§ 17. Mr. Keelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the declaration by the United Kingdom, Argentina and Chile that they foresee no need to send warships south of latitude 60 degrees during the current Antarctic Summer except for customary routine 1657 movements implies any abandonment of British sovereignty or of Argentinian or Chilean claims in that region; and whether Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have concurred in the declaration.
§ Mr. BevinNo, Sir. British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands Dependencies remains unaffected by the recent exchange of statements with Argentina and Chile. I have no information regarding any abandonment by the Argentine or Chilean Governments of their territorial claims in that region. In accordance with the customary practice of His Majesty's Government in such matters the Commonwealth Governments concerned, including the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, were informed in advance of the terms of the proposed exchange of statements.