Aal 52.0Aad ID CURRENT STATUS ks INTELLIGENCE AGENCY March, 1948. coeE Wo, 12, State Dept. declassification & release instructions on file ‘Approved For Release 2001/0308 : CIA-RDP79-00876A000100010001.7Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00876A000100010001.7 DISSEMINATION NOTICE 1, Reports tosued in tho N-series generally pertain to territorial questions, geographic intelligence, evaluation of available mp informa tion and technical intelligence on mapping in foreign areas. 2. This copy of this publication 1¢ for the Information and use of ‘the reospient designated on the front cover and of individusle ander the Jurisdiction of the rectptent'a office who require the information for the performance of thotr official duties. 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YARNS ‘Tate document contains information affecting the national defense of the United Statoe within the meaning of the Espionage Act, 50 U.S.C.» 31 and 32, se amended. Ite tranemiesion or the revelation of ite cot Senta in any manner to an unauthorized peraon ie prouibited by law. Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7 Ba HISTORY AND CURRENT STATUS OF CLAIMS IN ANTARCTICA M-1 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY MARCH, 1948 Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7, | Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7aN Approved For Rel Mea TABLE OF CONTENTS ntroduetion I. Official Government Claims A, British Commonwealth of Nations B France . ©. Norway D. Argentine E. chile 1 Claims by Individuals for their Countries, not taken up by Govermments ‘A. Claims by Individuals for the United States : 'B. Claims by Individuals for Norway ©. German Claims D. Japanese Claims E South African Interest XM. Discovery a8 Bal for Claims ‘A. Discovery and Exploration United States Great Britain Netherlands Russia Norway Belgiam Sweden France Germany IV. American Policy in the Antarctic ‘A. The Oficial Attitude of the Department of state BB. Preparations for Active Assertion of American Claims ©. The United States Antarctic Serviee Expedition D, Antarctic Developments Project 1946-47 ‘Table i. List of Expeditions ‘Table2. Activities in the Antaretie, by Country Appendix No. T evmommoome UST OF MAPS. ‘Map No. 10700, Discovery and Exploration in Antarctica: Palmer Peninsula ase 2004/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7, Page 13 13 15 15 16 16 1 11 B 19 10 10 19 19 20 20 20 2 a a Fy n ‘Map No. 10701, Discovery and Exploration in Antarctica: South Amerlean Quadrant G0" W.-120°'W.) ‘Map No, 10702, Discovery and Exploration in Antarctica: Pacifle Quadrant (110° W.= 160°). ‘Map No. 10703, Discovery and Exploration in Antarctica: Indle Quadrant (160° E- ‘0°B) ‘Map No, 10705, Territorial Claims in Antaretica SECRET ‘Map No, 10704, Discovery and Exploration in Antarctica: Aftican Quadrant (70° R= ew). Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7ores Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7 MeL SECRET INTRODUCTION” Since the beginning of the twentieth century, (questions of sovereignty over Antarctic toritory Ihave been raised at increasingly shorter intervals, ‘New claimants, overlapping claims, fears that new ‘laims would be raised on the basi of either former interests or new discoveries, and the lack of inter- national rules for aequistion of uninlabitable ter- ‘tories, all contributed to the increasing uneas!- The Antarctic has experienced several periods uring which it attracted much interes, separated by long Intervals of almost complete negiect. ‘As long as it was thought that the existence of large continents in the northern hemisphere re quized & counterbalance In the southern hemi sphere, the seareh for an Austral continent con- tinued. When Captain James Cook proved on his voyage of 1772-5, that there was no extensive southem land mass north of the Antaretie Circle, Interest in possiole Iands farther south died down. After an interval of almost ity years, British and American seal hunters discovered, exploited, and soon exhausted the vast wealth to be gained from seals. As they often kept their hunting grounds secret from each other, tis impossible to say how far the geographle knowledge of sealers went It 4s certain, however, that their activity was