INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
PLEADINGS,ORALARGUMENTS,DOCUMENTS
ANTARCTICA CASES
(UNITED KINGDOM v.ARGENTINA;
UNITED KINGDOM v.CHILE) COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE
MÉMOIRES, PLAIDOIRIES ET DOCUMENTS
AFFAIRES RELATIVES A
L'ANTARCTIQUE
(ROYAUME-UNI C.ARGENTINE ;
ROYAUME-UNI c. CHILI)
ORDONNANCESDU 16MARS1956:RADIATIODU R~LEPRINTED IN THE NETHEFZANDS PART 1
APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS
AND PLEADINGS
PREMIÈRE PARTIE
REQUÊTE INTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE
ET PIÈCES DE LA PROCÉDURE ÉCRITE SECTION A.-APPLICATIONS
INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS
1. APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST
THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
THE AGENT FOR THE GOVERNMENTOF THE UNITED
KINGDOM TO THE REGISTRAR OF THE INTERNATIONAL
COURT OF JUSTICE AT THE HAGUE
FOREIGN OFFICE,
LONDON, S.W.I.
May, 1955.
Sir,
1 have the honour to refer to Article 40 (1)of the Statute of the
International Court of Justice and Article 32 (2)of the Rules of
Court and, by direction of Her bfajesty's Principal Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs, to submit an Application instituting
proceedings in the name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland against the Republic of Argentina in the
followingcase '.
2. Differences have existed betweeu the Governinents of the
United Kingdom and of the Republic of Argeutina for a number
of years, concerning pretensions advanced by the Republic in 1925,
and at various dates thereafter, to the sovereignty of certain
Antarctic and sub-Antarctic territories which belong to the United
Kingdom under prior, long-standing, and well-established legal
titles, dating from, at latest, the period 1775-1843.The territories
in dispute between the two countries form part of the Falkland
Islands Dependencies, consisting of already existing British posses-
sions, which (followingon a long series of analogous enactments-
see paragraph 13 below) were proclaimed as such and formally
placed under the administration of the Government of the Colony
of the Falkland Islands by Royal Letters Patent of July 21, 1908.
It reçults from the present Application that the United Kingclom Government
accepts the jurisdioftheCourtin respect of the questions hercby submitted to
it,nd in particular that of the title to soverthe içlands andlandsofthe
Falkland Islands DependencThe present Application does not constituteasuh-
mission to the jurisdiction of the Court in any other respect, or as regards the title
to sovereigntyerany territory outside the Dependencies.9 APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDIXGS (V j5)
These Letters Patent, the full test of mhich is set out in Annex I
(No. I) to the present .4pplication, specified as the principal terri-
tories included within the Dependencies the territories known as
South Georgia, the South Orkneys, the South Shetlands and the
Sandwich Islands, and the temtory known as Graham Land.
There were also other territories, such as Coats Land. Further
Letters Patent of March 28, 1917 (Annex 1, No. z), were issued
for the purpose of clarifying the extent of the Antarctic mainland
together with its coastil archipelagos which were comprised within
the designation "territory of Graham Land" used in the carlier
LettersPatent. Under the supplemental Letters Patent of 1917, the
Dependencies were finally defined to include-
"ail islands and territories whatsoe\.er 6etween the zotli degree
of West longitude and the goth degree of West longitude wliich
are situated soutli of the 50th parallel of South latitude ;and al1
islands and territories whatsoever betaeen the joth degree \Yest
longitude and the 80th degree of \Vest longitude \vhichare situated
south of the 58th parallel of South latitude".
The territories of the Dependeiicies, as so defined in the Letters
Patent of 1908 and 1917, Jvhich had long been British possessions,
have for many years been utilised and administered by the li?lkland
Islands Governnient effectively, openly and, until nioclcrn times,
without any objection from the Republic of Argentina, which facts
are conclusively shown in paragraphs 6 to 2j below *.
3. Notwithstanding the United Kingdom's open assumptioii,
and long-standing and peaceful exercise of sovereignty over the
territories concerned, and the clear and precise delimitation of the
Falkland Islands Dependencies in the above-mentioned Letters
Patent, the Govemment of the Republic of Argentina formulatea
pretensions in 1925 to the South Orkneys, in 1927 to South Georgia
as well as to the South Orkneys, and in or about 1937 to al1 the
territories of the Falkland Islands Dependencies. Subsequently,
the Republic of Argentina, in a notice of daim deposited on Decep-
tion Island (South Shetlands) in January, 1942, and in a Note
addressed to the United Kingdom Govemment on Febmary 15,
1943, defined her pretensions in the area south of latitude 60'
South as covering al1 Antarctic lands and dependencies between
longitudes 25" and 68" 34' West. This westerly limit was later
extended by a decree of September 2, 1946, to longitude 74' West.
Thus, the pretensions which Argentina has from time to time
formulated to territories in the Falkland Islands Dependeiicies
It wiU beunderstood that althouforreason of convenience. the territories to
which the present Application relates sere constituted DependenciesFalk-he
land Islands for administrative purposes. the tilto them is a scparate and
independentone.=.hich ino way derives froordepends on the tittothe Falk-
land Islands themselves.10 APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (V55)
appear to cover South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands as
well as the islands and lands sitnated between 25' and 68"34' West
and south of latitude 60" South.
4. South of latitude 60" South, the western limit of Argentina's
pretensions, as given in the above-mentioned decree of Septemher 2,
1946, is longitude 74"West :whereas the western limit of the Falk-
land Islands Dependencies is 6" further to the west at longitude 80"
West. The United Kingdom's present Application does not, there-
fore, relate to the areas of the Falkland Islands Dependencies
between longitudes 74"and 80' West, which lie outside the declared
limits of Argentina's pretensions. Similarly, the eastern limit of
Argentina's pretensions, as stated in Argentina's above-mentioned
notice of claim, and diplomatic Note of Fehruary 15, 1943, is
longitude 25" West, whereas the eastem limit of the Falkland
Islands Dependencies is 5" further to the East at longitude 20'
West. The United Kingdom's present Application does not,
therefore, relate to the areas of the Falkland Islands Dependencies
hetween zj" and zooWest, which lie outside the declared limits of
Argentina's pretensions. It follows that the United Kingdom's
cornplaint in the present Application relates to the pretensions of
Argentina to the sovereignty of the islands and lands of the Falkland
Islands Dependencies which lie between longitudes 25" and 74"
West and to the southwards of latitude 60' South. A inap depicting
the territones to which the United Kingdom's present Application
relates is attached as Annex z. As this map shows, the principal
terntories in dispute between the United Kingdom and Argentina
in the present case are the South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia,
the South Orkneys, South Shetlands, and Graham Land together
with its coastal archipelagos. There is also Coats Land, to which
(at Vahsel Bay) the Argentine Government has, during the last
few weeks, sent an expedition.
5. The main facts relative to the United Kingdom's titles to the
sovereignty of the Falkland Islands Dependencies and the territories
cornprised in it, and to the violation of her sovereignty by the
Repuhlic of Argentina, are set out in paragraphs 6-33 below 3.
The United Kingdom Government considers that the facts stated in
the present Application suffice to establish conclusively both the
United Kingdom's title to sovereignty, and the violation of that
solidation by occupationuseradministration and otlier means appropriate tothe
circumetances of the territories, as contained in para6-25hand 30-31hereof,
are substantially identical with the corresponding passages in the Application which
the United Kingdom Governmentis making concurrently with the present one,
coniplainingofviolationsofits sovereigntover thesame area,on the part of the
Republic of Chile.sovereignty by the Republic of Argentina. The United Kingdom
Government reserves the right, however, to amplify in its pleadings
its exposition of the relevant facts, and to furnish further proof of
both these matters.
Origins of the British Titles, Histonc Discoveries and Acts of
Annexation by British Nationals in the Period 1675-1843
6. The British title to the temitories concerned goes back to a
number'of dates varying from, at latest, 1775 to 1843. The first
discovery of any of the islands or lands of the Falkland Islands
Dependencies may well have been that of South Georgia in 167j
by the British merchant Anthony de la Roche. This group of islands
was rediscovered in 1775 by the great English navigator Captain,
James Cook, R.N. On January 17 of that year he landed at three
places on the islaiid, took possession of it formally in the name of
King George III and called it South Georgia in honour of the King.
7. Captaiii Cook also discovered the Soz~thSandwich Islands in
1775 Sailing east\vards from South Georgia, be sighted first a small
group of islands which he called the Clerke Rocks after the name
of his lieutenant, and then, on January 31, a larger group which
he called the Sandwich Land after the First Lord of the British
Admiralty of that date.
S. The Soadh Shetlaizd Islands were discovered by the English
sea captain \Villiam Smith on February 18, 1819. lzevisiting the
islands in October of the same year, he landed, planted the British
flag and formally took possession of the group in the name of
King George III, calling it New South Britain-(this \iras after-
wards changed to South Shetlands, named after the Shetlands
Islands, north of Scotland). A feuzmonths later, Edwards Brans-
field, R.N., accoinpanicd by William Smith, proceeded again to
the islands and made a survey of thewhole group. On January 16,
1820, he landed on the largest islaiid (King George Island) in
the centre of the group and took possession formally in the name
of King George 11'. After a voyage south-westwards between the
South Shetlands and Graham Land, to which further reference
is made in paragraph 10 below, he retumed to the South Shetland
Islands. On February 4 he landed on the most easterly island of
the group, taking possession formally in the King's name and
calling the island Clarence Island in honour ofthe Duke of Clarence,
the brother of the King.
g.The South Orkney Islands (named after another Scottish
group) were discovered by the British sealing captain, George
Powell, on December 6, 1821. On the following day he landed12 APPLICATION INSTITUTIA'G PROCEEDINGS (155)
on the largest of the islands, took possession of it formally in
the name of King George IV and called it Coronation Island in
honour of the King's Coronation.
IO. Graham Land, the northern extremity of the Antarctic
continent, \\.as first discovered on January 30, 1820, by E. Brans-
field, R.N., in the course of the voyage of exploration south-
westwards from the South Shetlands which was mentioned in
paragraph 8 above. He sighted, in hazy weather, the outline of
parts of the Antarctic mainland and one or two coastal islands.
He named the land Trinity Land in compliment to the Board
of Trinity House (the British institution responsible for pilotage
and maritime lights), and he named t\iro of the coastal islands,
Hope Island and Tower Island, respectively. He also traced the
outline of the Antarctic mainland and coastal islands, as he had
seen them, on the chart which he drew of the South Shetlands
and forwarded to the British Admiralty. Soon afterwards, further
sightings of the Antarctic peninsula or its coastal islands were
reported by British and Amencan sealers, by the Russian navigator
Admiral Bellinghausen, and by the French navigator, Captain
D'Urville, but the first sighting \\,as that ofE. Bransfield, R.N.
In 1829, Captain H. Foster. R.N., in H.31.S. Chanticleer,effected
a landing on one of the coastal islands, Hoseason Island off West
Graham Land, and deposited there a copper cylinder in which
was a document taking possession in the name of King George IV.
On February 21, 1832, the British sealiiig captaiii, John Biscoe,
landed on an island of the Palmer Archipelago, believing it to
be part of the mainland, and took possession formally in the
name of King William IV, calling the territory Graham Land,
by which name the peninsula is knobvn to-day, in honour of
Sir James Graham, then First, Lord of the British Admiralty.
On January 6, 1843, Captain J. C. Ross, R.N., commanding
H.M.S. Evebtls and H.M.S. Terror, penetrated into a gulf on the
eastern side of the peninsula and landed on a coastal island. He
named the gulf Erebus and Terror Gulf, and the island James
Ross Islarid, and took possession of the island together with its
"contiguous lands" for the British Cro\r?i.
