HC Deb 15 March 1948 vol 448 cc1684-5
19. Mr. Donner

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the number and location of all Argentinian and Chilean bases, whether military, naval, scientific or commercial, recently established on British territory in the Antarctic; whether, and where, any foreign military or naval detachments remain, and what steps he now proposes to take to ensure their early removal.

Mr. Mayhew

Since January, 1947, Argentine bases have been established at Gamma Island in the Melchior Group of the Palmer Archipelago, at Deception Island in the South Shetlands group of the Falkland Islands Dependencies, and at Admiralty Bay on King George Island, also in the South Shetland Group. Chilean bases have been established in the same period at Greenwich Island in the South Shetlands and at a point on the North East coast of Trinity Peninsula in Graham Land. It is understood that all these posts are at present occupied by members of the Argentine or Chilean forces.

As the House will be aware, it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to refer the question of disputed sovereignty in this region to the International Court of Justice at The Hague, whereas the Argentine and Chilean Governments have proposed an International conference to discuss a settlement. Despite the fact that these Governments are at present unwilling to accept our proposals for ending this dispute, my right hon. Friend remains hopeful that we shall make progress by friendly discussion, and that no question will arise of the removal of the Argentine and Chilean parties.

Mr. Donner

Would the Minister make it plain that we cannot be expected to tolerate indefinitely the presence of these foreign Forces on our territory?

Mr. Mayhew

Our attitude has been well expressed by my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Driberg

Could my hon. Friend say whether the conspiracy disclosed in his very interesting answer to Question No. 13, and other similar activities, are thought by the Foreign Office to have any bearing on this particular subject?

Mr. Mayhew

I cannot accept the implications of that question, at any rate until we have the police reports, to which I referred in my reply to that Question.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Could the Minister tell us whether a Communist plot has been discovered yet in the Antarctic?

Squadron-Leader Fleming

Could my hon. Friend tell us what bases now occupied by the Argentine and Chile were originally occupied by British Forces, naval, military or air?

Mr. Mayhew

I should want notice of that question.