Cleveland, Hon. Harlan, Assistant Secretary of State for International Duncan, Hon. Robert B., a Representative from the State of Oregon_- 153 Haworth, Dr. Leland J., Director, National Science Foundation___ 104, 117 Hosmer, Hon. Craig, a Representative in Congress from the State of McNaughton, Hon. John T., Assistant Secretary of Defense for Inter- 65 Wells, Dr. H. W., executive secretary, Committee on Polar Research, 157 Carver, John A., Jr., Under Secretary of the Interior_... Cleveland, Hon. Harlan, Assistant Secretary of State.---. Giles, Robert E., general counsel, Department of Commerce_ Haworth, Hon. Leland J., Director, National Science Foundation__ MacArthur, Douglas II, Ássistant Secretary of State for Congressional 54 Niederlahner, L., Acting General Counsel, Department of Defense___ Cleveland, Hon. Harlan, Assistant Secretary of State for International McNaughton, Hon. John T., Assistant Secretary of Defense for Inter- ANTARCTICA REPORT-1965 MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1965 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON TERRITORIAL AND INSULAR AFFAIRS OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:55 a.m., in room 1324, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Leo W. O'Brien presiding. Mr. O'BRIEN. The Subcommittee on Territorial and Insular Affairs will come to order for the start of hearings on H.R. 555 by Mr. Zablocki, H.R. 2211 by Mr. Hosmer, H.R. 4658 by Mr. Saylor, and H.R. 5494 by Mr. Morton. These are bills to provide for continuity and support of study, research, and development of programs for peaceful uses in science, commerce, and other activities related to Antarctica. Reports were requested on April 12, 1965, from Defense, State, Interior, National Science Foundation, National Academy of Sciences, and the National Research Council. We have at the moment a report from the Department of State, a report from the Department of Interior. I do not know whether the report from the Department of State is intended to speak for the other agencies from whom we have not received reports, but that, of course, will be developed as the hearing progresses. Unless there is objection, the reports from the Department of State and the Department of Interior will be made a part of the record at this point. (The reports referred to follow; also the following bills: H.R. 555, H.R. 2211, H.R. 4658, H.R. 5494.) Hon. WAYNE N. ASPINALL, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, April 12, 1965. Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you for your letters of February 12, 1965, enclosing for the comments of the Department of State copies of H.R. 555, H.R. 2211, H.R. 4658 and H.R. 5494, bills to provide for the continuity and support of study, research, and development of programs for peaceful uses in science, commerce, and other activities related to Antarctica. It is the view of the Department of State that there is no need to create an additional separate organization within the Government, such as the Antarctic Commission contemplated in the bills, for the conduct of U.S. Antarctic programs. The principal activity of the United States in Antarctica is the conduct of programs of scientific research which, pursuant to Circular A-51 of the Bureau of the Budget, dated August 3, 1960, are administered by the National Science Foundation with logistic support furnished by the U.S. Navy. Present arrangements for coordination within the Government are in accordance with the statement of President Kennedy made in connection with the abolition of the Operations Coordinating Board on February 19, 1961. 1 The Department and other agencies concerned recently concluded a review of these arrangements. As a result of this review it was concluded that while these arrangements have been satisfactory, it would be beneficial to provide a more formal framework for policy deliberations. Accordingly, an Antarctic Policy Group has been established by the Secretary of State, consisting of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, the Director of the National Science Foundation, and the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, who serves as chairman. The Department believes, therefore, that present arrangements for the coordination and conduct of U.S. Antarctic programs provide the opportunity for that continuing consultation among the agencies concerned which is essential to assure that these programs are of optimum benefit to the United States. The Bureau of the Budget advises that, from the standpoint of the administration's program, there is no objection to the presentation of this report for the consideration of the committee. Sincerely yours, DOUGLAS MACARTHUR II, Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, D.C., April 9, 1965. Hon. WAYNE N. ASPINALL, Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, DEAR MR. ASPINALL: This responds to your request for a report on H.R. 555, "To provide continuity and support of study, research, and development of programs for peaceful uses in science, commerce, and other activities related to Antarctica, etc.," and similar bills, H.R. 2211, and H.R. 4658. This report applies equally to a similar bill, H.R. 5494. We recommend that the bilis not be enacted. These bills provide for a Commission to be responsible for coordination and direction of research programs of the Antarctic. It would also have certain informational responsibilities and would maintain continuing records of