NO FOREIGN SQUATTERS’ RIGHTS IN BRITISH ANTARCTIC LANDS, SAYS BEVIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22571, 26 February 1948, Page 5

NO FOREIGN SQUATTERS’ RIGHTS IN BRITISH ANTARCTIC LANDS , SAYS BEVIN

(10 a.m.) . LONDON ' 25 - The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Ernest Bevin, in th e House of Commons, said he did not propose to refer to the Security Council Britain’s dispute with Argentina and Chile over the sovereignty of Antarctic lands, British policy was that the rival claims in the Falklands should be brought before the International Court of Justice.

International discussions could scarcely be profitable until the question of title had been subjected to international legal examination, but this did not preclude discussions later.

Ushaia in preparation for the return to winter base in the north. Rear-Admiral Ismael Perez del Cerro, commander of the high seas licet and Rear-Admiral Harold Cappus, commander of the task force, landed on Deception Island yesterday to inspect the Argentine installations. “There is no cause whatever for alarm,” Mr. Miles Clifford, told Falkland Islanders in another broadcast according to the Reuter's correspondent at Port Stanley, who quotes him as saying: “The Argentians and Chileans have common cause in their claims to the British-owned islands and the 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, at present, are witnessing a great deal of ostentatious and provocative display by both countries-naval manoevres, military exercises, Presidential visits, solemmn declarations and so on and so forth which, it may be assumed, are designed mainly for home 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 has been characterised in the past by the spirit of international freemasonrv which we, of all nations, are most anxious to see maintained, but there is also the question of international good manners. One doesn’t bore for water on one’s neighbour’s land without asking his consent,” he added. The Argentine Foreign Minister had assured the British representative in Buenos Aires that the vessels around Deception Island did not intend to assert any right or take possession of any territory but were merely there for routine exercises. Mr. Anthony Eden: I assume that Britain will not agree to £ny squatter rights to foreigners who happen to settle in these territories? Mr Bevin: No. I think any squatters will grow so cold that they will go of their own volition. Mr Bevin added that in the opinion of the British Government the South American Antarctic expeditions and the declarations and actions which had accompanied them in no way affected the British title and sovereignty. Reuter’s correspondent m Buenos Aires says the Argentine naval squadron is on its way home, according to an Argentinian corvesponifdent in one of the ships.

Authoritative sources indicated today that the Argentine and British naval forces would not meet in the waters of the Antarctic areas claimed by both countries, _ says the United Press correspondent in Buenos Aires.

The British cruiser Nigeria and the sloop Snipe, are now en route to Deception Island in the South Shetlands where the Argentine task force No. 1 has been manoeuvring since the weekend.

The chief Argentine units, the cruiser Almirante Brown and the Veinticinco de Mayo are expected to return to base at Ushaia, Tierra Del Fuego, by the end of the week before the arrival of the Nigeria.

Two Argentine destroyers are now proceeding to Melchior Island to relieve the Argentine base personnel. Othet Argentine ships, at present in the South Orkneys and Admiralty Bay, are expected to rejoin the task force at