A New Start in Antarctica ?
It was quite possibly an accident that the announcement of new American proposals for the joint administration of the Antarctic by the eight Powers making territorial claims there was accompanied by a new series of acts of trespass by the Argentine Government. But it was the kind of accident which draws attention at once to the realities of the situation. The United States Government, whose Byrd Expedition was by far the biggest scientific inquiry made in the Antarctic, is only anxious that political considerations shall not stand in the way of useful research. Invitations to consider the possibility of joint rule under the United Nations went to Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, France and Norway. The replies have not yet come in, but already it can be seen which way the wind is blowing. The Argentine Government has established post-offices at Deception and Melchior, on British Territory—an action which is of greater significance for philately than for other branches of science, and which politically is about as helpful as the cruise by massed admirals in the last Antarctic summer. And from Chilean sources comes a tentative reaction to the tentative American approach which conveys no promise whatever of more sensible behaviour. It is therefore hardly surprising that the first news from Australia, where patience with Argentine and Chilean methods has always been shorter than in this country, places more emphasis on the military significance of Antarctica than on peaceful scientific research. This is regrettable, of tourse. Such a trend is not welcome either to the American State Department, which made . the, first approach, or to the British Government which has been discussing the matter with Australia and New Zealand. But the root of the trouble lies in Argentina and Chile, and will remain there until the Governments of those countries realise the folly and futility of putting politics before discovery.
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