§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communication he has had with the Secretary-General of the United Nations concerning the study he is making on Antarctica; and when the British response will be published.
§ Mr. WhitneyWe have given the Secretary-General a preliminary outline of our contribution to the United Nations study on Antarctica. We intend to supplement this with a full account of the importance we attach to the maintenance of the Antarctic treaty system. We intend to place copies of both papers in the Library of the House immediately following the transmission of the full account to the United Nations Secretary-General.
§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the the role he envisages for the United Nations in Antarctica in relation to the Antarctic treaty system.
§ Mr. WhitneyWe do not envisage any specific role for the United Nations in Antarctica. We remain ready, however to co-operate with the United Nations to secure the widest possible acceptance of and support for the Antarctic treaty system.