CONTRIBUTION TO NSC BRIEFING ON ANTARCTICA. 19 NOVEMBER 1956

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A000800010013-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 26, 1998
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: November 19, 1956
• Content Type: BRIEF

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CONTRIBUTION TO NSC BRIEFING ON ANTARTICA, 19 November 1956
I. Situation regarding claims to Antarctic territory is complex and confused.
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countries, the prinzipal facdor motivating these national claims
apg% to be the pursuit of prestige.
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at present open dispute continues
A. Nationals of 13 countries have at various times asserted claims,
but only seven governments at present maintain these claims.
These are, Britain, France, Norway, Australia, New Zealand,
Argentina, and Chile.
Among other governments that display interest, the Soviet union
appears most likely to assert a claim sooner or later.
II. National claims in many cases overlap or otherwise conflict, but
and While.
only between Britain and Aentina
III. In addition to strong public interest in Antarctica in several
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B. The Soviet Union's intrusion into the situation rules out
any slackening of zeal on the ja rt of present claimants.
C. Several governments, tably Britain and France, appear to
40
Antarctica
believeultiaately acquire greater strategic
and military Q__4.-f_____ 1
14 privately
D. None of the claimants/appears to kwitmm credit the idea
continent
that'the will turn out to be of enormous economic
whaling in
value, although the surroundings: waters
potential
and air transport needs tend to reinforce desire to
maintain claims.
Approved For Release 2001/08/14: CIA-RDP79R0089OA000800010013-4