II. The first discoveries of South Georgia, the South Sandwich
Islands, the South Orkneys, the South Shetlands. and Graham
Land were thus al1 made by British nationals-a fact reflected
in the names given to these territories by which they have heen
known, and have figiired in maps and charts, ever since. The
same applies to Coats Land, as to which see paragraph 14 below.
Some discoveries of particular parts of these principal groups of
temtory were made by explorers or seamen of other nationalities ;
but the initial discoveries of al1five principal groups were British.
There were no Spanish or Argentine discoveries. Furthermore,
,during this early penod in Antarctic history from 1678 to 1843, APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (V55)
I3
acts of annexation were performed in the name of the British
Crown at places ashore within al1 the principal groups except the
South Sandwich Islands, where, frequently, the local conditions
render landing impossible. On the other hand, during this period
no acts of annexation were performed in any of the territories.
concerned on behalf of any otlier State.
12. The facts stated in paragraphs 6 to II above show that
from very early dates varying between 1775 and 1843. Great
Britain possessed, on the basis of discovery, acconipanied by a
forma1 claim in the name of the British Crown, an original root
of title to al1 the territories concemed.
Display of British Sovereignty in or in regard to the Falkland
Islands Dependencies in the Period 1843to July 21, 1908
13. In pursuance of a British Act of Parliament (6 Victoria,
Chapter 13-British and Foreign State Papers, Volume 31,
page 1211), Royal Letters Patent were issued on June 23, 1843,
making provision for the government of the "Settlements in the
Falkland Islands and their Dependencies" (Annes I hereto, No. 3).
Supplemental LettersPatent were issued on April 28, 1876, making
further provision for the government of the "Settlements in the
Falkland Islands and their Dependencies". On February Zj, 1892,
fresh Letters Patent were issued by which the Government of
the "Settlements in the Falkland Islands and their Dependencies"
was designated as the Governmeiit of a Crown Colony (British
and Foreign State Papers, Volume 84, page 262). Similarly, the
Commission issued to the ncw Govemor in November, 1847
(Annex I hereto, No. 4). and the teil succeeding Commissions to
Governors issued between that date and 1908, were in the form
of an appointment covering "the Falkland Islands and their
Dependencies". Again, numerous laws passed by the Falkland
Islands Government during the period 1843-July 21, 1908. were
made for "the Falkland Islands and their Dependencies" The
particular territories coniprised in the "Dependencies of the
Falkland Islands" were not iiamed in the various Letters Patent,
Governor's Commissions,or laws of the Falkland Islands Govern-
ment. The Colonial Office Year Book, however, begaii in 1887
to specify South Georgia as one of the Dependencies. There had
bcen comparatively little urhaling and similar activity in the
Antarctic in the middle of the nineteenth centiiry, but from 1892
onwards whaiiig, sealing and scientific exploration began to
revive. This renewed activity called for a corresponding exercise
of State authority in the Antarctic and led very soon to special
As regardsthe nature of the connnetween the Eaiklands Islands and the
Dependenciesseefwtnote 2to paragraph2above.I4 APPLIC.4TION ISSTITUTING I>ROCEEDIXGS (V 55)
provision being made by Great Britaiii for the government of
the five principal territories as Dependeiicies of the Falkland
Islands and to their formal constitution as the 17alklaiid 1sl:~iids
Dependencies.
14. The Antarctic revival in the area no\!. iiidispute begaii
with the voyage of four Scottish vessels in 1892 to the easterii
side of Graham Land and the \lieddeIl Sea for whaling and scaling.
In the same year a Nonvegian whaling espedition which went
to the Weddell Sea, called at the South Orkneys, and further
Nonvegian expeditions in 1893 and 1894 visited the South Shet-
lands and Graham Land. In 1897 and 1901 respcctively, Belgiaii
and Swedish scientihc expeditions aent to the South Shetlaiids-
Graham Land area, and in 1902 they were followed by a Scottish
scientific expedition under Dr. IV. S. Briice in the S.S. Scotia.
Dr. Bruce established a meteorological station at Laurie Island
in the South Orkneys in 1903. the working of which \vas entrusted
to the Argentine meteorological office in the follo\ving year. He
spent the Antarctic winter of 1903 at Laurie Island and in 1904,
after revisiting Laurie Island to land the Argentine nieteorologists,
he penetrated deep into the Weddell Sea, discovering Coals Land
(named after a Scottish supporter of the expedition) \vhich is
now the eastern frontier of the Falkland Islands Dependencies
on the Antarctic coiitinent.
15.In 1904 the Norwegian whaling expert, Captain Larsen.
formed a company in Buenos Aires, the Compania Argentins de
Pesca, for the purpose of whaling in the Aritarctic and established
a shore whaling station at South Georgia. In 1905, a Chileaii
company, the South Georgia Exploration Company, financed by
British subjects in Chile, was granted a mining and grazing lease
of South Georgia by the Governor of the Falkland Islands aiid
proceeded there, only to find Captain Larsen's Compania Argeiitina
de Pesca already in occupation of the best site for :rbase. Mean-
while, the Captain had applied through the British Legatioii in
Buenos Aires to the British Government in London for a whaling
licence for South Georgia. The British Government, lcarning that
another licence had previously beeii granted by the Govemor,
despatched H.M.S. Safifihoto South Georgia to investigate the
situation on the spot. The result aas that a whaling licence was
granted by the Governor to the Argentine company, and the
Chilean company then ahandoned its project. In the same year,
1905, Nonvegian whalers visited South Georgia aiid the South
Shetlands, taking with them the first whale-factory ship employed
in the Antarctic. In connexion with this enterprise, the Norwegian
Government addreçsed an inquiry to the British Governinent
concerning the sovereignty of territories in the ûrea between
longitude 35' and 80" West and latitudes 45' and 6jo South, i.e.,I5 APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (V55)
in the area covering South Georgia, the South Shetlands, the
South Orkneys and the northeru part of Graham Land. The
British Government replied that the South Shetlands were not
international but were British possessions as were also South
Georgia, the South Orkneys and Graham Land (the South Sand-
wich Islands lie outside the area of the Nonvegian inquiry) and
that Nonvegian whalers should apply to the Governor of the
Falkland Islands for any facilities that they might need.
16. In view of these developments, the Falkland Islands Govern-
ment promulgated a whaling ordinance in 1906 (Ordinance No. 3
of 1906) by which the taking of whates without licence was made
unlawful, and a royalty was made payable in respect of each urhale
caught under licencefrom that Government. It was further consider-
ed desirable, in view of the iucreasing importance of the five
principal temtories as whaling and sealing bases, to make specific
provision for their government and to make more specdïc provision
for their government as dependencies of the Falkland Islands.
Accordingly, on July 21, 1908. as recited in paragraph z above,
South Georgia, the South Orkneys, the South Shetlands, the Sand-
wich Islands and the territory of Graham Land were by Royal
Letters Patent formally constituted Dependencies of the Colony
of the Falkland Islands and placed under its government. Under
these LettersPatent (Annex I hereto, No. 1)it was provided that :-
(a) the Governor of the Colony sliould be the Governor also of
the Dependencies and be invested with the same powers
of government and legislation in respect of them as he
should from time to tirne possess in the Colony ;
(b) the Executive Council of the Colony should act also as the
Executive Council of the Dependencies ;
(c) the Governor should have, and be deemed always to have
had, power by and with the advice and consent of the
Legislative Council of the Colony, to make laws for the
peace, order and good government of the Dependencies ;
(ci)the Governor should have, and be deemed al~vaysto have
had, power to make grants and dispositions ofland within
the Dependencies in the name of the Crown.
The definition of the lands comprised in the Falkland Islands
Dependencies, as mentioned in paragraph z above, was afterwards
amended by Letters Patent of March 28,'1917, so as to include
explicitly al1 islands and territories situated between longitudes
zooand 50" West, and south of latitude 50" South ; and ail islands
and territories situated between longitudes 50' and 80" West, and16 i\PPLICATION IXSTITUTISG PROCEEDINGS (V55)
south of latitude 58"South. The lines of longitude and latitude laid
down in these Letters Patent as defining the territories comprised
within the Falkland Islands Dependencies are indicated in red on
the map exhibited as Annex 2 of this Application
Display of British Sovereignty in or in Regard to the Dependencies
in the Period July 21, 1908-September 22, 1938
17. Great Britain's title to the islands and territories of the
Dependencies was thus formally confirmed and defined by the
issue of the Letters Patent of 1908and 1917,but, as has been shown,
it did not originate in or depend on these Letters Patent, and had
been in existence for many decades previously. This title \vas now
consolidated and maintained by a further effective display and
exercise of British sovereignty. In pursuance of the authority
contained in the Letters Patent of 1908, a Falkland Islands Ordi-
nance was promulgated in that year under which the Governor
in Council was empowered to declare any law passed for the Colony
to bc applicable also in the Dependencies so far as niight be appro-
priate to their circumstances. Under this principal Ordinance
numerous laws were either made or made applicable to the Depend-
encies by the Governor in Council, covering inter uliu the adminis-
tration of civil and criminal justice, mamage, testacy andintestacy,
&c., and constituting a full and sufficient corpus of laws for those
temtones, having regard to their particular circumstances.
18. Especially important are the la\r.s made by the Falkland
Islands Governnient for xvhaling and sealing, which provide
convincing proof of the effectiveness of Great Britain's display and
exercise of sovereignty in the Dependencies. In 1908 the whaIing
Ordinance of 1906 referred to in paragraph 16 above \vas repealed,
and replaced by a new Ordinance. This principal whaling Ordinance
of 1908, as amendcd by later Ordinances, together with the Regula-
tions made under it,established a detailed and coinprcherisive code
of whaling lawfor the Dependencies, as can beseenfrom the sumrnary
of the whaling laws in force in the Dependencies in 1920 which
is contained in the report of an official coinmittee prescnted to the
British Parliament in that year (Command I'apcr No. 657). The
relevant extract from this report is annexcd to this Application
(Annex Ihercto, Xo. 5).It sho\\-sthat one of the chief objects of the
legislation \vas the conservation of stocks by regulating the number
and tonnage of whaling vesscls, the number of whaling licences.
the number of whales to be taken by each licence-holder, by
protecting whale calves and by othcr measures. Analogous, if
j Rcierence is again made to foot2oto paragrapl2.I7 APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (Vj5)
somewhat less elaborate, laws were introduced in 1909 for the
regulation of sealing in the Dependencies. These laws made it
unlawful to take seals in the Dependencies without a licence, gave
authority for the issue of licences, and provided for the creation
of a close season and of seal reserves.
19. The above-mentioned whaling and sealing laws were actively
and extensively applied in the Dependencies. For whaling-licence
purposes, as appears from the summary of laws given in Annex I,
No. 5, the Dependencies were divided into four units-South
Georgia, the South Shetlands together with Graham Land, the
South 01kneys and South Sandwich Islands.
(1) In Ihe case of South Geovgia, the Buenos Aires company
mentioned in paragraph 15 above, the Compania Argentina de
Pesca, \vas granted a lease of joo acres of land at an annual rent
of £250 for 21 years from January 1, 1906, and obtained an addi-
tional lease of land in 1909.Seven other companies, four Norwegian
and three British, were granted whaling leases betareen 1908 and
1911 on terms similar to those given to the Argentine company.
Applications for further leases in South Georgia were refused in
order to conserve whale stocks. The whaling companies concerned,
in addition to their leases, were required to take out whaling licences
for South Georgia which were renewable annually. In 1910 the
Argentine Company took out, in addition, a sealing licence, and
after that year South Georgia was divided into four areas for sealing
purposes, three being let out on licence each year and the fourth
being left vacant as a seal reserve. An additional place was made
into a seal reserve in 1918.
