SHOULD STARS AND STRIPES FLY OVER ANTARCTICA?

Chronicle (Levin), 20 March 1947, Page 5

SHOULD STARS AND STRIPES FLY OVER ANTARCTICA?

Received Wednesday, 8.45 p.m. NEW YOR^;, March 19. The hitherto acadpmip ipsue Qf territorial rights in the Antarctic has materialised into a definite dispute over the raising of the American flag at the American base at Marguerite Bay, according to an artiele written by Commander Finn Ronne fpr the North American Newspaper Alliance. Ronne, who is leading a scientific expedition in the Antarctic, says that after the Stars and Stripes were raised on March 13 ihe 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 hehalf o.f his Majesty's Government. Ronne replied that the American expedition was occupying a base built by the Byrd expedition in 1939-41, and ' 'we have flown the American flag on an American-huilt flagpole at an American camp." Ronne also informed the British commander that he understood the TJnited States did not reoognise any other Government 's claim to territory in the Antarctic nor did the United States make any claim. Another dispnte arose from the condition in which Ronne found the American base which, he said, had . been sacked, looted and needlessly ' damaged. Ronne adfled: "It is difficult to establish who were the eulprits. Argentine and Chilean expeditions have called at the scene and the British have been on the spot for over a year. "Pierce-Butlsr told us that 200 men had 'gone ashore from a Chilean vessel and ransacked the buildings. , However, tbere seem to be discrepancies in the British report on conditions at the camp.