460. Memorandum From the Assistant Director for International Relations, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Beam) to the Special Assistant for Antarctica, Bureau of International Organization Affairs (Owen)1
SUBJECT
- Treaty Inspection Rights in Antarctica
Your memorandum of April 24, 1962,2 requested our views on whether the United States should include an inspection trip in its plans for Antarctica operations during the 1962–63 season. As this Agency has stated in its previous correspondence with you, and particularly in Mr. Fisher’s memorandum of October 25, 1961,3 we think it would be useful to exercise our right of inspection but we have also felt that the timing has not been propitious for such an inspection. We are not inclined to think that these rights would atrophy if not exercised in the near future. It seems to us that there is no pressing need this year for an inspection and therefore we would recommend that no plans be made for such a trip during the 1962–63 season.
It is our understanding that in the course of normal contacts between the personnel of various countries engaging in Antarctic operations, the United States is acquainted with all activities being carried out in Antarctica. If, however, there is some Soviet activity in the Antarctic with which we are unfamiliar, it would be reasonable to suggest that an inspection of that particular activity be carried out. We would therefore suggest that in your discussions with Admiral Tyree you should ascertain whether there are any activities with which we are unfamiliar and which might justify a request by us for an inspection. If there is any such activity, we would be happy to reconsider our decision that no inspection should be contemplated this year.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, IO Files: Lot 69 D 169, Antarctica Files, Inspection 1962–63. Confidential.↩
- Not printed. (Ibid.)↩
- Document 459.↩