ANTARCTIC

[matter omitted]

At yesterday's meeting of the Polar Committee [1] an assessment of
probable United States intentions was given similar to that cabled
to you in our 104 of 12th March. The Foreign Office Legal Adviser
was asked for his reaction to this assessment. He restated his
views already reported to you on the necessity for 'effective
occupation', but pointed out that this 'cut both ways'. Thus,
although it might be claimed that the inchoate rights of New
Zealand and Australia to their sectors had lapsed because of the
absence of any 'effective occupation', by the same token any other
Powers (e.g. the United States), could not claim that territory
unless it had effectively occupied that territory by, for example,
establishing permanent bases. Although Admiral Byrd's expedition
appears to have left behind an occupation party in Little America,
it is not thought here that any bases have been established in the
Australian sectors. No doubt you have fuller information on this.

In answer to a question from the representative of the Air
Ministry, Mr. Beckett indicated that regular aerial surveys over
parts of the Antarctic might help in establishing evidence of
occupation.

The chairman then asked whether the R.A.F. could help an
Australian or a New Zealand expedition in the summer of 1947/48.

The Air Ministry representative replied that the R.A.F. had
already been approached to help in connection with the proposed
Anglo-Norwegian expedition. They had promised such assistance
'without prejudice' and in particular had offered the services of
5 trained flying-boat air crew. The reservation was evidently made
in the event that a formal request for assistance, either from the
Australian or New Zealand Governments in connection with their
expeditions, or from the Falkland Island Dependencies Survey,
might compel them to allocate their limited resources on a
priority basis. The Committee was informed that it was probable
that the Norwegian Government would shortly ask the United Kingdom
Government for a Flying Boat.

The question of the desirability of taking steps to assert
sovereignty to the Prince Edward Islands and Heard Island was
discussed (Document P(47)13). Preliminary alternative suggestions
were that the Islands might be attached to the Falkland Islands or
that the Prince Edward Islands might be annexed by the Union of
South Africa and Heard Island by Australia. The question was also
raised whether any overt action at all at the present time was
politic.

The Admiralty representative stated that the Admiralty, after
examining the question, had come to the conclusion that both the
Prince Edward Islands and Heard Island appeared to have no
strategical value whatever, nor did the Admiralty have a negative
interest in denying them to a potential enemy. The Colonial Office
representative then indicated that the Colonial Office were not
interested in attaching them to the Falkland Islands Dependencies
both because of the distance, and because F.I.D.S. had their hands
full at the present time. [2]

It was pointed out that meteorological stations on the Prince
Edward Islands and Heard Island might be of considerable value and
that these islands might be useful as staging posts on any future
air route between South Africa and Australia across the South
Indian Ocean. The Prince Edward Islands can evidently accommodate
an air strip. This is not practicable on Heard Island. There
appear to be no suitable flying-boat anchorages at either place.

Much useful information concerning Heard Island is given on pages
128-131 of the Foreign Office Research Volume on 'Territorial
Claims in the Antarctic' (AS 3748/453/G).

It was agreed that the South African and Australian
representatives on the Committee should explore semi-officially
the possible reaction of their Governments to the suggestion of
annexation and report back to the next meeting of the Committee.

It could then be decided whether action was desirable on a higher
level and if so what form this action should take.

It would be appreciated if your informal views could be received
in time for the next meeting of the Polar Committee which will
probably take place within about three weeks.