U.S. interests and activities of the Antarctic. While the objectives of the bills are worthwhile, it is our opinion that adequate mechanisms to accomplish them are already in existence. The bills are unnecessary, and if the Commission were established the cost to the Government to coordinate Antarctic activities would be considerably increased without assurance that a more effective program would result. Research in the Antarctic is now a primary responsibility of the National Science Foundation, which works very closely with the Department of State, Department of Defense, other Government agencies, and the nongovernmental research community. Coordination and direction are handled by a small advisory committee. Lines of communication are excellent, decisions are reached quickly, and program direction and content seems adequate. The more formal requirements of a Commission may actually hamper the facility with which present Antarctic affairs are being handled. During the next few years when the Antarctic program involves research and data collection, the National Science Foundation is a logical focal point for coordination. If the program goes into a development stage, some other arrangement may be appropriate. The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objection to the presentation of this report from the standpoint of the administration's program. Sincerely yours, JOHN A. CARVER, Jr., Under Secretary of the Interior. [H.R. 555, 89th Cong., 1st sess.] A BILL To provide for continuity and support of study, research, and development of programs for peaceful uses in science, commerce, and other activities related to Antarctica, which shall include, but shall not be limited to, gathering, evaluating, correlating, and dispersing of information and knowledge obtained from exploration, research, and other mediums relating to weather, communications, travel, and other areas of information; also to coordinate Antarctic activities among those agencies of the United States Government and private institutions interested in or concerned directly with the promotion, advancement, increase, and diffusion of knowledge of the Antarctic; and to direct and administer United States Antarctic programs in the national interest. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Richard E. Byrd Antarctic Commission Act of 1965”. SEC. 2. When used in this Act: DEFINITIONS (1) "Commission" means the Richard E. Byrd Antarctic Commission. (2) "Director" means the Director of the Commission. (3) "Board" means the Board of Governors. (4) "Commissioned officer" means a commissioned officer of the Armed Forces of the United States. THE COMMISSION SEC. 3. There is established in the executive branch of the Government, the Richard E. Byrd Antarctic Commission. The Commission shall consist of a Director, two Deputy Directors, and a Board of Governors. FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION SEC. 4. The Commission shall (1) maintain a depository of information relating to the Antarctic including: (A) all records of the Commission, (B) originals or copies of records within the executive branch relating to the Antarctic, (C) books, pamphlets, periodicals, and articles dealing with the Antarctic, and (D) such other information as the Commission considers desirable; (2) conduct such field and laboratory studies and evaluations as it considers advisable to further the knowledge of the Antarctic in science, commerce, and related activities, which shall include, but shall not be limited to gathering, evaluating, and dispersing of information and knowledge obtained from exploration, research and other mediums, relating to weather, communications, travel, and other areas of information; (3) publish or arrange for the publication of scientific, technical, historical, and general niformation so as to further the dissemination of information about the Antarctic, when the dissemination is consistent with the interests of national security and the public interest (publication may be made without regard to section 87 of the Act of January 12, 1895 (ch. 23, 28 Stat. 622), and section 11 of the Act of March 1, 1919 (ch. 86, 40 Stat. 1270; 44 U.S.C. 111)); (4) with the concurrence and approval of the Board, perform, at the request of the head of any executive agency, specific research, investigation, or experimentation in connection with matters relating to the national defense and/or the interests of the United States; (5) approve the plans for and supervise Antarctic operation or expeditions conducted by, or supported by, other agencies of the United States except for operations or expeditions or parts thereof which are military in character; (6) assist private Antarctic expeditions or research programs when such assistance is in the best interests of the United States; (7) accept and utilize the services of voluntary and uncompensated personnel and provide transportation and subsistence as authorized by section 5 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (ch. 744, 60 Stat. 808), as amended (5 U.S.C. 73b-2), for persons serving without compensation; and (8) acquire by purchase, lease, loan, or gift, and hold or dispose of by sale, lease, or loan, real or personal property necessary for, or resulting from, the exercise of authority under this Act; (9) receive and use funds donated to the Commission if such funds are donated without restriction other than that they be used to carry out the general purposes of this Act; |