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FOREIGN RELATIONS) 1950, VOLUME r


before, we feel is a problem separate from Antarctic territorial ques-
tions and appropriately to be handled through the international whal-
ing convention.
   Although our draft is intended as a basis of discussion, we hope
 of course that the Chilean Government will be able to accept the sug-
 gestions it embodies. We will welcome the Chilean Government's
 informal comments on our draft and we would like informally to
 have their views as to the appropriate method of bringing the pro-
 posal for a modus vivendi to the attention of the other governments
 concerned. We are inclined to be guided by the Chilean preference in
 this matter. We see two possible methods: 1) That the Chilean Gov-
 ernment present its proposal, which we would hope could be modified
 in line with our draft, to the governments concerned. We would some-
 what prefer this method. 2) If the Chilean Government prefers, we
 are prepared to give them our draft with a reply to their aide-medmoire
 of October 7, 1948 (to our Embassy in Santiago) ,6 giving copies to
 the other governments concerned and suggesting that the Chilean sug-
 gestion as embodied in our text be made the basis for further discus-
 sion among the interested countries.
   Should Mr. Rodriguez inquire, it is suggested that you tell him that
we will be informing the British confidentially of our discussions with
Chile on this subject, but that we do not plan to mention it to anyone
else for the present.7
                                         B[ENJAmIN] M. H[1mLEY]
  81In the communication under reference here, not printed, the Chilean Govern-
ment rejected an American proposal for the internationalization of the Antarctic
by trusteeship and condominium. For the text of the communication, see tele-
gram 667, October 8, 1948, from Santiago, Foreign Relations, 1948, voL I,
Part 2,
p. 1009.
  7 In a conversatilon with Chilean Minister-Counselor Rodriguez on January
5,
Director Sheldon T. Mills presented a copy of the American draft of the proposed
Antarctic modus vivendi (supra) and outlined Department of State views as
presented in this memorandum. Caspar D. fGreen of the Office of British Common-
wealth and Northern European Affairs went over the same points in detail
in
a conversation with Rodriguez on January 9 (memoranda of conversation by
Caspar D. Green, January 5 and 9, 1950, 702.022/1-550 and 702.022/1-950).


702.00/2-1750
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Caspar &amp;. Green of the Office
    of British Comnmonwealth and Northern European Affairs

CONFDENTIAL                      [WAsHINGTON,] February 17, 1950.
Participants: Mr. C. A. G. Meade, Counselor, British Embassy
               Mr. D. C. Tebbit, Second Secretary, British Embassy
               Mr. Caspar D. Green, BNA
  Mr. Tebbit came in briefly on February 13, 1950 to say that he had
a letter from the Foreign Office instructing him to inquire whether


9 08

 
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