Russia's Claim To Land In Antarctic

Chronicle (Levin), 22 April 1949, Page 5

Russia's Claim To Land In Antarctic

Received Thursday, 7 p.m. WA.SHIXGTON, April 20. There are indieations that Russia mav soon lay formal claim ty a seetor of the Antarctic close to the South Ameriean continent. A recent Moscow radio broadeast said that the U.S.S.R. Geographie Society has recommended that the name "Russian 'Seetor" be given to areas "in the Antarctic mainland which were discovered" by the Russian expedition in 1S19/21, and as the broadeast came over the official radio, diplomatic observers in Washington believe that the move is inspired by the Government. State Department offieials said that the Russian explorer, Bellingshausen, who first discovered land inside the Antarctic circle, covered the area roughly longitude 71 west to longitude 01 west, which area is now the subject of conflicting claims by Britain, Chile, and Argentina. This area-has been the site of intensive Ameriean exploration. The Cnited States neither claims nor recognises claims to anv Antarctic territory. However, other nations have steered clear of the area of Ameriean exploration. Observers said the broadeast was significant because it stressed the claim that Bellingshausen discovered the Antarctic mainland. Previously Moscow contented itself with the generally recogjiised claim that he discovered the iirst land within the Antarctic circle. State Department offieials know of no previous records proving the Soviel '•ontention that a Russian discovered ihe mainland.