con- centrated to the south of the Ameriean Continent; fand that one of them, the American Palmer (1819- 21), sighted the Antarctic Continent, About the ‘same time scientific interest in the Antaretie awoke ‘and was fostered by several governments. The ‘Yoyages of Bransfleld and Bellingshausen began & serles of government-sponsored scientifc expedi- ‘ons, whieh ended about twenty years later with the expeditions of Ross, Dumont D'Urvill, and ‘Wilkes. The result of this period was the near ex- tinction of the seals and the knowledge of the ap- proximate, often conjectural, outlines of the Ant- {retic Continent. "The second interval of inactivity was interrupted by voyages of slight consequence. Not until near ‘the end of the century did the new interest rise to ‘high point. Thereafter it increased steadily, in- ‘termupted anly by a short period of inactivity follow. ing World War. During this seeond period, scien “The Ualted Staten Boast on Geographies! Names re- cenyturued a ballet ene “The Geographeal estes ‘ot antaretin™ (apcial Publeation No 96 107) Wheres fer posible the approved name hee been aed Yt ‘epork Where Teas beea necasaey to use ole aumes, fhe name approved by the BGR. neve been added i ‘rackets or expatned in Tostnoten SECRET tifte exploration and business interests went hand 4m hand, the latter taking the lead in time, First Norwegian, a litle later British, and then whalers of other nations dié much to widen our knowiedge of the Antarctic, while scentific expeditions helped them by their investigation of meteorological, hhyérographie, and biologie conditions. At the be- ginning of this period, sturdy but small salting ships and dog sledges were the only means of transportation, es they had long been inthe Arcti. ‘The entire aspect of exploration was revolutionized by the use of the airplane, aerial photography, radio, “floating factories," and the introduction of fleets, The era of adventurous, individualistic ex- ploration has drawn to an end; that of systematic Planned investigation bas Just begun. ‘To date, the most important economie interest fn the Antarctic has been the animal life of the surrounding ooean. Seals, and later whales, at ‘tracted whole lets. ‘In order to prevent the ex: ‘termination of the whale, as happened in the case of the seal, international ageeements have been signed, the last on December 2, 1946, Whaling ‘was formerly dependent on shore bases. ‘Through the development of floating factories the work of hydrographers, hydrobiologists, and meteorologists became of immediate, practical importance. ‘The mowledge of living conditions, currents, ete, ene abled whalers to extend thelr fled of activity Around the Antarctic Continent. "Whalers gradu. ally entered regions formeriy regarded as impene- ‘rable ‘4n actual recession of the edge of the fee would ‘open new areas, fst to geological investigation and Possibly later fo mining activities. Laurence M. Gould, geologist of the second Byrd expedition, ‘writes that there Is sufclent evidence of coal "to tenabie us to state rather definitely that the Ant. arctic has coal reserves seeond only to these of the Unitoa States”" Other experts have stated ‘tat mining, even below the ice sheet, may be tech- nically feasible. “From an economle point of view, the distance of coal deposits from shipping potnts 4s the greatest disadvantage. " Geographea! Review, Vol. XX No.2, Apel 198, p 194 Noe: Te intelligence organization of the Departments Gf State, and Navy have concurred In this repat; the Army and Att Foreehad no comment. Advance ‘opie were faraahes tothe Department of Sate In December 1947 Comments, based on recent Information, were submitted by the Depertnent Gf Slate snd have been Incorporated in Append No. ofthe report Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7 SECRET ‘There is less assurance that the discovered de- posits of copper, magnesium, and molybdenum are ‘worth exploling. The preienco of petroleum is Indicated, but not proved. The same applies to ‘sslonable mineral. ‘Many branches of sclence have and wil proft ‘trom further polar researeh which, like some of those mentioned above, may ultimately lead to pactical results, Glaciological studies assume hhew Importance, Long-range weather forecasts {for the entire Southem