WHALES AND SEALS TRUE WEALTH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22570, 25 February 1948, Page 5

WHALES AND SEALS TRUE WEALTH

LITTLE MINERAL RICHES IN ANTARCTIC CHILE CLAIMS TERRITORY TO POLE (N.Z.P.A.—Reuter— Copyright.) (11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 24. Air. Miles Clifford, Governor of the Falkland Islands, broadcasting to the people of the islands, said: “There is nothing whatever to justify colourful speculation on the mineral treasures which are reported to be buried in these frozen islands.”

¥ Reuter's correspondent at Port Stanley says that Mr. Clifford, in referring to reports that the Antarctic is rich In uranium, said that so far the only traces of mineral wealth had been a few isolated copper deposits, unimportl ant traces of other metals and lowgrade coal. Unless the minerals were to be found in immensely rich fields, the task of mining them on a commercial scale could not be attempted. The Antarctic's only true wealth was its whales and seals. Britain’s “purely unselfish motive” in establishing i sovereignty was to avert the extermination of these animals. The area, as a result of Britain’s action and te international conventions following it, had served as one of the world’s greatest ; sources of animal fats. Mr. Clifford said that Chile had no ; connection with Antarctica until she sent a . ship to rescue Sir Ernest Shackleton’s party on Elephant Island. The Associated Press correspondent at Punta Arenas says that the Chilean President, Scnor Videla, declaring that Chile had won the race for the Antarctic signed .a message to Congress asking it to join all territories south of Beagle Channel. 100 miles north of Cape Horn, to Ma.gallanes Province— Chile's southernmost area. “From today Chile extends from Africa on tho Peruvian border to the South Pole,” he said. Peru to South Pole Senor Videla, in a speech, said the Antarctic as a department of the Magaulanes Province, would have a separate capital on Navarino Island below the Straits of Magellan. “From today Chile extends from Arica on the Peruvian border to the South Pole. Chile’s titles and rights to the Antarctic are so legitimate that another State outside the continent has had to resort to the threat of attacking our military bases and using the cannon of its invincible fleet to justify its imperialistic intentions to colonise our lands. I am sure that Chile has won the race for the Antarctic.” Senor Videla pictured Punta Arenas as a supply centre for the settlements which would be established in the Antarctic and referred to the uncountable mineral riches hidden under the frozen Antarctic soils which, he said, would be put to the service of Chilean economy. The Associated Press correspondent in Buenos Aires reportsthat. the Argentine naval squadron, /hich is anchored off lonely Deception Island, today unveiled the portrait of the President, General Jan Peron, in support of the Argentine claims in the area. Argentine’s “Most Southerly Village”” In a broadcast describing the ceremony the announcer referred to the Argentine weather station on the island as “the most southerly village of our country.” He did not say whether the British weather observers on the island attended the ceremony. Meanwhile. General Peron himself, in a speech at Cordoba in the Argentine interior, declared: “Argentina is a peaceful country but we have to convince those who infringe our sovereignty.” It is officially announced that Argentina and Chile will begin negotiations this week to establish boundaries of the Antarctic territory which the two nations are disputing with Britain. The South Polar territories claimed by Argentina and Chile overlap each other as well as overlapping British claims. The two South American nations hope to iron out their territorial conflicts in order to present a united front against Britain's claims.