Falklands Are British By Discovery

Chronicle (Levin), 8 November 1948, Page 5

Falklands Are British By Discovery

Received Sunduv, 7 p.m. I.OXDOX, Nov. 6. The I i 1 isli and Argentine Foreign "Ministers, Mr. Bevin and Senor Braniuglia, lodav agreed tliat both their ccnint ries sliould avoid uaval deinonst ra liiuis in the Antarctic urea during the (Miniing Autaretic summer, says Reuter's diplouiatic eorrespondent. A British Foreign Ufiice spokesman conlintied reports liroadcast by the Buenos Aircs radio" and other Latin Anicrican statinns last night, that they discussed tlie I'nitnd States' projpct foi an international settletnent of certain _\nta.V('1 ir regions. Mr. Bevin told Senor Bramuglia that Britain weleomos United States' initia ii\e and considered tliat it formed a pussihlc basis for a frituidly settlenie.nl of the \\ liole question. Senor Rranuigha replied tliat he did not agree to the i\uM'rican proposal and could not aocept it until there had been prior eonsultatums between the parties concerned. The spokesman said that on the snb;je*t of the Falkland Tslands, Mr. Bevtn atnl Scnor Bramuglia agreed that Argentum \s claini to sovereignty over 1 lo*se British administered territorics, wa- a legn I niatler. On the British side it was stated that this issne was not felt to be soniething whieh eame serion.sly between Britain and Argentina. The British standpoint is that the Argentine claini is based on legal argu nieiits wliieh bear little relation to the pr"»em reaiities of the situation. Britain \s elaiin rests on lier discovery, neeiipation and administration of the islands whieh have lieen in Britisli hands over 100 years.