Hemisphere are Impossible without a better knowledge of the mechanics of ‘Antarctic air movements and continuous weather observations. “Magnetism also is an important ‘eld of study bocause of Its use n air and sea navi gation. ‘On the other hand, it seems doubtful whether the Antarctic ever wil play the role that the Arctic fs expected to play in alr navigation. The great turban centers of the Southern Hemisphere are not connected with each other by lines crossing the a Met ‘Antaretie Continen}. Flying conditions are un- favorable during mést of the year. ‘Generally speaking, the strategic importance of Antarctic area, alsd, may be rated tow. ‘The only exception is the northern part of Palmer Penin- Sula, which together with the South Shetland T5- lands is considered by some as a possible base for controling Drake Strat, the broad and stormy ‘connection betweer| the South Atlantic and the Boutin Paciti. ‘Mettorologicaleondtions, however, would make ‘Sights Impassible most of the year [nd the provisioning of bases would be dificult "Pais paper is coxicemed only incidentally with aspects of the Antarpic problem other than claims. 4s for the claims made during the period before 4603, this report hag drawn heavily on a Btate De- partment study of September 21, 1983, by 8. W. Boggs, entitled he Polar Regions. ‘The Boggs report should be consulted for special problems not taken up in tls report, and for docuentaton of ‘the early expiration SECRET i Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7 ”Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7 Mel SECRET History and Current Status of Claims in Antarctica I. OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT CLAIMS Several governments offcially claim parts of the Antarctic region. Some of these claims have been recognized by other governments; but none has attained either general international recognition ‘or recognition by the United States. The claims hhave vatious bases, such as discovery, exploration, exercise of actual authority and supervision, oo: cupation, historical rights, and geographical eon tiguity and geological affinity. “In several cases the claims extend over known as well as unex: plored teritories because they are delimited by ‘degrees of longitude and latitude. ‘The method of delimitation sometimes is referred to as the “sector prineiple,” using an expression originally developed for the Arctic. The legal forms of such claims ‘vary and may be parliamentary laws, letters Dat- cent, notes to foreign governments, or simply dec- Intations before the claiming governments. In this report claims are discussed in the ehrono- logical order in which the general public became faware of their existence. An exact chronological order cannot be used because of the pectllar character of the Argentine and Chilesn claims, 1 would also involve faking a definite stand on the ‘merits of the same claim, and the United States hhas refused to recognize the valldity of any claim, A geographical arrangement would be possible bit the starting point would have to be selected ar- bitrarly because Antarctica is roughly a circular area centering on the South Pole, and the over lapping of claims would make such an arrangement ‘of doublful value. ‘The main objection, however, 4s that sucn a geographieal arrangement. would not permit discussion of the claims of any one country as @ unit, A. Burmstt Connmowweaum oF Nanions. Great Britain, or one of the Dominions, has laid claim to or administered three different parts of the Antarctic. The Union of South Aftien has shown only academic interest, All of the Do- ‘minions in the Southern Hemisphere collaborated with Great Britain in the establishment of the “Discovery Committee” in 1928, Steps for safe- guarding thelr common interests were discussed ft the Imperial Conference of 1926, and an ane nhouncement was made that “There are certain areas in these regions [the Antaretie] to which @ British ttle already exista by virtue of discovery.” In 1920-80, Mawson led the joint British, Aus- tralian, and New Zealand Antaretie Research Ex- ppedition (BANZARE) that took possession of SECRET Proclamation Island off the coast of Enderby Land. At the Imperial Conference In 1087, eertaln agree: ‘ments for cooperation also were