(2)111the caseof the South Sheflaqtdsartd Graha,n Land, a licence
to take whales in their temtorial waters \\.as granted to a Chilean
company in 1907, and a similar licence >vasgranted in 1908 to a
Newfoiindland company. By the season of 1912-13, there were
12 factory ships and 32 catchers of various companies working in
the South Shetlands arca, al1 holding'licences from the Falkland
Islands Govemment. In 1912 a Nonvegian company, the Hektor
Whaling Company, was granted a 21 years' lease of a site on
Deception Island for a whaling station but, in the absence of other
suitable sites, the remaining companies operated with factory ships
moored at Deception Island or, occasionally, at King George Island.
From that date, whaling companies operated in the temtorial
waters of the South Shetlands and Graham Land nnder licence18 APPLIC.\TION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (Vjj)
from the Falkland Islands Government every year without inter-
ruption, even during the first world war, until 1930, when develop-
ments in pelagic whaling led them to co~iduct thcir operations on
the high seas. Activity in these two territories has been practically
confined to whaling, although one sealirig licence was issued in 1913
with respect to Graham Land.
(3) In the case of the South Orkneys, the first whaling licence was
granted in 1908 to the Newfoundland Steam Whaling Company.
Other companies applied for licences, and in the 1914-rj season
four Norwegian companies were granted licences. Whaling ceased
during the remainder of the first norld war, but in 1920 a Nonvegian ,
company, the AIS Tonsberg Hvalfangeri, was granted a lease of
500 acres on Signy Island for a shore whaling station. A further
whaling lease for the South Orkneys was granted in 1925 but by
1930 pelagic whaling had made it ulinecessary for whalers to
a ions
conduct their operations in territorial waters, and applic t'
for licences ceased. One sealing licence was also issucd for the South
Orkneys in 1913.
(4)Itz the case oi the Soz~thSandwich Islands, where access to
the land is extremely difficult, whaling activity has been less
frequent. In 1912, six Norwegian companies took out licences
from the Falkland Islands Governmeiit, and in 1927 the Tonsberg
Company applied for and obtained a licence. In addition, a sealing
licence was granted in 1910 for the South Sandwich Islands to
the Argentine company, the Compania Argentina de Pesca.
zo. British sovereignty has also been displayed and exercised
in the Dependencies through magistrates commissioned by the
Falkland Islands Government.
(i) As early as 1909, a resident magistrate was sent to South
Georgia,and there has been a British administration in that group
coiiti~iuously since that date. Customs and police officers were
added to the magistrate's staff, and in 1912 a post office was
established at Grytviken. By 1925, the Government buildings
included offices, a wireless station and a marine laboratory in
addition to dwelling houses.
(ii) The South Shetlalzds and Grahanz Lad, as mentioned in
paragraph 18 above, have been treated as a single unit for the
purpose of the mhale fishery, a single licence being granted to
corer both these territories. The whaling compaiiies normally
made their base first at Deception Island in the South Shetlands.
If the season was favourable, thcy moved southwards through19 .4PPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (V 55)
the Bransfield Strait and established a forward base in the Palmer
Archipelago either in the Melchior Islands or at Port Lockroy.
But Port Foster at Deception Island is the most convenient
starting point for operations in the Bransfield Strait and off
Grahani Land, and it was accordingly made by law a "port of
entry" for shipping visiting the area. A resident British magistrate
was sent to Port Foster every summer season from 1910 to 1930.
and this official exercised jurisdiction over al1 whaling vessels
operating in the waters either of the South Shetlands or of Graham
Land and its coastal islands. From 1g12 to 1930 a post office was
maintained by the magistrate at Port Foster.
(iii)4t the South Orkneys ysvhalingactivity waç someivhat less
frequent than at South Georgia and the South Shetlands, with
the res~iltthat the visits of British magistrates were correspondingly
less regular. But in 1913 a Customs Officer spent two months in
the islands supervising the observance of the whaling laws, while
a special M'haling Officer spent ahout three months there hoth
in 1914 and 191j. Xext, the South Georgia magistrate went to
Signy Island in 1921 to inspect the site which the Tonsberg
Hvalfangeri Company proposed to lease, and in the following
year a \ilhaling Officer speiit three months at Signy to eiisure
that the terms of the lease and the whaling laws were carried
out by the Company. In the three seasons 1925-26, 192627
and 1927-28, a Whaling Officer again spent three months in
the South Orkneys. In 1928 the Govemor of the Falkland Islands
himself visited Signy Island to inspect the area leased to the
Tonsberg Hvalfangeri Company.
(iv) The comparatively slight whaling activity at the almost
inaccessible Solith Sarzdwich Islands has called for very little
exercise of administrative authonty at the islands themselves 6.
21. The cessation of certain facilities and activities after 1930
came about as follows. The introduction between 1925 and 1930
of pelagic whaling witli large whale factory ships, enabled the
\vhaling compaiiies to conduct their operations on the high seas
without the use of bases ashore or in coastal waters. The result
was that after 1930 the companies, in order to avoid payment
of the licence fees imposed by the Falkland Islands Govemment,
ceased to take out licences for operating from bases in the various
Dependencies-(licences continued to be taken out by the com-
panies with permanent bases in South Georgia). But, although
Coats Land(reeparagraphs14 and 15 above) is anotdiçcussed here in any
furthcr detail only veryrecent Argentine ahaving brought this terriinto
questio(seeparagraph4 above).20 APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (v 5j)
in consequence there was some diminution in the administrative
activity of the Falkland Islands Government with regard to the
\vhaiing vessels themselves, British State activity iii the Depend-
encies continued in full force and without interruption in the
period between 1930 and the outbreak of the second world war.
During this period, the Dependencies were exteiisively visited
and surveyed by the vessels of the Discovery Cornmiltee, an official
body responsiblc to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. As
early as 1917,proposals had bern made for a thorough iiivestigation
into the economic rcsources of the Dependencies, and a Committee
had been set up to report on the preservation of the whaling
industry, the possibilitics of developing other industries, and the
needs of scicntific research. Following the presentation of this
Committee's report to the Uiiited Kingdom Parliaiiieiit in 1920,
a permanent Committee known as the Discouery Cornmiltee \vas
established in 1923 under the direction of the Secretary of State
for the Colonies. The principal fuiiction of this Committee, under
its terms of refercnce, was to conduct research into the economic
resources of the Antarctic aiid sub-Antarctic regions, with special
reference to the Falkland Islands Dependencies. But its functions
also included coastal surveys and general scientific research into
the oceanography, weather and ice conditions and flora and fauna
of the Antarctic and siib-Antarctic regions. Between 1925 and
1939 the Committee's research ships, Discovery I (one commission),
Discouery II (five commissions) and WilliamScoresby (seven
commissions) made very extensive investigations of the Depend-
encies. Numerous voyages among the principal territories of the
Dependencies were made by these ships on each coinmission, and
detailed surveys were made of their coasts and coastal waters.
As a result, the Dependencies during this period were covered
literally hy a network of patrols undertaken by the Discovery
Committee. The main focus of the Committee's research was on
the natural history of whales, the most important economic
resource of the Ilependencies. and especially intensive obser-
vations were niade on the mhaling grounds of South Georgia,
the South Shetlands and Graham Land. But the Committee also
collected very exteiisive information on the hydrography and
biology of the Dcpendencies, on the navigation and charting of
their waters, and on Antarctic ice and ice-navigation. A large
and important body of scientific material has been published by
the Comrnittee in the 27 volumes of "Discovery Re;ports", and its
research on the iiatural Iiistory of whales is admitted by expert
opinion to have made a vital contribution towards the effective
solviiig of the international problem of the conservation of whale
fisheries.21 APPLICATION INSTITUTISG PROCEEDlNGS (V 55)
22. In addition, a large-scale expedition, the British Graham
Land Ezpedition, visited the southern parts of the Falkland
Islands Dependencies in 1934-37 to make land investigations.
Reaching Deception Island late in 1934, the expedition proceeded
to Port Lockroy in the Palmer Archipelago in January 1935.
Shortly afterwards, a base was established and occupied further
south, and from there various sledge aiid planc journeys were
made which threw much fresh light on the gcography of the area.
In February, 1936, the expedition moved still further to the
south to Marguerite Bay and established a base on the Debenham
Islands. From there, important sledge journeys were made across
Graham Land to the east coast and far southwards into King
George VI Sound. Numerous reconnaissance Aights were carried
ont, and the expedition ascertained conclusively for the first
time that Graham Land is attached to the Antarctic mainland.
23. Other examples of the display of British sovereignty in
or in regard to the Dependencies during the period July 21, 1908-
September 22, 1938, are mentioned in the three next succeeding
paragraphs of this Application dealing with the recognition of
the British claims hy Norway, Argentina and Chile. Still further
examples could be citcd. The facts given in paragraphs 16-22
above and in paragraph 24 below, however, are by themselves
sufficient to establish conclusively a continuous and peaceful.
display of British sovereignty in and in regard to the temtones
of the Dependencies during the period July zr,rgoS-September 22,
1938, ~vhichis that reviewed in the present section.
Recognition of the British Claimsby Norway,Argentina and Chile
after the Issue of the Letters Patent of July 21, 1908
24.-(1) The existence of British claiins, not only ta South
Georgia but to other territories in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic
regions was known in Norway before the formal constitution of the
five principal temtories as Dependencies of the Falkland Islands by.
the Letters Patent of 1908. The Nonvegian Government, as stated
in paragraph 15 ahove, addressed an enqniry to Great Bntain in
1905 concerning the sovereignty of the temtories situated betmeen
35Oand 80" West, and was informed in reply that South Georgia,
the South Orkneys, the South Shetlands and Graham Land were
British possessions. When Nonvay made a further enquiry in 1907,
Great Britain reasserted her claim. Norway, neither then nor after
the issue of the Letters Patent of 1908,made any protest or reserva-
tion against the assertion and exercise of British sovereignty over22 APPLICATION INSTITUTIKG PROCEEDIKGS (V 5j)
the Dependencies. At the same time numerous h'onvegian whaliiig
companies took out Bntish licences and othenvise complied with
the laws of the Falkland Islands Government. These facts establisli
by implication Norway's recognition of British sovereignty over the
Dependencies in or about 1908. This implicatioii is completely coii-
firmed by the Nonvegian Proclamation of January 14,1939, in which
the western boundary of Nonvay's omn Antarctic claiin was defined
by a line coinciding with the eastern boundary of the Falkland
Islands Dependencies. It was further expressly stated in the Procla-
mation that the area named the Falkland Islands Dependencies had
been brought under Great Britain's dominion in 1908.
(2) The existence of British claims to at least some of the Depend-
encies was also weU known in Argeizti~tabefore the issue of the
Letters Patent of 1908.It has been mentioned above baragraph 15)
that as early as 1906 an Argentine company, the Compania Argen-
tins de Pesca, took out a Bntish lease of land in South Georgia for
21 years. Indeed, il mas thetheizDirecforof.4rnzaments of theArgen-
tine Ministry of Marine wlzo,in kis capacity as technicaladviserto the
company, visited the British Legation in Buenos ilires to apply for
the lease. In the same year Great Britain, in order to remove any
possible misconception as to the legal basis on which operation of
the meteorological station on Laune Island in the South Orkneys
had been transferred to the Argentine Meteorological Office (see
paragraph 14 above), addressed a note to the Argentine Govern-
ment emphasising that the islands were a British possession. This
reservation of the British sovereignty over the South Orkneys was
repeated to Argentina in January 1907. Shortly aftenvards, when
Chie proposed to Argentina the negotiation of a treaty dividing
between the two countries "the islands and the American Antarctic
continents", the Argentine Foreign Minister, inrejecting the proposal,
said expressly that "Chile ought to know that England claimed
al1theselands". In 1908,after the issue of the Letters Patent formally
constituting the Falkland Islands Dependencies, the Argentine
Foreign Minister asked to be informed of the terms of the British
"declaration". Accordingly, the British Miiiister in Buenos Aires
in a note of Febmary 20,1909,transmitted tothe Argentine Foreign
Minister a copy of the Falkland Islands Gazettecontaining the text
of the Letters Patent. The Argentine Foreign Minister replied in a
note of March 18, 1909 :-23 APPLICATION INSTITUTISG I'ROCEEDINGS (V 55)
"1 have the pleasure of acknowledgingthe receipt of your Note
dated the 20th of February last with which you weregood enough
to fonvard a publication called Falkland Islands Gazettecontaining
a Decree bv whicli the 'South Orknevs'are cleclareda de~endencv
of the '~aikland Islands'.
