precise text. We have worked intensively for many weeks, even after allowing for months of preparatory work extending back to early 1958; but we have never lost sight of our major objectives. “Therefore, today we can be justifiably proud of our achievement and can confidently commend the Antarctic treaty for the approval of the rest of the world,” Mr White said.