adopted. When systematic exploration and survey were resumed during the latter part of the war, the stafs of the survey partles were recrulted from the United King- dom, Australia, New Zealand, South Attia, New. foundland, Canada, Rhodesia, and the Falkland Islands, ‘During the whaling season 1946-47, three of the 15 floating factories active in the Antarctic came ‘rom the United Kingdom and one from the Union of South Africa, 1. Falkland Islands Dependencies. ‘The Buitish claim to the Falkland Islands Dependencies is mado in letters patent and is based fon discoveries, formal acts of taking. postession, ‘maintenance 6f several settlements, and the ex: creise of acts of sovereignty such as granting of ‘whaling leenses and fatrly regular supervision. British claims” were first made to islands and territories within a “sector” defined below in British Letters Patent, dated July 21, 19087 By these letters patent the Governor of te Falkland Islands was also appointed Governor of South Georgia, the South Orkney Islands, the South Shetland Islands, the South Sandwich Islands, and Graham Land “In the preamble, these areas ate {indicated as lying within'a single sector which is rather poorly defined, including portions of Ar- gentina and Chile south of 50° 8. latitude, The ‘preamble and Article Tread as follows: ‘Whereas the group of islands known as South Georgia, the South Orkneys, the South Shet- lands, and the Sandwich Islands, and the terri tory known as Graham's Land, situated in the South Atlantic Ocean to the south of the 50th parallel of south latitude, and lying between the 20th and 80th degrees of west longitude, are part ‘f our Dominions, and itis expedient that provi- sion should be made for thelr government as Dependencies of our Colony of the Falklands: “Pages 1-2 of the section on the Falkland stands De- pendeneles re parephrasod from 5. W-Bosts, The Polar ‘Reylos, U.S. Department of Bate, September 2, 189 (emcee “British ond’ Foreign State Papers, Vo, 101, 132, p. Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7 SECRET 1. Now We do hereby declare that from and after the publication of those our Letters Patent, fn the Government “Gazette” of our Colony of the Falkland Islands the said group of islands Imown as South Georgia, the South Orkneys, ‘the South Shetlands, and the Sandwich Islands, land the ssid territory of Graham's Land shall ‘become Dependencies of our seid Colony of the Falkland Islands Letters Patent of March 28, 1917, provide for the further definition and the administration of the dependencies" According to the new definition, southern Argentina and Chile and the Falkland slands are eliminated from the sector, and the ‘errtorialelaim ls Increased to Include “al islands and territories whatsoover” within the sector de- fined in Article I. ‘The preamble and Article Tread as follows: ‘Whereas doubts have arisen as to te limits of the groups of islands known 2s South Georgia, the South Orkneys, the South Shetlands, and the Sandwich Tslands, and the territory of Grae hham Land otherwise known as Graham's Land; ‘and whereas it is expedient that provision should bbe made for the government, not only of these fslands and territory but also of certain other ‘oar [se] islands and territories adjacent thereto fas Dependencies of our Colony of the Falkland Islands: 1. Now we do hereby declare that from and after the publication of these cur Letters Patent {in the Government “Gazette” of our Colony of he Falkland Islands, the Dependencies of our sald Colony shall be deemed to include and to have ‘meluded all Islands and territories whatsoever Detween the 20th degree of west longitude and ‘the 50th degree of west longitude which are situ ated south of the 80th parallel of south Istitude; fand all islands and territories whatsoever be- tireen the 60th degree of west longitude and the 0th degree of west longitude which are situated south of the 88th parallel of south latitude ‘The British have not specifically claimed ‘Wedidell Sea or any portions of the South Atlantic ‘and South Paeifie Oceans that fall within the sec- for, with the exception of the territorial waters ‘within three miles of the lands and territories. ‘The Colonial Office List, 1948, an oficial pub Leation (pp, 01-02), contains the following