While thanking you for this attention, 1 am happy to renew to
you the assurances of niy high consideration."
The British Minister, in communicating this reply to the British
Foreign Office, commented that he concluded from its terms that
"Argentine Government do not dispute the rights of Great Britain
over the South Orkneys". A fortiori it is to be concluded from the
terms of ber reply that in 1909Argentina did not dispute the British
title to South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands, the South Shet-
lands and Graham Land, which territories wcrc also covered by the
communication sent to the Argentine Government, but were not
mentioned in the Argentine reply '. Three years later, negotiations
were begun for the cession by Great Britain to Argentina, of the
South Orkneys in return Fr a Legation site in Buenos Aires and on
conàition of respecting any cxisting British whaling rights. By 1914,
the final text of a treaty of cession had been agreed betureen the two
countries but, on a change of Government in Argentina, the new
Government declined on financial grounds to complete the trans-
action. The terms of this draft treatv ~rovide further evidence of
r\rgvntin;~'srecognition of ttic~ritish'ti'tl~ of thc South Urkneyî :tt
tliis tiiii~..~rolwrIh.slaOrdi~t1reFi1li.e(111/1rlrOznli~ie i~ieldt~v"li.~'i~d
station on Laurie Island. Again, Argentina made no protests or
reservations against the issue of the British Letters Patent of 1917.
Nor did she make any protests or reservations against the promul-
gation of British Law for the Dependencies, nor against the appli-
cation of those laws to the Argentinecompany, thecompania Argeii-
tina de Pesca, and to other foreign companies. Nor did she make any
protests or reservations against the exercise of authority by British
magistrates in the severai territories ofthe Falkland Islands Depend-
encies and, in particular, in the South Orkneys, South Shetlands
and Graham Land. These facts establish beyond question that
at this period Argentina recognised British sovcreignty over the
Dependencies.
(3) The existence of British claims at least to some of the Depend-
encies was equaiiy known in Chile, even beforc the issue of the
Letters Patent of rgo8. Three years earlier, in 1905, a Chilean com-
pany, as stated in paia&aPh 15above, applied for a British lease of
'It seems clear in fact that Argentinintereçtat thatdatc hardly extended
beyond the South Orkneys. whertheArgentine meteorologicastationaassituated.24 APPLICATION INSTITUTISG PROCEEDINGS (V55)
land in South Georgia from the Falkland Islands Government. In
1907, another Chilean company, the Sociedad Ballenera de Rlagal-
lanes of Punta Arenas, took ont a British whaling licence of the
South Shetlands and Graham Land. In the same year, when Chile
invited Argentina ta negotiate a division of "the islands and Ameri-
can Antarctic continents", she was expressly warned by Argentina
that "England claimed aU these lands". Neither theii nor after the
issue of the Letters Patent of 1908 or of 1917 did Chile make any
protest or reservation against the assertion and exercise of British
sovereignty over the Dependencies. She inaintained a Consular
Officer in the Falkland Islands, but at no time did she make any
representations either to the Government of Great Britain or to the
Falkland Islands Government in regard to the Letters Patent, or to
the promulgation of British laws for the Dependencies, or to the
application of those laws to the Chilean company, the Sociedad
Ballenera de Rfagallanes, and ta other foreign companies. Nor did
she make any protests or reservations against the exerciseofauthor-
ity by British magistrates in the several territories of the Falk-
land Islands Dependencies and, in particular, in the South Shet-
lands and Graham Land. Al1these facts establish beyond question
that at this period Chile recognised British sovereignty over the
Dependencies.
25. The facts recited in the three inimediately preceding sub-
paragraphs show conclnsively that, during the years at the begin-
ning of the present century, when Great Britain was confirming and
consolidating her ancient titles to the Dependencies, Norway, the
State principaiiy interested in Antarctic whaling, and Argentine and
Chile, made no reservations in regard to Great Bntain's display and
exercise of State activity in those territories. They further show that
these three States in fact recognised Great Britain's sovereignty over
the Dependencies. Nor did any other State during this period make
any reservations or enter any protests against the British claims.
Origin and Development of Argentina's Pretensions to the Islands
and Lands of the Falkland Islands Dependencies and Attempted
Usurpation of British Sovereignty over these Territories
26. Argentina, as related in paragraph 24 (2)above, was left in
no doubt by Great Britain that the transfert0 the ArgentineMeteor-
ological Office in 1903 of the meteorological station previously
establis-d on Laurie Island in the South Orkneys by a British
expedition did not also involve the transfer ta Argentina of the2s APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (V 55)
I
sovereignty either of the South Orkneys group or of Laurie Island
itself. Argentina, as was also related in paragraph 24 (z), was fully
aware in 1908 of the British claims to the several territories of the
Falkland Islands Dependencies, and dunng the first part of the
present century sliowed by her acts that she recognised Great Bri-
tain's sovereignty.
27. Rotwithstandiiig this, the Argentine Governinent in 1925
embarked upon a course of action hy which it has progressively, and
it woiild seem deliberately, sought to encroach upon the Falkland
Islands Dependencies, with a view to ousting the British Croir-n
from its sovereignty, and to replacing it by a pretended Argentine
sovereignty. In that year, on the crection by Argentina of a wirclcss
station at the observatory on Laurie Island, a Note was addressed
to the Argentine Government drawing its attention to the fact that
under the relevant International Telegraph Conventions, the cal1
sign would have to be applied for through the British Government.
The Argentine Govemment replied that, with regard to wireless
stations constructed on Argentine territory, it would act in accord-
ance with the Conventions. In view of the eqnivocal nature of this
reply, a further Note was addressed to the .4rgentine Government
on April 14, 1926, emphasising Great Britain's undoubted rights to
the sovereignty of the islands and pointing out the absence of any
previous notice of claim on the part of Argentina. No answcr was
returned by Argentina and, on the wireless station being put into
operation in 1927without reference to the British Government. the
latter leamed from the International Telegraph Bureau at Berne
that the cal1 signal had heen applied for by Argentina in terms
implying an assumption of Argentine sovereignty over the South
Orkneys. Great Britain having objected to this action in a Note
of September 8, 1927, Argentina replied in a Note of January zo,
1928,that she herself laid claim to the South Orkneys on the ground,
apart from pretended "inatienable rights", of an aiieged first occu-
pation constantly maintained. (This may be contrasted with the
-4rgentine attitude about the South Orkneys in 1909, described in
paragraph 24 (2) above-and as regards the pretended Argentine
"first occupation", see paragraph14 above.) At the saine tirne, how-
ever, the Argentine Government in an accompanying memorandum
showed itself conscious of the weakness of its position by suggesting
the reopening of the negotiations for the exchange of the islands
against the grant of a Legation site in Buenos Aires (see paragraph
24 (2) above). Bleanwhile, the ,Argentine Government in 1927 had
also represented to the International Postal Bureau at Berne that
Argentine territorial jurisdiction extended de jure and de facto over
both the South Orkneys and SozithGeorgia.On this statement being
contested by Great Bntain in an aide-mémoire of December 17.26 APPL.ICATIOS ISSTITUTISG PROCEEDINGS (Vjj)
1927, the .Argentine Governnient replied that, as regards the South
Orkneys, it formaily reaffirmed its previous claim. Accordingly,
Grcat Britain took steps in 1928 to notify the International Postal
Bureau that bath the South Orkneys and South Georgia rvere
included in the Falkland Islands Dependencies and were represented
in Postal Union matters by thc British Postmaster-General.
28. On June r, 1937. the Argentine Ambasador iii London drew
the attention of the Foreign Office to a statement by the British
Minister of Agriculture aiid Fisheries at the inaugural session of the
\Vhaling Conference, to the effect that the Dependencies were
under the jurisdictioii of the Falkland Islands Govcrnnient, and
he reserved the rights claimed by Argcntina over them. The Ambas-
saclor'sdémarchewas the first intimation of an Argentine claim not
mcrely to South Georgia and the South Orkneys but to al1 the
territories oj tlte Falkla>td Islalids Defiei~dencies.The progressive
and deliberate character of the Argentine invasion of British
rights in thus evident. The British Foreign Secretary, while joining
in an agreed statement that tlie character and purpose ofthe Whaling
Coiiference had nothing to do nith questions of jurisdiction, made
an express declaration that the Argentine reservation could not
in any way affect British rights to the Falkland Islaiids Dependeii-
cies. That .4rgentina had now enlarged her pretensioiis to include
al1the Dependencies was, however, confirmed by an express reserva-
tion ta that effect on September 22, 1938, made by the Argentine
I'resident when promulgating Argentina's ratification of the varioiis
postal conventions concluded at Cairo on Rfarch 20, 1934, which
the United Kingdom had signed on behalf of the Falkland Islands
and their Dependencies.
Rejection of the Argentine Pretensions by the United Kingdom and
Continued Display of British Sovereignty up to the Present Time
29. The methods (of which some account has jiist bceii given)
by which Argentina sought between 192j and 1938 to advance
pretensions to the sovereigiity of the Falkland Islands Dependencies
were not those to be expected of a State already having sovereignty,
aiid relying upon prior and well-established legal titles. They were
rather those of a State seeking gradually to manreiivre another
State out of its possession and rights. Instead of actively displaying27 APPLlCATlOW IXSTlTUTlXG PROCEEDlNGS (Y55)
and exercising its authority in and in regard to the territories of the
Dependencies in accordance with their circumstances, the Argentine
Government merely attempted by diplomatic moves to throw
doubt upon the existing British titles. Thus, in the first quarter
of thc preseiit ceiitury, when the territorial waters of the Depend-
encies were the base of operations of several whaliiig companies
of different iiationalities, Argentina took no measures (as a prudent
sovereigtzwould have done, or sought to do) to regulate these activi-
ties, or to conserve the stocks of the principal economic resource
of the territories concerned. Nor in 1927.although she was a Rlember
of the League of Nations and had recently formulated pretensioiis
to the South Orkneys and South Georgia, did Argentina take any
part in the 14'halingConference convened at Geneva in that year
under the auspices of the League, which, if she had had sovereignty
over these territories, she might be expected to have done. Xor
did she voice any objection to the fact that the United Kingdom
took a leading part in that conference in its capacity as the Stnte
responsible for the regulation of whaling in the Falkland Islands
Dependencies. It was only in 1937 that Argentina first participated
in an international whaling conference and contested the United
Kingdom's right to represent the \vhaling iiiterests of the Depend-
encies. During the whole period up to 1938 Argentine interests
in the Dependencies consisted in actual practice of a meteorological
station in the South Orkneys, taken over (but not on a basis of
sovereignty) by the permission and at thc invitation of the British
Governinent (seeparagraphs 14and 24 (2)above), andan Argentine
whaling Company operating in South Georgia continuously under
leases and licences issued by the British Crown as sovereign of the
Depeiidencies (see paragraphs 15 and 19 (1)above). On the other
hand, Great Britain during this period, as related in paragraphs
13-25above, displayed and exercised lier authority in and in regard
to the Dependencies according to their circumstances. During
al1this period, up to 1938,Great Britain alone undertook the respon-
sibilities of sovereignty and performed the functions of a State in
and in regard to the several territories of the Dependencies. It
is not, therefore, to be wondered at that. as indicated above, the
British Government rejected ail Argentina's pretensions to the
territories of the Dependencies and continued to assert its own
titles to them.
