RIGHTS IN ANTARCTIC

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 6 March 1935, Page 6

RIGHTS IN ANTARCTIC

ADMIRAL BYRD’S STATEMENT. WRONG IMPRESSION CREATED. (By Telegraph—Press association.) DUNEDIN, March 5. , Some misunderstanding appears to have arisen with respect to a statement made by Admiral Byrd in reference to territorial rights on the Antarctic Continent, as a result of which an impression has been gained that the United States has no intention of making a claim over any territory in the South Polar region.

Admiral Byrd stated to-day that what he intended to convey was that there was no possibility of America asserting rights over land -within the Ross Dependency, which has always been, recognised as British territory. “Although this American expedition,” he said, “is the only one which has seen much of the territory in the vicinity of Little America, we do not propose to make any claims over land in the Ross Dependency, in which Little America is situated. In other words, we: have throughout recognised tho right put forward by tho British Empire. The only claims we make arc those ovo’ territory beyond the 150tli meridan, and concern areas which have never been seen by representatives of any other nation but the Uuited States. These areas are of no practical value, and are of interest only from a scientific point of view. In serving 20 branches of science in this expedition, we feel that we have been serving tho interests of other nations as well as of our own, for science knows no boundaries.”