CLAIMS IN ANTARCTIC

Chronicle (Levin), 7 March 1947, Page 5

CLAIMS IN ANTARCTIC

-Press Assoeiation

United States Has Not Gone Into Qnestion NONE YET MADE, SAYS BYRD

By Telegraph-

-WELLINGTON, March 7. • The United States had not gone into the question of territorial claims in the Antarctic, and had made none, said Rear-Admiral Byrd at a Press conferenee aboard his flagship, Mount Olympus,' today. Rear-Admiral Byrd spoke of the importance of the American task fqrce's diseovery to training and scientific investigation in the Antarctic, and expressed the conviction that the various nations should join in the establishment of meteorological stations in the region. ^ 3 ,, Rear-Admiral Byrd entered the conferenee carrying a silvermounted cane, with a staghorn handle, which he explained once belonged to the Britlsh explorer, Captain Robert Falcon Scott, who met his death in the antarctic a'fter the polar race with Amundsen. He said the cane had been presented to him only this morning by the chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, Mr. W. H. Price. He had not .wished to accept the gift, but' Mr. Price had insisted. "I am sure no one will value it more than i/' remarked Rear-Admiral Byrd. "It means a lot to me." Rear-Admiral Byrd gave complete praise to Rear-Admiral Cruzen for his accomplishments during "operation highjump." "He deserves the credit for this expedition's successes," RearAdmiral Byrd added.