30. After the outbreak of the second world war, in 1939, the
United Kingdom Government was occupied in the North and
South Atlantic in dealing with attacks by Axis naval forces on
Allied and Neiitral sea-borne trade;and in March, 1941. dispatched28 APPLICATION IXSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (V 55)
H.M.S. Queen of Bermuda to the South Shetlands to destroy oil
tanks and stocks of oil left on Deception Island by the Hektor
Whaling Company, one of the companies holding a lease of land on
that island from the British Crown. This measure, xvhichtvas taken
to deny the use of the oil tanks and fuel stocks to Axis raiders,
constituted a most significant display and exercise of British
sovereignty over the South Shetlands. In January, 1943. another
British warship, H.M.S. Carnarvon Castle, was dispatchetl to the
South Orkneys and South Shetlands, to examine the anchorages
in those temtories for any signs of use by enemy raiders, and to
investigate Press reports of purported acts of sovereignty at Decep-
tion Island by the Argentine naval transport Primero de Alayo.
H.M.S. CartzarvonCastle landed a party at Deception Island in the
South Shetlands on January 8, and there obliterated from the walls
of the Hektor IVhaling Company's factory the national colours of
Argentina, ahich appeared to have been painted on them recently
by the Primero de Mayo. and also removed the Argentine notice
of claim mentioned in paragraph 3 above. A mit was at the same
time affixed to the building proclaiming that the company's lease
had lapsed and that the building was the property of the British
Government. The warship theii proceeded to the South Orkneys,
and on February 8 landed a party on Signy Island, which erected
flagstaffs carrying the Union Jack. The following day the vesse1
called at the meteorological station on Laurie Island and exchanged
courtesies with the Argentinestaff. Aieanwhilethe ArgentineGovem-
ment was notified of the visit of H.M.S. CavnarvonCaslle to Decep-
tion Island, and was'informed that the United Kingdom Govem-
ment had no intention of allowing the British title to the island
to be usurped by Argentina. Soon afterwards the Primero de Mayo
was reported to be departing again for the Falkland Islands Depend-
encies, and to have two Chilean naval officers on board. The
Republic of Chie having also formulated pretensions to the South
Shetlands and Graham Land, the British Ambassador in Santiago
made representations to the Chilean Government in regard to
these officers.He was informed that they were sailing in the Argen-
tine ship merely as observers, and that the Chilean Government had
itself protested against Argentine attempts to establish a claim to
Deception Island
same Britistenitories (sseparateApplicatirespectinChile)-acircumstancee
that can hardly fato reflect adversely both on the motives and the validity of
both setsofclaims.29 APPI.ICATIOS INSTITUTIXG PHOCEEDINGS (Y jj)
31. The tinited I<ingdom Government, in view of the appareiir
intention of Argentins and Chile to disregard British territorial
rights iii the South Orkneys, South Shetlands aiid Grahaiii Land,
dispatched H.M.S. Williant Scoresby and S.S. l'itzroy to those
territories nt thi: encl of Jaiiuary, 1944. These ships visited the
mainland niitl coastal islands of Graham Laiid, Deceptioii Islaiid
in the Soiith Shetlancls, and Signy Island iii the South Orkneys.
A permanent shore base \vas established at Deccptioii Island and
another at Port Taockroyin the Palmer Archipelago off the west
coast of Graham Land, meteorological statioiis heiiig attached tu
both bases. Furtlier visits were paid by H.hl.S. lVillia?~rScoresby
to these two bases iiihlarch and, agaiii, in tlpnl, 1944. Alagistrates
were sworii iii for the South Orkneys, Soiith Slietlaiids and Grahani
Land, and a specinl series of postage. stamps was issued for the
iise of British cstablislimciits in those tcrritories and in South
Grorgia. Since 1944 the U~iitedIiiiigdom lias inaiiitaiiied a iiiiinber
of British büses in the Dependencies, the followiiig beirig the bases
(either coiistructed or re-established) iii the ti:rritories on \\,hich
Argeiitiiin hns innde encroachmerits-
So~tlr Orkneys-
Saiidefjord Bay, Coronatioii Islaiid (1945).
Cape Geddes, Laiirie Island (1946).
Sigiiy Islniid (1947).
Soi~thShetla?~ds-
Port Foster. Deception Island 11944) $.
r\dmir;ilty Ray, King George Islaiid (1947).
Grnhni~iLand at~dits Archifielagos-
Port Lockroy, Palmer Archipelago (1944).
Hope Bay, Triiiity Peniiisula (194j).
Stonington Island, &%argueriteBay (1946).
Barry Islaiitl, Debenham Islands (1946) Io.
Argentine Islands (1947) ln.
Ililse Bay, Trinity Peninsula (1953).
The Uiiited Kiiigdom Government hns seiit ships to the South
Shetlaiids-Grahain Laiid area every tiiitarcticsummer since
1944; and al1 the above bases, with the exception of those in
Laurie Islaild and in the 'Debenliain Islands, have been occupied
either coiitinuously or interrnitteiitly by British parties. A special
organisation, the Falkla?idIslands DepeitdeitciesSriraey, was set
up in 1945 to administer these bases, together with three others
in the South Orkneys, and to supervise their work. Under its
.. --
'Headquarters of British Yagistratcs. igio-30.
InRiiiland occupied by tlio British GrahLand Expedition,1935-37.direction cxteiisi\xc s~i-\~cysaiicl cxploratioiis were i:arrie<l ont in
the Depciideiicies, iiicluding grouiid siirveys, over large stretcties
of tlie Grnliaiii T-aiid ~iciiiiisiila. aiitl ineteorological stations were
establishcd. So\sereigiity \ras :tlso diplayed in other ways as, foi
exaiiiple, by the appoiiitiiient of niagistrates, the issiie of postage
stainps, niid the lodgiiig of protests 110thlocally and through the.
diploinatic cliaiiiiel agaiiist encroacliniciits by Chileaii aiid Argen-
tine parties. Tlios, tlie United ICiiigdoin Govcrnrneiit has at al1
times takcii al1 sucli stcps as were operi to it in the circurnstaiices
to asscrt aiicl inaint~iiii its titlc. .,
Argentins's Persistence in Her Pretensions to the Falkland Islands
Dependencies and in Her Physical Encroachments on the South
Orkneys. South Shetlands and Graham Land
3. II 1941 Argentiiia. \vliicli iii tlie period ~gzj-36 had put
for\vard iiiaiiily paper claiins, eiiil>arked iipoii a tlefiiiite policj
of encroachiiieiit in the So~itli Orkiieys, Soutli Shetlands and
Grsahani 1.niicI. In tlint year the mcteorological station on Laune
Islaiid iii tlic Soiitli Orkiieys \vns iii:miied by t\rgciitiiie ?zava/
personnel, aiid thc opeiiiiig of a periiiaiieiit post office in the
Soiith Orkiieys \vas eniioiiiiçed iiit\rgentiiin and notifiecl tlirough
tlie Iiiternatiotial i'ostal tinioii. l'lie follo\viiig j7ear the naval
transport ZJriiileru[le Arlnyo \iras sent to 1leceptioii Islaiid iii 'the
Soiitli Shetlands \vhere, ;is lia nlready beeii stated, it painted
the Argeiitiiie colours »il tlie ivalls of tlie Hcktor Whnliiig Coin-
paiiy's factory and cleposited ilic noiicc claiming :\II laiids and
depciidencics I)etweeii 25' aiid 6s" 34' \Vest, wvhicliis nientioned
in paragrapli 3 ;tl)o!:e. Tlic ship thcii proceeded to Lainbda Islaiid
(;\lelcliior Group) iii the Paliiicr r\rcliipelago and erected a flag
aiid Ixacon there. r\ year I;itcr. tlie :\rgentinc coloiirs on Deceptioii
Islaiid were ul>literated by H.1I.S. Crrritnrÿoa Cirstle, and the
Argentine act of possessioii \\,as rcrnovecl (l~aragraph 30 above).
011 being so iiiforiiied, the :\rgciitiiie Foreign >liiiister replied
tliat the t\rgeiitiiie,Govcriiincnt coiisidcred its clairns, "inlierited
froin Spaiii 12", tu lx justifietl. ln :i menioraiidnm ol February 15.
,1943, tlie Argentine Go\-eriiinciit reaffiriiietl its prcieiisions to $1
Antnrçtiç laiids aiid depeii~lciicics soutli of latitiide 60" Soutli
" As has already becxiiiieiitioiie(~raragraplis3and 26-28 above), i\rgeiitinalias
iiia<lç pape* daim to ail the territories coinpriscd tlicFalkland !slandsDcpcnd-
eiicies.Slie liasnot. Iiowever. atteniptçd to assert tliisclairn iiany overt way
with rrferenca <O tlieSoutli SuiidwiçliIslaiirlor Soutli Ceorgia. These territovics
are iiottlierefore furtherinentiiinedIiçreiiiexcept iii theConclusions.
':Tlie territories ci~iicernwcm barely discovrred iii Spain'sday. aiid thçii riot
1,)Spain (sïcpurngraplis 6-1i:tbovcj.'l'heywcrc ncaer part ofany Spanishdominioii.
. .. :\I~i'I,IC:\TlON INSTITU'I'ING I>KOCEEULN<:S (V jj)
jr
aiid I>ci\veetiIiiiigitudes nj" aiici 68" 34' \trcst. It also yurl>orte<l
ti~ "protest" :rg:~iiist j~irisdictioi~i~lac1s carrietl oilt hv British
officiais. l'lic Uiiited I<iiigdoni Goveriimcnt, iii a riicmorandiini
of .4pril 7, 1941, replied reassertiiig the Kritisli titles. Meaiiwhile,
the Prifnrro [le Muyo ivas eiigaged on a second espedition tu the
Ant;lrctiç, during \vliicli it visitetl the Melchior Islaiids aiid Port
Lockroy iii tlic Pilliner r\rchipcl:igo. ;riiciMarguerite Bay forther
to tlic Si~iitli.The ship tlieii rctlirned to 1)eception Islaiid iii th,:
Soutli Slietlaiitls, aiitl there r<:l>aiiitedtlic .-\rgeiitiiic coloiirs ori
the \\.ails of the \I1liale factor!.. It was aftci. this exlieditioii that
the Ijiiited Kiiigtlom, despite its heavy coiiiiriitiiieiits iiithe secoiid
world \r,:lr,iiiiti:lted iii1944thc pr<ig,lraiiiiiio ef iiiairitaiiiiiig I3ritisli
bases iii the Sucith Orkiieys, South Slietlaiids aiid Gr:\liam Laiid
descrihecl iii 1>;trngral>l3 i1 :rhrnre.
33. 1111947, %iiiictliree yc;trs aftcr the reiienfal of tlie Britisli
1)rograniiiic of I~nses,tlie ..\rgeiitiiie Goveriiiiieiit began a course
of systernatiç ciicroaclimeiit oir the Ilritisli territories of the Sontli
Slietlaiids aiid Grahaiii I.aiit1. \Vhile citirtitiiiiii~its ineteorological
station :lt Latirie Islaiid in the Sniith Orkiieys, it proceeded to
estal>lish,as well as a fe\v eii1i:rgeiicyhiits, the followviiig.4rgentiiie
Posts la:
South Slzetlrrir~ls-
I'ort Foster, l:)ecelitioii Islatid (1947).
