HC Deb 23 February 1953 vol 511 cc1729-31
Mr. Eden

I will, with permisison, now answer Question No. 22.

At the beginning of this month Her Majesty's Government were informed that Argentina and Chile had established naval parties on the airstrip adjoining the British base at Port Foster, Deception Island, which is British territory, and that permanent buildings had been erected. These encroachments represented not merely an infringement of our sovereignty on the Island, but a nuisance and an obstruction to those who were maintaining our base. Instructions were accordingly given to the Acting Governor of the Falkland Islands to dismantle the buildings which had been erected and to arrest and deport under the Falkland Islands Aliens Ordinance any occupants found in them.

These instructions were carried out on the 15th February by the British Magistrate assisted by constables of the Falklands Islands Police. Royal Marines from Her Majesty's Frigate "Snipe" were available if needed in support of the civil power. Two occupants of the Argentine hut were arrested, without resistance, and the Argentine and Chilean huts were dismantled. The Chilean hut was unoccupied. The two arrested men were handed over at South Georgia on 18th February to the master of an Argentine vessel bound for Buenos Aires.

Her Majesty's Ambassadors at Buenos Aires and Santiago presented Notes on 16th February informing the two Governments of the action we have action taken and protesting against the infringement of our sovereignty by the Argentine and Chilean parties. Replies were received on 20th February asserting the Argentine and Chilean claims to the territory, protesting against our action, and calling upon us to restore the dismantled buildings and return the arrested men.

In taking the steps I have described Her Majesty's Government have been concerned to dispel any doubt about their attitude to encroachments of this type on British territory. At the same time they have repeated the offer made to both countries by the late Government to refer the conflicting claims to territory in the Antarctic to the International Court of Justice. I am sorry to say that both countries, in their Notes, have seen fit once more to reject this offer.

Captain Pilkington

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there will be widespread approval of the action which has been taken and that this action shows to these two Governments that it is high time to stop this childish trespassing on other people's territory?

Mr. A. Henderson

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, apart from rejecting the offer of the British Government to refer this matter to the International Court, either of the Governments concerned has made any alternative suggestion for obtaining a peaceful solution?

Mr. Eden

There is nothing appertaining to a peaceful solution. I think that they have suggested reference to another authority, which in our view would not be covered by this matter.

Brigadier Prior-Palmer

Would my right hon. Friend say whether this action in any way constitutes a breach of the Tripartite Naval Declaration covering the movement of ships south of the 60th latitude?

Mr. Eden

No, we have not in any way infringed the arrangements under the Tripartite Naval Declaration. We adhere to those, and the presence of a British frigate South of that latitude is quite customary during the Antarctic summer. I ought to add, to make the position quite plain, that these men were expelled not as invaders but as illegal immigrants. They were dealt with under the civil law of the Dependencies themselves.

Sir Edward Keeling

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the Argentine and Chile are rival claimants, or did they intend to go shares?

Mr. Eden

My hon. Friend must address that question to the Governments concerned.