interest- ‘ng paragraphs relating to these dependencies "There are two groups of dependencies: (1) south Georgia with South Orkney and South Sandwich, the boundaries being the 60th paral- leLof south latitude and the 20th and S0th merid- fans of west longitude; (i) South Shetland and “vd, Wo. 41,182, pp. 1640 ‘Tb Wo 308 200, yp 1647 Mea ‘Granam Land, boknded by the parallel of Iati- fade 38° S,, and the meridians of longitude 50° fand 80° W. ‘South Georgia ahd the South Sandwich group were discovered in 1775 by Captain James Cook, ‘who took postession of them for Britain. South Shetland was diadovered and taken ‘of by Captain Willjam Smith in 1819, and South ‘Oxkney by Captain G. Powell in 1821, I ‘The Dependeneips were visited only by explor- ing expeditions, sealers and whalers until the rise of the moder whaling Industry in those rogions, ete ‘The island of Sduth Georgia is a mass of high ‘mountains which/are covered with deep snow Pie they are not top preptows, whe the Valleys between are filled with glaciers which jn many cases deteend to the sea. There is a coastal fringe frep from snow in summer and ‘more or less clothed with vegetation, Including fuseac “grass” Land whaling stations have ‘been established i five of the numerous bays. ‘The remaining Dependencies are even more in Postale, being Henly completely covered with snow and ice ang almost entirely destitute of pplant life All thd Dependencies have a rigorous ‘imate of Antaretic character The ‘and Colonial Offtce List, 1940, (¢p. 304), states further that: A Land Station is equipped at Deception Is- land, in the Soutl| Shetiand group, and anotiner {m the South Orkneys, but neither has operated within recent years. ‘This British Glalm has been recognized by the French and Norwogian Governments, and pos- sibly by some others, The United States Govern- rent, in this case ab in all others, has declined to recognize any sovefelgnty rights, American ex. plorers, notably Byfd and Ellsworth, who found ew land within the British claim did, however, refrain from inte this newly discovered ter~ ‘lary for the United States, ‘The British claim is formally based on dis- ‘covery. Though British expeditions — sealers and ‘whalers who wore nbt primarily interested In geo- {graphical exploratidn, as well as scientific expedi- ons — contributed) heavily to the exploration of this area, they were by no means alone. American, Russian, French, German, Belgian, Norwegian and ‘Swedish expeditions have contributed significantly ‘Though none of them seems to have claimed land {or 18 own country, the work of such expeditions ‘can hardly be clted in confirmation of the British flaim, Some authgrs claim that the principal is- SECRET Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7 Met land groups in this seetor were discovered first by British seamen — South Georgia and South Sand- ‘wich Islands by Captain James Cook in 1778, South Shetland Tslands by William Seaith in 1819, South ‘Orkneys in 1821 by George Powell, and the Ant- aretic Continent by Biscoe in 1831. ‘Thereis strong. evidence, however, that Palmer, an American, in 1620 saw the continent frst and tat Bisooe did not fetually 1and on the continent, but on the islands of the archipelago. How far’ the discoveries of Palmer and other Connecticut sealers went is the subject of hot academic dispute, which will prob: ably never be definitly settled ‘To the list of British explorers should be added Bransfield in 1820, Poster m 1828-30, and Ross in 1840 for the earller period; and for the ‘more recent period, the sustained work of the “Dis- covery Committee” of 1025-37, Cope in 1920-22, Witkins in 1029-51, and Ril in 199437. Among the earlier exploters, Smith In 1819 and Foster in 1829 made formal claims for Great Britain. ‘There 4s no evidence that any of the others took such ‘ction. Wilkins when flying over Charcot Island in 1990 initiated the practice of confirming sover~ cignty by dropping documents and flags, in this cease British, ‘The island had been discovered from the sea by Chareot, but apparently no claim was ‘made on that occasion ‘Though some people attach considerable im- portance to symbolic acts, uch as the dropping of fags or documents, others question thelr value, Oficial American opinion shares the view that