Half Nooii Islaiid. Liviiigst:sti~nIeslniid (1952).
l'otter Covc, Kiiig George Islaiid (19j3).
Harnioiiy Coire, Xclsoii Islaiid (1954).
itrdley Peiiiiisuln, I<iiig George Island (1954).
Graham Lnicd rritd ils Ara:hipelagos-
Gainnia lslaiicl, Palnier Archipelago (1947).
Paradise Harlioiir, llaiico Coast (19j1).
Barry Island, 1)ebenhaiii Islands (1951).
Hope Bay. l'riiiity Peniiisuln (1951).
I>iiiidee Islniid (1gj2).
Brialinoiit Cove (19j4).
Peteriiiniiii Isl;riid (19j5).
Conls Laird-
Iii the iieighl~oiirlio<~o lf Valiscl Bay (10jj).
Thesc posts are al1 withiii the I7alklaiid Islaiids L)epeiideiiciesaiid.
in areas covered hy British :ictivity as already descrihed. The
- ~p
" The Uiiiiqtctiiti&.lrtii.overiiii!i:i;ai<;tillc~>g~g~< ln iilvcrrkgi%riii& tnii>ii
ioccnt Argentine ciisronch~neiit at Vahrel IIa) iilCuat I.an<l (ïrel>nracrnl> 4li14
end i~ ahiivt.)where ari ,\rpîntine po$r nia).Iiave han estal>lisl~e,l API>I,ICATIOiY ILÏSTITUTING YROCEEL>IX<;S (Y jj)
32
recciit or very recent establishment of these hrgentiiie posts
appears to foreshado\v a rapid expansion of the prcseiit Argentine
encroachiiieiits ;ilid \~iof:itioiis of British sovereignty. I'rotests
against these \~iolatioiis niid eiicroachments have been lodgecl at
vanous dates hy the United Kingdoni througli the diplomatic
channel, aiid 1oc:illy by vIXci:ils of the British Admiriistratioii in
the Falklaiid Iskriids 1)epeiideiicics. The Argeiitiiie Goveriimeiit
has iievertlieless persisted in its policy of encroachmeiit, iiiaiii-
taiiiing the :rbove-iiieirtioiied posts, and repeatedly niaiiifesting
its intention to coiitiiiiie to disregard the United Kiiigdoin's prior
and areIl-established legnl litles.
34. In tlic ril,iiiioii of the Uiiitect liiiigdoiii Govcriiinciit. these
Argentine nets takeii tog-ctlicr,aiid related to the coniplete absence
of aiiy Argentine claiiii prior to 192.5or 1937, as the case iiiay he
(dcpendiiig oii the territory concerncd), and to the pi-evioiis coni-
plete Argïntinc indiffcrciiçc to, and even recognitioii of, the British
claim, are cvidcncc of a quite recent, deliberate, and coiisidered
policy of infiltration on the part of thc Argentine C;o\.ernineiit,
directed to creatii~ga sernblance or fiction of Argeiitiric sovereignty,
and to placing tliat Governiiient in a position, after a suliicicrit lapse
of tinie, to argue that any previous British sovereigiity \vas no\\.
replaced or overlaitl by Argentine sol-creignty. In effect. this is a
polie? of usurpatioii.
Limited Relevance in Point of Law of Events after 1925 in the Case
of the South Orkneys and after 1937 in the Case of the South
Shetlands and Graham Land
35. Thc acts of the Parties after 1925 in the case of the Soritli
Orkneys and after 1937, in the case of the Soiith Çl~ctlaiids :riid
Graham Land, :ire of 1iniitt:d juridical relevaiicc, for t\\.oreasoiis.
First, tlii: clisputi: crystallisecl whcn Argentine first asscrtetl her
clairns, iiaiiicliiior ahoiit 1926 in the case of the Soiitli Orkiicys.
and in or ahoiit 1937 in thc case of thc other two tcrritories ;and
accortliiig tu well-cstal>lishcd priiiciples of law, it is :rt the datc of
crystallisation that tlic rights of the Parties arc ta be arljiidged. 'The
subse~luciit acts of thc tlrgcntiiic Govcriiment werc clearly iintlci--
l
takeii, iiot ris a geniiiiic inanifestatiori of an esisting title, lxit witli
a vicw to trying to crcate one, and in order to improvc .Argentilla's
legal position. They are not, therefore, to he taken into considcratioii
(Miny~~zers niid Ecrelios Case, I.C.J. Reports, 1953, pagc jg).
Secondly, wen if the United Kingdom had not previously accluircd
a good titlc, it undoubtedly displayed and exercised its sovei-cignty
inand in regard to the South Orkneys, SoiithShetlands aiid Grahani
Land during (at the latcst) a period running-in the case of the first-
nametl territory-from Jiily 21. 1906, to 19zj and after ; aiid-in34 :\PPLICATIOS ISSTITUTISG I'HOCEEDINGS (Y 55)
Islarid uf Plilmns Case (pages S54-S5j, 869 and 870) negatives coni-
pletcly ariy Argentinc claim based on so-called geographical grounds
of title, aritl clcarly lays down that tliey coiild not prevail against
actiial display anclcsercise of sovcreigiity. 1t has also beeii suggestcd
on belialf of Argentins that she never rccognised British sovereigiity
over the Ilepcndeiicies. lgnoring for present purposes the qiiestioii
whether recognition hy other States is iiecessary for the acqiiisition.
of title, and if so in what circumstances, it siifficesherc to recall the
facts related iii paragraph 24 (2) above, \\.hich establish Argeiitiiia's
ac(luirsccrice in and recognition of the British clainrs to those tcri-i-
tories. But in any event the Ensterit GreeiilandCase (page 62) and
the Minquiers n~l Ecrehos Case (page 66) clearly show that aiiy
failure by Argeiitina to recognise tho British claims would not ha\.e
altered the character and legal effects of the British Letters Patent,
or of the other British legislative ancl ntlininistrntive acts, as inani-
festatioris of British sovereignty.
.. . . .
. .
j,;- . .
38. At thc suiiie tiiiie, tlic above-iiicntioned leadiiig ciiscs shou-
co~clusively that al1 recogtiised juricliail groonds stroirgly sripport
the claiins of the United Kingdom, aiitl iiot those of Argentiiia. Thus
the Island O/ Pal?rrnsCase (page 870) aiitl the ClififiertonIsllri~dCase
(cage I 110) indicate that the British takings of possessioiitlcscribctl
cfparagraplis 6-1 1 of the present Alq~licationcrcated iiiitial British
titles superior to ;in). ofArgentins's preteiided histoncalorgeograpli-
ical' titles. The Islan[l O/ Pakrms Case (pages 838-S4o aiid 567).
Ensterqt Greeitlai~dCase (pages ji.,54 aiid 63) and iVIirryr~iern îi~~i
Ecrehos Case (at page 65) conclusi\~elyshow that to-day, in case of
(lispirte, the primary test of sovereignty is the actual display and
exercise of the fiinctions of a State in arid iii regard to the dispiited
territories tlirring the rele\~ant periods. Iii the ltreserit case, it is
evident froiii the facts set out in the preseiit Application tliat it is
the United Kingdoni, not Argeiitina, that has displayed aiid exer-
cised the furiction of a State in regard to the South Orkneys, South
Shetlands and Graham Land, aiid csyecially during the tlecisive
pkriods imincdiately preceding the critical dates, that is tlic ycriotl
iipto 1925 in the case of the Soiith Orkneys. and up to 1-37 in tlie
case of the othcr two territones, as \\.cil as earlier.
. ..
..3g. Tlie Uiiited Icingdom, iii its pleaàiirgs, wiil refer with greater
1~àrticirlarityto the nuinerous passages in the four above-iiientioiied
leading cases and in other authorities \\,hich support its titles to
soverejgnty over the Falkland Islands 1)ependencies. Although the,35 APPLICATIOS INSTITU'TIXG PROCEEDINGS (\.jj)
prcsent .Application is iiecessarily preliminary in cliaracter, the
special circumstaiices appear to justify drawing attention to the
jurisprudence of the four leading cases, as an indication of how solid
are the legal bases of the British titles and hou. devoid of any foiin-
tlatioii th(:Argentine pretciisions.
Acceptance of the Court's Jurisdiction in the Case
40. Tlie Lnited iiingclom, Iia\riiigregard tr, the long pcriod d~wing
which British sovercigiity has been effectivcly exercised iv.and in
regard to the tcrritories of thc Falkland Islands, would be justified
in takiiig stroiig incasures tu piit an end to Argentins's eiicroach-
meiits on the Soiith Orknays, Soiith Shetlands and Graham Land14.
1;irnily believing in the pacific settleinent of disputes ainong nations
I)yjudicial procedures and on tlic basis of law, it has prefcrred, when
ncgotiations proved fniitless, to scek to have its dispute with thc
liepiiblic of Argentinn regardiiig these territories siihmittcd to the
Iiiteriiatiorial Coiirt or othcr jiidicial or arbitral tribuiial. Thus, in
Notes of December 17, 1947, the United Kiiigdom Goveriiment
invitcd Argentins, aiid Chile to whoin a separate invitation \vas sent,
to challenge the British titlcs to sovereignty hg invokiiig the jiins-
(lictioii of the International Coiirt of Justice, \\'hich tlic United
Kiiigdoiii \vould then accïpt. rirgcntina, in a Note of January 28,
1945. replicd to the cffcct that shc was coii\rinccd of the uiiquestion-
:thle rights of hersclf aiid Cliilc ovcr the disputed arcas15, and that
it woiild bc nrroiig for hcr h> appcar before the Court in the position
of a Statc requesting what alrcady I~elongedto hcr. The United
Kingtloiii rcnewed its offcr to go bcfore the Court in Xotes of
hpril 30. igjr, and February 16, 19j3. without, hou~ever,obtaining
a favourable response from the Reyublic of Argentina. As the con-
tinuaiice of the dispute conccrning the sot~ereignt) of the terri-
tories of the Falkland Islands 1)epeiideiicies iiecessarily tlireatens
ta inipair the.existing frieiidly relations betwecn th(: two.countnes,
the United Kiiigdoin addrcssed a fiirther Note to Argentina on
I>cccrnher 21, 1954; iiivitiiig hcr, jointly with the Uiiitetl Kingdom,
to refcr thc dispute to an indepciident ud hoc arbitral tribunal.
On the samc date, the United Kingdoni adtlrcsscd :ri1 identical
" i'orçiblnclioii liaiiiisctLube takotiiioiiecasc (iiaiiical I>~.cïptioii Idand
iii Lieliriiary ,953\i.heii a particularly llagrant attriwas innde t« erect an
Argciitinebut actually witliin the prcçiiiofjthc existin; (niicl oeciipieil) Rritisli
Iiax on tliat island.
'=This can ooly increasï thilubiouscharnctçrofthe Argentine preiensionj, since
ground. Both coiild iiot be volçven ifçitl,cwçre.e most important pa.t of..the Note to Chile. Xeither of tliese couiitricsiG, howcver, has thought
fit to accept tlie United Kingdom's proposal, and the Argentine
Govemineiit has in the meantime sent an expedition to Vahsel
Bay in Coats Land-a factor so recent tliat the United Kingdom
Goveriiiiient has nnt yet had time to investigatc it.
41. Tlic Uiiit<:tl I<iiigdoin. in its Notes of Ilecciiiber zr last.
statcd that. iii tlie cvent of Argstitina (or cqually Chilc) failiiig to
accepl its offcr of arbitration, it reserved the right to take such
steps as rnight I>copeii to it to ohtaiii ail adjiidicatiori of its legal
rights. Onc of the steps opeii to thc United Kiiigdom is to bring
the dispute beforc the Court 1)'. a unilateral t\pplicatioii under
Article 40 (1) of tlie Statute aiid Article 32 (2) of the Kules, aiid,
as indicatccl iii l>aragrapli I above, it is this procedure which the
Iinited 1;iiigdoiii has elected in adopt.
