ANTARCTIC AGREEMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27275, 29 December 1949, Page 7

ANTARCTIC AGREEMENT

BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE STATEMENT AVOIDANCE OF “ INCIDENTS ” The British Foreign Office announces the extension of understanding between the United Kingdom, Argentine and Chile for the avoidance of posible incidents in the Antarctic. The Foreign Office statement says:— “ On January 18 this year, in order to avoid the risk of incidents during tne Antarctic summer season which might exacerbate normal friendly relations, his Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the Argentine and Chilean Governments informed each other that they saw no need to send naval vessels south of latitude 6’Odeg during the 1948-1949 Antarctic summer season, apart from such naval movement as had Decome customary. “In view of the satisfactory result which followed, his Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Argentine and Chilean Governments recently entered into conversations with a view to ascertaining whether an extension to the current season could be arranged. As a result of these conversations statements were exchanged on November 18 between the Governments concerned, and it was agreed to extend the understanding to the 1949-50 season. “ His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom feels confident that this parallel statement of intention will continue to ensure that incidents likely to cause unnecessary friction in the Antarctic between the three Powers are avoided. The United States Government has been informed/’