Page 147 (b) The Argentine.-Two armed transports, one unarmed tanker, two armed tugs, one unarmed tug, one ice-breaker and some aircraft (last season there were two reconnaissance aircraft and four helicopters).
(c) Chile.-One frigate, which spends most of its time at Punta Arenas, one
armed tanker, two unarmed tugs, and some aircraft.
Other Forces
8.-(a) United Kingdom.—In January 1956 H.M.S. Kenya and three frigates of the 7th Frigate Squadron will be on the American and West Indies Station, and two frigates on the South Atlantic Station. No air support is possible unless carriers were provided from the Home or Mediterranean Stations.
(b) The Argentine.-The Argentinian Navy includes 5 cruisers, 11 destroyers, 7 frigates and 3 submarines. Their Air Force contains Lincoln and Lancaster Bombers which have been used for dropping supplies on their bases. They also possess a number of types of aircraft which are suitable for Antarctic operations.
(c) Chile. The Chilean Navy includes 2 cruisers, 6 destroyers, 6 frigates and 2 submarines. They also possess a number of types of aircraft which are suitable for Antarctic operations.
Geographical Considerations
9. The whole coastline of the Antarctic Continent is normally girdled with ice, except posssibly during the late summer months-December, January and February. In February and March the extent of pack ice is least; its main limit is approximately the 70th Parallel. However, local weather can block a bay or harbour with ice in a short time and render it temporarily inaccessible. For this reason a pre-arranged programme cannot always be adhered to by ships in the Antarctic, and there is always a danger of ships being trapped in the ice. Although the Americans plan to have ice-breakers in the area during their expedition in connection with the Geophysical Year, the only ice-breaker normally employed in the area belongs to the Argentine. We may at any time, particularly during the expedition in connection with the Geophysical Year and the Trans-Polar Journey, have to ask for the help of the Argentine ice-breaker, and this would be particularly embarrassing should we have previously attempted to remove Argentinian bases.
10. Minor landing operations are feasible in the season at all the bases referred to in paragraph 3 above.
General
OUR VIEWS
11. The action proposed by the Foreign Office is in effect police action in support of our legal claims in Antarctica. To be feasible, any plan for carrying out the whole or part of the operation must provide for countering interference or retaliation from Argentinian or Chilean forces.
12. In order to avoid being the first to break the Tripartite Naval Declaration, or giving the other signatories cause to do so, we should have to carry out the operation with our ships stationed in the area. Furthermore, if we are to abide by the purpose of the Declaration, which is to avoid any misunderstanding in Antarctica, we should give warning of our intentions.
Possible Argentinian and Chilean Reactions
13. We think it unlikely that either the Argentine or Chile would abrogate the Tripartite Declaration as a result of a warning, but they would undoubtedly alert their forces in the area. Their ships already outnumber British ships in the area, and having been alerted, would be in a better position to interfere with any of our operations.
14. There is a risk that action by H.M.S. Protector against Argentinian or Chilean bases might result in retaliatory military action by these countries. They could if they wished reinforce the area more rapidly than we could. Her Majesty's Ambassadopage statehah in his view no Argentine Govenment paficarly
146B
10 vi
ALEXANDER
LAND
70°W.
60°W.
Page 148TATIONS
British (occupied o British (unoccupied) Argentine (occupied) Argentine (unoccupied)
▲ Chilean (occupied) ▲ Chilean (unoccupied)
+ American (unoccupied)
SHETLAND
HARMONY COVE
YANKEE HARBOUR,
SOUT COPPERMINE COVE
DECEPTION ISLAND'
,ARDLEY PENINSULA
QADMIRALTY BAY
POTTER COVE
DISCOVERY BAY GREENWICH ISLAND HALF MOON ISLAND
ARCHIPELAGO
MIKKELSEN HARBOUR
MELCHIOR ISLANDS
PALMER
ANVERS ISLAND
. DORIAN BAY. PORT LOCKROY-
PETERMANN ISLAND ARGENTINE ISLANDSE
:35
ADELAIDE ISLAND }
BISCOE ISLANDS
HORSESHOE ISLANDY
DEBENHAM ISLANDS
STONINGTON ISLAND TO
MARGUERITE
BAY
70°W.
RAHAM
LAND