4% Tlic United I<iiigdoiii Goveriiiiierit, tliercfuri:. dcclarcs that
it hercby sul>iiiits tu the jurisdictinn of the Court for tlie purposes
of thc case rcfcrretl to the Court in the prescrit Applicatioii-(for
thc prccisc scopc riftliis siil)inissio~~s,ec footiiotc r to paragraph I
abovc). Tlic Argciitiiie i:;o\,crnment has riot, so far as tlic United
Kingdoin Govcriiinciit is alrare, yet filetl nny dcclarntion acceptiiig
the Court's jurisdicticiii. either generally uiidcr :\rticle 36 (2) of the
Statutc or spccially iii the present case. Tlic i\rgcntiiie Coveriirncnt.
\\.hich has freqiieiitly espresscd its adhercncc to the priiiciple of
judicial scttleiiiciit of international disputes, is, however, legally
qiialified tu sul>iiiil tri the jurisdictioii of the Court iii this case.
Conseqiiciitly, ul,oii iiotificatioii of the prcseiit t\pl>lic:itiori to the
Kel>ublic of Argciitiiia b!; the Kegisti-ar iii accortlance with the
Kitles of Court, the .Argciitiiie Governineiit, under the settled
jiirislxudciice of the Court, caii take the iiccessary steps to that
end, and thcrcb~~cause the Court's jurisdicjitiii iiithe case to he
constitiitcd iri rcsl>i:ctof hot11Parties.
'
43. Tlie tiiiitctl Iiiiigdom Governiiieiit fuuiids tlit: jurisdictioii
of the Court oii the furegoing corisideratioiis aiid oii Article 36 (1)
-of.thc Court's Statiite ; aiicl asks that a copy of the preseiit Appii-
catioii bc traiisiiiitted to the Governnieiit of t\rgciitiiia iii accord-
ance with t\rticle 33 of the Kules of the Coiirt, and to al1meinbers
of the United Xatioiis and other States cntitled to appear before
the Coiirt, iiiitlcr ~irticle 34 of the said Kules.
'
'q\fliilï tl>c irrcsïn;\l>plicstioiis of coursc. foriiiali!q.itilusçj>siatefruei tlie
curiciirrcntapplicati<,iin respect of Chile, tlicfact tliat t1ieiare alsu Cliileunprï-
tensiorir rclating 10 tliï South Shetlands-(;rnliant I.ai>d area. aiiciof equally or
eveii niore recoiitdate. lias a rignificaiircthat catinut bc u\~crloolicrlIt is clcar
soverïiazity ofi111,I:Jiiiteliiiig<lnrn.atteiiipts to oilst ancl .. .rp the legititnatr37 APPLICATION INSTlTUTING PROCEEDINGS (V55)
44. The attitude of the Argentine Government in this case has
compelled the United Kingdom to take the initiative in placing
the matter before the Court, and therefore in effect to appear as
applicant. The United Kingdom Govcrnment nevertheless wishes
to make the fullest rcservations on thc question of the onus of
proof of title. It considers that the manifest priority in time of the
British possession oi the terntories, dating back to periods varying
between IIO and 180 years ago, and the complete absence during
virtually the whole of those periods. until a quite rccent date, of
any activities of a sovereign character, other than British, in the
territories, is indicative of a self-evident British title, which it
is for any country challenging that titlc to rebut.
The Contentions and Claims of the United Kingdom Government
in the Case
45. The Govemnieiit of the United Kingdom, in submitting this
application to the Court, accordiiigly contends :-
(1)that by reason of historic British discoveries of certain terri-
tories in the Antarctic and siib-Antarctic;by reason of the
long-continued and peaceful display of British sovereignty
from the date of thosc discoveries onwards in, and in
regard to, the territories concerncd; by reason of the
incorporation of these territories in the dominions of the
British Crown ; by virtue of their forma1 constitution in
the Royal Letters Patent of 1908 and 1917 as the British
Possession called the Falkland Islands Dependencies :the
United Kingdom possesses, and at aü material dates has
possessed, the sovereignty over tlie territories of the
Falkland Islands l)cpcndencies, and in particular theSouth
Sandwich Islands, South Georgia, the South Orkneys,
South Shetlands, Graham Land and Coats Land ;
(2)that the legal titles of tlic United Kingdom to the Falkland
Islands Dependencies, and in particular to the South
Sandwich Islands, South Georgia, the South Orkneys.
South Shetlands, Graham Land and Coats Land, are, and
at au material dates have becn, superior to the claims
of any othcr State, and in particular to those of the Republic
of Argentina ;
(3) that, in consequence, the pretensions of the Republic of
Argentina to the South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia,
the South Orkneys, South Shetlands, Graham Land and
Coats Land, and her encroachments and pretended acts
of sovereignty in those territories are, under international
law, illegal and invalid.38 APPLICATION II~STITUTIKG PROCEEDIKGS (vjj)
46. The Government of the United Kingdom. therefore, asks the
Court to declare-
(1).that ththeUnited Kingdom, as against the Republic of Argen-
tins, possesses, and at ail material dates has possessed,'
valid and subsisting legal titles to the sovereignty over al1
the temtories comprised in the Falkland Islands Depend-
encies, and in particular South Sandwich Islands, South
Georgia, the South Orkneys, South Shetlands, Graham
Land and Coats Land ;
(2) that the pretensions of the Republic of Argeritiria to the
temtories comprised in the Falkland Islands Dependencies,
and in particular South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia.
the South Orkneys, South Shetlands, Graham Land and
Coats Land, and her encroachments and pretended acts
of sovereignty in or relative to any of those territories are,
under international law, illegal and invalid ;
(3) that the Republic of Argentina is bound to respect the United
Kingdom's sovereignty over the territories comprised in
the Falkland Islands Dependencies, and iii particular
South SandwichIslands, South Georgia, the South Orkneys,
South Shetlands, Graham Land and Coats Land, to cease
her pretensions to exercise sovereignty in or relative to
those territories and, if caiied on by the United Kingdom.
to withdraw from them al1or any Argentine personnel and
equipment. . .
1 have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) G. G. FITZMAURICE,
Agent for the Government of
the United Kingdom.42 AXXEXES l'O APPLICATIOS (NO. 1)
such Courts and for tlie Administration of Justice as may be necessary
for the peace, order, and good govemment of Our subjects and others
within the said present or future Settlements respectively, or any of
tliem, any law, statute, or usage to the contrary, in any wise notwith-
standing :
And whereas by the said recited Act of Parliament it is further enacted
that it shall be lawful for Us, by any Commission or Commissions under
tlie Great Seal of the United Kingdom, or by any Instmctions under
Our Signet and Sign Illanual accompanying and referred to in any
such Commission or Commissions, to delegate to any three or inore
persons within any of the Settlements aforesaid respectively, the powers
and authorities so vested in Us in Our Privy Council as aforesaid,
either in whole or iri part, and upon, iinder, and subject to al1 such
Comniissioiis ur Iiisiructioiis, as ;iforeinid, \\je sl;sectitoto I,rc;cril>e
Pro\,idcd al\r,ay;. tlintn~~t\i.ith~tnritliaiiy siicli delcgalioii uf aiitliority
as aforcs;iid. itsliall still bc ci,iiil>l.teiitto iiiOiir l'iivv ('oiiiiciIII
inanner afoiesaid, to esercise all'the powers and authonties so veited
as aforesaid in Us in Our Privy Council :
Now therefore, in pursuance and esercise of the powers so vested in
Us as aforesaid by the said recitcd Act of Parliament, We, of Our special
Grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, by this Commission under
the Great Seal of the United Kingdom aforesaid. delegate to the persons
hereinafter named within the said Falkland Islands, the powers and
autliorities so vested in Us in Our Pnvy Council as aforesaid ; but upon,
under and subject to.all sucli conditions, provisoes, and limitations as
by this Our Commission, or by the Instructions under Our Signet and
Sign Manual accompanying the same, are prescribed. And \\'e do
declare Our Pleasure to be, and do hereby declare and grant, that the
Governor for the tiine being of the said Falkland Islands, and such other
persons, not being less tlian two, as are Iiereinafter dcsignated, sliall
constitute and be a Legislative Council for the said Islands. And We do
hereby direct and appoint tliat the persons other than tlie said Governor
constituting the said Legislative Council sliall be such Public Officers
within the said Islands as shall be designated, or such otber persons
within the same as shaU fromtime be named for that purpose by Us by
any Instmction or Instmctions, or Warrant or Warrants, to be by Us
for tliat purpose issued under Our Signet and Sign hlanual, and with
the advice of Our Privy Couiicil, al1 of wliich Council1o;s shall hold
their places in the said Council at our pleasure.
And We do hereby authorise, empower, and enjoin siicli Legjslative
Council to make and establisli al1 such Laws, Institutions, and Ordi-
nances as may from time to time be necessary for the peace, order, and
good govemment of Our subjects and others within the said present or
future Settlements in the said Falkland Islands and in their Dependen-
cies :and Our pleasure is that in the making and establishing al1 such
Laws, Institutions, and Ordinances, the said Legislative Council shall
conform to and observe ail such rules and regulations as shall be given
Privy Council, ishaU from time ta time make for thcir guidance thereinur :
Provided nevertheless, and We do herehy reserve to Ourselves, Our
Heirs and Successors, Our and Their riglit and authonty to disaUow
any such Ordinances in the whole or in part ;and to make and establish44 ASSEXES TO AI'PLICATIO'J (NO. 1)
name and oii Our behalf, to grant to any offender convicted of anyn Our
crime, in any Court, or before any Judge, Justice, or Ilagistrate within
Our said Settlements, a free and uncoiiditional pardon, or a pardon
subject to such conditions as by any Law or Ordinance hereafter to be
in force in Our said Settlements may be thereunto annexed, or any
respite of the execution of the sentence of any such offeiider for such
period as to such Govemor may seem fit.
And We do hereby give and grant unto the Govemor of Our said
Settlements, for the time being, full power and authority, upon sufficient
cause to liirn appearing, to suspend from the exercise of his officewithin
Our said Settlements any person exercising any officeor place under or
by virtue of any Commission or \Vamant granted, or which may be
granted, by Us, or in Our name, or under Our authority ; which suspen-
sion shall continue and have effect oiily until Our pleasure therein shall
be made known and signified to such Govemor. And We do hereby
strictly require and enjoin the Governor of Our said Settlements, for
the time being, in proceeding to any such suspension, to observe the
directions in that behalf given to him by Our Instructions under Our
Signet and Sign Manual, accompauying his Commission of appointment
as Governor of the said Settlements.
And in the event of the death or absence out of Our said Settlements
in the Falkland Islands and in their Dependencies, of such person as
may be commissioned and appointed by Us to be the Governor thereof,
We do hereby provide and declare Our pleasure to be, that al1and every
the powers and aiithonties herein granted to the Govemor of Our said
Settlements in the Falkland Islands and in their Dependencies for the
time heing, shaU be and the same are hereby vested in such person as
inay be appointed by Us by Warrant under Our Signet and Sign Manual
to be the Lieutenant-Governor of Our said Settlements ; or in the event
of there being no person within Our said Settlements commissioned
and appointed by Us to be Lieutenant-Governor thereof, then Our
pleasure is and \Ve do herebv ~rovide and declare. that in such contin-
iency ail tlic powcrs and auili6rities Iierein graritcd ttlii(;o\fcrririr or
1-ieutcnant-Govenir,r of Our said Çettleiiieiits. sliallbc and tlic sarne
arc.ti~'rchy grniiteil to rhc lusticr of tlie I'encr whost: iianie slinll be
standing fir& in order in any general Commission of tlie Pcace, issued
by the Governor or Oiïicer administering the Governmeiit of Our Settle-
ments in the Falkland Islands and of their Dependencies, such Commis-
sion of the Peace being revocablc and renewable from time to time by
such Govcriior or Admiiiistrator of the Government, as he may fiiid
occasion ; arid such Lieutenant-Governor or such Justice of the Peace,
as may be, sliall execute al1and every the powers and authorities herein
grAnd We dohereby require and command ali Our Officersand Ministers,
civil and military, and al1other the inhabitants of Our said Settlements
in the Falkland Islands and their Dependeiicies, to be obedient, aidiiig
and assisting to such person as may be commissioned aiid appointed
by Us to be the Governor of Our said Settlements, or in the event of his
death or absence to such person as may, under the provisions of these
Our Letters Patent, assume and exercise the functions of such Governor. .ASSEXES TO APPLICATION (No. 1)
46
(c) to employ any licensed vessel to tow, buoy, or manufacture in
Colonial waters wliale carcasses taken outside Colonial waters
by any unauthorised vessel.
