Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXV, Organization of Foreign Policy; Information Policy; United Nations; Scientific Matters

459. Memorandum From the Deputy Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Fisher) to the Special Assistant for Antarctica, Bureau of International Organization Affairs (Owen)¹

Washington, October 25, 1961.

SUBJ

• Inspection Trip to Antarctica

We believe that the trip referred to in Naval Message R220130Z should not be designated as an inspection trip.² We would have no objection at all to other work being performed by the mission as may be appropriate under the terms of the Antarctica Treaty. In particular, we have no objection in principle to the taking of aerial photographs during the trip as suggested in paragraph 2 of the referenced message.

Our reasons for recommending that this particular flight not be designated as an inspection trip are as follows.

• First, we do not believe that the right of inspection under the Antarctica Treaty will atrophy if it is not utilized during the current summer season in Antarctica.
• Secondly, we see no useful purpose from the standpoint of disarmament negotiations which would be served by an inspection trip at this time; on the contrary, we would be concerned that an inspection trip now would have the appearance of an over-eagerness to conduct inspection and thus lend credence to the Soviet charges that the U.S. seeks nothing but espionage privileges in disarmament negotiations.
• Thirdly, we think the general state of Soviet-American relations at the present time should not be exacerbated needlessly as might be the case with this particular inspection trip.
• Fourthly, when the inspection trip is made, we believe it should be mounted with more thoroughness and greater attention to the expected results of the inspection than appears to be possible in the case in question.

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, IO Files: Lot 69 D 169, Antarctica Files, Inspection 1962–63. Confidential. Drafted by Goodby.
2. The flight mentioned in the message to the U.S. Antarctic Project office in Washington involved taking gravity and magnetic measurements as requested by the National Science Foundation, and required overnight stops at the Mirny and Wilkes Stations and an overflight of the Soviet Union’s Vostok Station. Since a Navy aircraft would be used, the Navy wondered whether the flight should be designated as an inspection trip and whether photographs should be taken of the stations to be visited. (Ibid.)