ANTARCTIC LANDS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 57, 30 November 1929, Page 11

ANTARCTIC LANDS

QUESTION OF OWNERSHIP BRITISH AND AMERICAN NOTES EXCHANGED k DISCUSSIONS POSTPONED (Rec. November 29,10.55 p.m.) Washington, November 28. The question of the ownership of th© Antarctic lands was raised by the British Government after Byrd started his expedition, and temporarily sidestepped by the American Government on November 17 of last year. The British Government in a polite but firm note to the United States said: “His Majesty’s Governments in the various countries of the Empire have' watched with especial interest the progress of the expedition on account of the interest which they themselves take in the regions where it is understood that Byrd would conduct the bulk of his research.” The Note recalled that the entire question was discussed at the last Imperial Conference, and a copy of the proceedings , was transmitted to the State Department here.

The Under-Secretary for State, Mr. Cotton, last November 15 acknowledged the note through the British Embassy, expressing regrets that the acknowledgment was so long delayed, and appreciation of the “interest” of the British in the Byrd expedition. Immediate consideration of the ownership of the lands in the Antarctic in which Byrd was exploring was averted by the Department.

The “New York Times” Washington correspondent says: After a year’s consideration, the United States Government has responded to the British Note of November 17, 1928, referring to the question of sovereignty in the Antarctic region, which was raised in connection with Byrd’s South Polar expedition. The Note sent by the United States to Britain, dated November 15, is still withheld from publication, but it is reported that the United States does not agree to the British suggestion that Britain has prior claim to large portions of the Antarctic, and leaves the issue open to further discussion. A new and important angle to the British claims has developed by Byrd’s discoveries of mineral deposits and possibly petroleum in the so-called Rockefeller Range and Marie Byrd Land, while the possibilities of exploiting the territory through aviation may make this celebrated case of even greater importance. The whaling industry in that region adds further importance, and it is noted that there are possibilities of the actual commercial development of minerals of minor Importance, if minerals are present in the region. The American Note expressed regrets for delay in replying to the British communication, and expressed gratitude for the British offer of assistance to Byrd, while he is within the territory to which Britain laid claim. It Is suggested that the United States’ reticence in giving a direct answer was due to a desire to avoid the possibilities of a controversy before the arms conference. Although the State Department has been studying the question with a view to submitting reasons for its belief, the United States has claims to certain of the discussed areas. If is pointed out that the United States Government has advanced no formal claims and markedly left the question open for later consideration. It is believed that Mr. MacDonald and President Hoover considered' the subject during the recent meeting, and at that time decided to delay further discussions until the arms question had been settled definitely.