dis- ‘covery and formal declaration of sovereignty have to be followed by actual occupation in order to be valid, This rule was established in Articles 24 and 85 ofthe Berlin Congo Genoral Act of 1895. Other governments and experts maintain that such & policy, formulated for Africa, ould not be applied to uninhabitable polar regions. ‘A fow seltlomonts have been made within the Falkland Islands Dependencies. The eariler were shore establishments for whalers, maintained chiefly during the summer months sithough a few people have wintered there. ‘The largest of these establishments 1s Grytviken in South Georgia, ‘Even permanent bulldings have been erected there, Including a Norwogian Church. Grytviken as Aeserted during World War TT and thas not been resettled as yet. There are four more such settle- ‘ments in South Georgia. In the past, the major- ity of the whalers were Norwegian.” They sub- mitted to British sovereignty, however, to the ex- tent of accepting inspection, taking out Heenses, “For more detailed alscusion of early American snd Balls explorations gee Boges, op. ty pp. 60-0, 6-04 "Sir Hdwaed Hovtalc. The Mep of Arlee by reat, ondon, 1908, Vol, pp. 484485. SECRET ‘SECRET te, ‘The importance of these whaling shore sta- tions has decreased since 1928, when floating fac- torles initiated the practice of pelagic whaling. ‘The Falkland Islands Government has maintained lights at the entrance to the harbor on Deception Island for several years during the whaling season, In the 1946-47 whaling season, only threo land tons in South Georgia were Used. Most of the ‘whalers operated from floating factories. Another group of settlements is often called “token settlements” because the purpose Is not and could not be true colontzation. Although they pro- ‘ide bases for meteorologte observations and surrey. ing, thelr major purpose Js to provide proof of effective occupation. Seven such settlements have ‘been established by the British since 1943: Port Lockroy (Palmer Archipelago)’ Base A (February 1944) Deception Island (South Shetland Islands) Base B (February 1948) ‘Laurie Island, Cape Geddes (South Orkney Islands) Base C (December 1945) Hope Bay (Louise Pallippe Peninsula) Base D (February 1045) ‘Marguerite Bay, Neny Fiord (main base) Base B (Docomber 1948) Argentine Islands (1947) ‘Admiralty Bay, King George Island (South ‘Shetland Islands) (1947) In addition, an unmanned hut was erected at Sandefjord Bay on Laurie Yslend in the South, Orkney Islands. Even before 1043, the Falkland Islands Government exercised effective control over ‘the ‘area claimed, supervising the activites of ‘whalers and, since about 1918, charging Heense fees, This oficial supervision was extended after 41025 by the work of the “Diseavery Cammmittee,” ‘which With the help of the two spectally equipped ships, Discovery I1 and William Scoresby, etulsed continuously in and beyond this area. “Selentific ‘pelagic research, especially important blologieal studies and whale marking, were Interrupted only by the outbreak of the wat. ‘They have been re- sumed recently and a new ship has been built for this service. A marine biologieal station at Gry viken, South Georgia, was established in 1928, In 41947, the Governor of the Falkland Islands made 2 tour of inspection as far as Marguerite Bay. A [post office and a judicial court ate said to be in ‘operation at each base. Large areas ofthis claim are sill eompletely unexplored; others, especially in the Weddell Sea, hnave been explored by one expedition only, tor ex: ample, W. S. Bruce at Coats Land [Brice Coast] ‘im 1008-04, Shackleton at Calrd Coast in 1914-15, "Ps aton was sanagued tobe move to the Argen- tine Tsands presumably tothe ol ite of the Bash (Graham Land Expedition of 586, Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7 SECRET and the German Filchner at Luitpold Coast in 1911- 12, Areas beyond the customary whaling grounds are not supervised regulary. "There is some uncertainty as to whether the Ihigh seas are Included in the sovereignty claims. ‘The facts that the British roquired Woenses from ‘whalers operating on the high seas and that a parallel fs mentioned as the northern border might Seem to Indicate that the British claim the high seas. ‘This, however, would be contrary to most British policy. 