HL Deb 01 February 1949 vol 160 cc418-20

2.40 p.m.

LORD TEYNHAM

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they can make a statement on the reported Agreement said to have been made between the United Kingdom, the Argentine and Chile by which no warships of these countries will proceed South of Latitude 60° South during the 1948–49 Antarctic season.]

THE LORD CHANCELLOR (VISCOUNT JOWITT)

My Lords, as was announced in the Press recently, statements were exchanged on January 18 between His Majesty's Government and the Governments of Argentina and Chile, in the following terms: Being anxious to avoid any misunderstanding in Antarctica which might upset the friendly relations between the United Kingdom, Argentina and Chile, the Governments of these three countries have informed each other that in the present circumstances they foresee no need to send warships South of Latitude 60° during the 1948–49 Antarctic season, apart, of course, from the routine movements such as have been customary for a number of years.

LORD TEYNHAM

Arising out of that reply, may I ask the noble and learned Viscount whether he is aware that this is the first occasion on which His Majesty's ships have been precluded from carrying out their proper duties in the oceans of the world, outside territorial waters?

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

His Majesty's ships are not precluded from carrying out their duties. The following vessels are at present operating in or hound for waters South of Latitude 60° South—the sloop H.M.S. "Sparrow," on which the Governor of the Falkland Islands will be making his annual tour of the Dependencies later in the season, and the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey Relief Ship, the s.s. "John Biscoe."

LORD TEYNHAM

Arising out of that answer, is the noble and learned Viscount aware that seven countries are interested in Antarctic territory? Can he tell us whether any steps have been taken to create a limited form of international régime such as was recently proposed by the United States?

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

No. The exchange of statements does not in any way affect the rights of sovereignty enjoyed by His Majesty in the area concerned, or the British Government's liberty of action to open new posts or transfer existing posts in British territory. The attitude of His Majesty's Government towards the question of sovereignty in the Falkland Islands Dependencies remains as set out in the Minister of State's statement of February 16 in the House of Commons; that is to say, that His Majesty's Government consider the British title to the Falkland Islands Dependencies to be well founded and have indicated their willingness to accept the decision of the International Court of Justice at The Hague.