BRITISH PROTEST REGISTERED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26415, 20 March 1947, Page 7

BRITISH PROTEST REGISTERED

Rec. 10.30 p.ni. NEW YORK, Mar. 18. The hitherto academic issue of territorial rights in the Antarctic, materialised into a definite dispute over the raising of the American flag at the American base at Marguerite Bay, according to an article written by Commander Finn Ronne for the North American Newspaper Alliance. Commander Ronne, who is leading a scientific expedition in the Antarctic, says that after the Stars and Stripes was raised on March 13 he received a letter from Major K. S. Pierce-Butler, commander of the British base less than 200 yards away, asking whether the flag was intended to represent a territorial claim, adding, that if so, he was bound to protest on behalf of his Majesty’s Government. 9 Commander Ronne replied that the American expedition was occupying the base built by the Byrd expedition in 1939-41 and “ we have flown the American flag on the American-built flagpole at the American , camp.” Commander Ronne also informed the British commander that he understood the United States did not recognise g.ny other Government’s claim to territory in the Antarctic, nor did the United States make any claim. Major Pierce-Butler replied that the matter would be taken up again soon.

Another dispute arose from the condition in which Commander Ronne found ’the American base, which, he said, had been sacked, looted and needlessly damaged. He added: “It is difficult to establish who are the culprits. Argentine and Chilean expeditions have called at the scene and the British have been on the spot for over a year. “ Major Pierce-Butler told us that 200 men had gone ashore from a Chilean vessel and ransacked the buildings. There seem, however, to be discrepancies in the British report on the conditions at the camp.”

The North American Newspaper Alliance’s London correspondent says the Colonial Office denied that the British looted the camp.