Warships Will Not Enter Antarctic Seas

Chronicle (Levin), 23 November 1949, Page 5

Warships Will Not Enter Antarctic Seas

LONDON, Nov. 21. The British Foreign Office announces the extension of understanding between the United Kingdom, Argentina and Chile for tne avoidance of possible incidents in the Antarctic.. It says that on January 18 this year-, in order to avpid the risk ,of incidents during the Antarctic summer season which might exacerbate normal friendly relations, the United Kingdom Government and the Argentine and Chilean Governments informed each other that they saw no need to send naval vessels south of latitude 60deg during the 1948-49 Antarctic summer season, apart from such naval movements as had become customary. In view of the satisfactory result which followed, the three Governments recently entered into conversations with a* view to ascertaining whether an extension to the current season could be arranged. As a result, statements were exchanged on November 18 in the following terms: "Being anxious to avoid any misunderstanding in the Antarctic which mdy affect the friendly relations between the United Kingdom, Argentina and Chile, the Governments of these three countries have informed each other that in the present circumstances they foresee no need to send warships south of latitude 60deg during the 1949-50 Antarctic season, apart, of course, from movements such as have been customary for a number of years." "His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom," the statement adds, "feel confident this parallel statement of intention will continue to ensure that incidents likeiy to cause unnecessary friction in the Antarctic between the three Powers are avoided."