2. Ross Dependency.” ‘The British claim to islands and territories ‘within a sector defined below was made by an Order in Couneit of July 30, 19257 from whieh the preamble and Article I read as follows: WHEREAS by “The British Settloments Act, 1887," itis amongst other things, enacted that it shal be lawful for Hs Majesty in Council from ‘ime to time to establish all such laws and ine stitutions and constitute such Courts and of Acers as may appear to His Majesty to be neces- sary for the peace, order and good government of His Majesty's subjects and others within any British settlement; ‘And whereas the coasts of the Ross Sea, with the Islands and territories adjacent thereto, be- ‘ween the 160th degree of East Longitude and the 150th degree of West Longitude, which are situated south of the 60th degree of South Lati- tude are @ British settlement within the mean {ng of the sald Act; ‘And whereas it is expedient that, provision should be made for the government thereat; Now, therefore, His Majesty, by virtue and in exercise of the sald powers of the said Act, or otherwise in His Majesty vested, is pleased, by and with the advice of his Privy Counell, toarder, ‘and tishereby ordered, as follows: 1, From and after the publication of this Order in the “Government Gazette of the Dominion of New Zealand” that part of His Majesty's Do- ‘minions in the Antarctic Seas, whlch eomprises all the islands and territories between the 160th Aegree of East Longitude and the 150th degree ‘of West Longitude which are situated south of Goth degree of South Latitude shall be named the Ross Dependency. ‘The Governor-General of New Zealand was charged with the administration and supervision of the Ross Dependency. Although New Zealand dd not attain full daminion status until after the is- ‘suance of the Order in Counell, itis generally as- Based on Bowes, opt. “British and Foreign Siete Peper, Vol. 7, pp. 91-02 Approved For Release 2001/03/03 Met ‘sumed that the sovereignty over the Ross Depend fency was transferred automatically to New Zea- land. ‘The wording pf the Colonial Boundaries Act of 1605, however, seems to contradict such an as- ‘sumption, The Now Zealand Government is, there- fore, expected to tale action to clarify the legal ‘poslion of the Ross Dependency. ‘The Ross cy may be divided into our parts: Vietoria[Land and coastal islands, the Ross Shelf Toe and} Ross Sea, Edward VI Land and neighboring coabtal areas of Marie Byrd Land, fand part of the Antaretic Polar Plateau. ‘a, Victoria Lah and Coastal Islands. Only British explorers hve worked in this area until recently, when alxplanes of the United States Naval ‘Task Foree flew over the southern part of this John Balleny aiscovered the Balleny Islands in 1839 and Janded on one of them. Captain James Clark Ross, 1841-42, dis- covered and explorgd the great Ross Sea; discov- fered the high cosstdl mountains of the Admiralty ‘Range; landed on J4nuary 12, 1841, in the Posses- ‘sion Islands, near the mainland at Cape Adare (the latter being inaccessible); and raised the British flag and took formal poseession of Victoria Land for Great Britain. Far south in Ross Sea, at the edge of the shelf ige, Ross discovered the island ‘now named for him, on which are the active twin ‘yleenoes, Mounts Brebus and Terror, On Janu- lary 27, 1861, Rose) discovered and landed ‘upon Franklin Island, ‘Mountains 10,000 he collected rock specimens. high prevented ‘him from south magnetic pole, He ‘Vietoria Land, and salled 8 coast along the entire ‘under the British ag, reached the mainland on the Southern Cross expedition of 1899-1900, and ‘wintered at Capo Adare. His was the first expedt- jere on the Antarctic Contl- by the British Gov Rost Island at the (connected with the mainland by shelf ice); dis- covered the Antarct{e plateau behind the mountain ange; made many/sledge trips on the continent, {neluding one Westward well Inland into the plateau (Go 149° B) and another toward the pole (reaching 82°17’ 8); and dlseprered from the sea and named Baward VII Land. mest H. Shackleton, in the imrod, was reader of a South Polar expedition in 1907-00. He was aiged by a grant of £20,000 from the British Government and alaitional funds rom the New SECRET CIA-RDP79-00976A000100010001-7