[Page 1]

[Header] Department of External Affairs.

CABLEGRAM.

SECRET

DLB. MMc

0.2752/53/54/55/56

Sent: 21st February 1957

1840

[Stamp Cabinet Secretariat Registered – 7 Mar 1967 File No 610/6/3.]

To:

Australian Embassy,
WASHINGTON ………133

Repeated to –

Australian High Commission,
LONDON (for External) ….533

Australian Embassy,
PARIS………….45

Australian High Commission,
CAPE TOWN ……….14

WELLINGTON ………54

SECRET.
Antarctic.

We have sent you a guidance savingram (No.7 dated 18th February) defining our attitude to: -

(a) a proposal by the United States National Committee for the I.G.Y. that the I.G.Y. Antarctic programme be extended for a further twelve months (i.e. until the end of 1959);

(b) an alternative proposal to establish an international commission for the co-ordination of scientific efforts in the Antarctic after the I.G.Y.

2. We believe that it would not be in the common interest to support any proposals which might facilitate a possible Soviet desire to remain in the Antarctic after the I.G.Y. We regard both proposals abovementioned as coming with this category. As regards (a), the longer the Russians are in our territory and the more ex tensive [sic] their operations, the more they will be tempted to remain indefinitely. Our attitude to (b) is largely influenced by the consideration that, having regard to the scale of their activity during the I.G.Y., it might prove difficult to exclude the Russians from membership of the suggested Commission. This would provide them with further opportunities of establishing their interest in the region.

3. Please speak to the Government to which you are accredited along the lines of paragraph 2 above.

4. A similar approach is being made to the Chilean Legation in Australia.

SECRET
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[page 2]

[Header] Department of External Affairs.

CABLEGRAM.

SECRET

2.

0.2752/53/54/55/56

For London only.
5. Please also speak to Norwegian and Argentine Embassies in above sense.

MIN. & DEPT. E.A.
P.H.'s.
(COST £84.8.8)
22nd February, 1957.

SECRET