The Governor in Council may make regulatioiis for :-
(a) Fixing the conditions of licences ;
(6) Regulating the numher of licences to be granted in any one year ;
(c) Defining the limits within which a licence-liolder may take
whales ;
(d) Regulating tlie numher of whales to he taken ;
(e) Regulating the disposai for forfeited whales, oil, &c. ; and
(1) Generally for carrying out the provisions of the Ordinance.
The owner or lessee of any land may take possession of a derelict whale
with permissioii of the Governor in Couiiciland on payment of a royalty.
Provision is made for taking whales for scientific purposes.
During the \Var Ordinances were passed requiring the products of
the whaling industry to be brought to,and sold in, the United Kingdom.
(B) REGULATIONS
(a) South Gcorgin.-Thc rcgulations
(1) Prohibit leaseholders from kiliing or shooting any whale calf or
any female whale which is accompaiiied by a calf ;
(2) Reserve to the Crown any dead whale ahandoned or throwii up
on the seashore ;
(3) Prescribe penalties for breaches of t1ie.regulations.
(b) 0thu ~e~e~idencies.-The regul t' a ions
(1) Provide for the issue of annual licences (October to September) ;
(2) Prohihit licensed vessels from catcliing whales for a Company
other tlian that mentioned in the licence ;
(3) Authorise tlie use of (a) two floating factories, in conjunction
witli two whale catchers-fee Szoo; and (6) a third whale
catcher-fee £100 ;
(4) Require the provisiori of pressure boilerç for dealing witli the
residue of the carcass;
(5) Prescribe that separate licences shall be issued for.:-
''(a) The South Shetlands and Graham Land;
(6) The South Orkneys; .
(c) ïhe Falkland Islands ;
(d) The South Sandwich Islands ;
but that no further licence or lease for whaling purposes shall
be issued, with tlie exception of reuewals of cxisting annual
liceiices for,two floating factories and two whale catchers, or
of a third whale catcher, withotit the permission of the Governor
in Council ;
(6) Require every licensed vessel at the end of the season to proceed
direct ,to a port of entry and to report full particulars of the
catch, including the number of barre- of ail atid!the quantity
of baleen and guano .obtained ; . .
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
PLEADINGS,ORALARGUMENTS,DOCUMENTS
ANTARCTICA CASES
(UNITED KINGDOM v.ARGENTINA;
UNITED KINGDOM v.CHILE) COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE
MÉMOIRES, PLAIDOIRIES ET DOCUMENTS
AFFAIRES RELATIVES A
L'ANTARCTIQUE
(ROYAUME-UNI C.ARGENTINE ;
ROYAUME-UNI c. CHILI)
ORDONNANCESDU 16MARS1956:RADIATIODU R~LEPRINTED IN THE NETHEFZANDS PART 1
APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS
AND PLEADINGS
PREMIÈRE PARTIE
REQUÊTE INTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE
ET PIÈCES DE LA PROCÉDURE ÉCRITE SECTION A.-APPLICATIONS
INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS
1. APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST
THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
THE AGENT FOR THE GOVERNMENTOF THE UNITED
KINGDOM TO THE REGISTRAR OF THE INTERNATIONAL
COURT OF JUSTICE AT THE HAGUE
FOREIGN OFFICE,
LONDON, S.W.I.
May, 1955.
Sir,
1 have the honour to refer to Article 40 (1)of the Statute of the
International Court of Justice and Article 32 (2)of the Rules of
Court and, by direction of Her bfajesty's Principal Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs, to submit an Application instituting
proceedings in the name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland against the Republic of Argentina in the
followingcase '.
2. Differences have existed betweeu the Governinents of the
United Kingdom and of the Republic of Argeutina for a number
of years, concerning pretensions advanced by the Republic in 1925,
and at various dates thereafter, to the sovereignty of certain
Antarctic and sub-Antarctic territories which belong to the United
Kingdom under prior, long-standing, and well-established legal
titles, dating from, at latest, the period 1775-1843.The territories
in dispute between the two countries form part of the Falkland
Islands Dependencies, consisting of already existing British posses-
sions, which (followingon a long series of analogous enactments-
see paragraph 13 below) were proclaimed as such and formally
placed under the administration of the Government of the Colony
of the Falkland Islands by Royal Letters Patent of July 21, 1908.
It reçults from the present Application that the United Kingclom Government
accepts the jurisdioftheCourtin respect of the questions hercby submitted to
it,nd in particular that of the title to soverthe içlands andlandsofthe
Falkland Islands DependencThe present Application does not constituteasuh-
mission to the jurisdiction of the Court in any other respect, or as regards the title
to sovereigntyerany territory outside the Dependencies. SECTION A. - REQUÊTES
INTRODUCTIVES D'INSTANCE
1. REQURTE INTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE CONTRE L.4
RÉPUBLIQUE ARGENTINE
L'AGENTDU GOUVERNEMENTDU ROYAUME-UNI
AU GREFF IE LA COUR INTERNATIONALE DE
JUSTICE A LA HAYE
[Traduction]
MINISTÈRE DES AFFAIRES ÉTRANGBRES,
LONDRESS ,.W. I.
Mai 1955.
Monsieur le Greffier,
J'ai l'honneur de me référerl'article (1)du Statut de la Cour
internationale de Justice eà l'articl32 (2)du Règlement de la
Cour et, sur instructions du secrétaired'État principal aux Affaires
étrangères de Sa Majesté, de déposer une requête introductive
d'instance ail nom du Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Ir-
lande du Nord contre la République Argentine, dans l'affaire
suivante '.
2. Des désaccords sesont produits depuis plusieurs annéesentre
les Gouvernements du Royaume-Uni et de la République Argen-
tine au sujet de prétentions élevéespar la République en 1925, et
à diverses reprises par la suite, à la souveraineté sur certains terri-
toires antarctiques et sub-antarctiques appartenant au Royaume-
Uni en vertu de titres légaux,anciens et reconnus, datant de 1775
à 1843 au plus tard. Les territoires qui forment l'objet du litige
entre les deux pays font partie des Dépendances deses Falkland,
et comprennent des territoires qui étaient déjàdes possessions bri-
tanniques qui (àla suite d'une longue shrie de lois ana-ogvoir
paragraphe 13 ci-dessous) furent proclaméestelles et officiellement
placées sousl'autorité du Gouvernement de la colonie des îles Falk-
land par lettres patentes royales du21 juillet 1908. Ce$ lettres
'Il rbsulte de la prdsente requéte que le Gouvdu Royaume-Uni
la présente et cn particulier celle relative au titre de souetrainet6 sur les îles
terres des DbpendancesileFalkland. La prdsente reneécon:titue pas
une reconnaissance de la compCtence de la Couren d'autrouenoceines
qui concerne le titre de souverainetd surtout autre territoire que les Dépendances9 APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDIXGS (V j5)
These Letters Patent, the full test of mhich is set out in Annex I
(No. I) to the present .4pplication, specified as the principal terri-
tories included within the Dependencies the territories known as
South Georgia, the South Orkneys, the South Shetlands and the
Sandwich Islands, and the temtory known as Graham Land.
There were also other territories, such as Coats Land. Further
Letters Patent of March 28, 1917 (Annex 1, No. z), were issued
for the purpose of clarifying the extent of the Antarctic mainland
together with its coastil archipelagos which were comprised within
the designation "territory of Graham Land" used in the carlier
LettersPatent. Under the supplemental Letters Patent of 1917, the
Dependencies were finally defined to include-
"ail islands and territories whatsoe\.er 6etween the zotli degree
of West longitude and the goth degree of West longitude wliich
are situated soutli of the 50th parallel of South latitude ;and al1
islands and territories whatsoever betaeen the joth degree \Yest
longitude and the 80th degree of \Vest longitude \vhichare situated
south of the 58th parallel of South latitude".
The territories of the Dependeiicies, as so defined in the Letters
Patent of 1908 and 1917, Jvhich had long been British possessions,
have for many years been utilised and administered by the li?lkland
Islands Governnient effectively, openly and, until nioclcrn times,
without any objection from the Republic of Argentina, which facts
are conclusively shown in paragraphs 6 to 2j below *.
3. Notwithstanding the United Kingdom's open assumptioii,
and long-standing and peaceful exercise of sovereignty over the
territories concerned, and the clear and precise delimitation of the
Falkland Islands Dependencies in the above-mentioned Letters
Patent, the Govemment of the Republic of Argentina formulatea
pretensions in 1925 to the South Orkneys, in 1927 to South Georgia
as well as to the South Orkneys, and in or about 1937 to al1 the
territories of the Falkland Islands Dependencies. Subsequently,
the Republic of Argentina, in a notice of daim deposited on Decep-
tion Island (South Shetlands) in January, 1942, and in a Note
addressed to the United Kingdom Govemment on Febmary 15,
1943, defined her pretensions in the area south of latitude 60'
South as covering al1 Antarctic lands and dependencies between
longitudes 25" and 68" 34' West. This westerly limit was later
extended by a decree of September 2, 1946, to longitude 74' West.
Thus, the pretensions which Argentina has from time to time
formulated to territories in the Falkland Islands Dependeiicies
It wiU beunderstood that althouforreason of convenience. the territories to
which the present Application relates sere constituted DependenciesFalk-he
land Islands for administrative purposes. the tilto them is a scparate and
independentone.=.hich ino way derives froordepends on the tittothe Falk-
land Islands themselves. patentes, dont le texte intégral est donnéà l'annexe r'(no 1) de la
présente requête, désignaient comme territoires principaux inclus
dans les Dépendances, ceux connus sous le nom de Georgie du Sud;
Orcades du Sud, Shetland du Sud, les îles Sandwich ainsi que le
territoire dit Terre de Graham. Il faut y ajouter aussi d'autres terri-
toires, tels que la Terre de Coats. De nouvelles lettres patentes
furent émisesle 28 mars 1917 (annexe I, no 2) dans le but dëpréciser
l'étenduedu continent antarctioue et des archinels côtiers. com~rise
dans le terme K Territoire de 1; Terre de Graham » utilisé da4 les
lettrespatentes ant6rieures. Par les lettres patentes supplémeiitaires
de 19x7, il fut définitivement spécifiéque les Dépendances compre-
naient :
e toutes les iles et tous les territoires compris entre le20mc et le
çomedegré delongitude ouest, au su&du jomcparallèle delatitude
sud, ainsi que toutes les îles et tous les territoires compris entre
le jomcdegréet le Somedegréde longitude ouest, au siid du 5Sme
parallèle delatitude sud in.
Les Dépendances, telles qu'elles sont définies dans les lettres
patentes de 1908 et 1917, possessions britanniques de longue date,
ont étéutiliséeset administrées par le Gouvernement des îles Falk-
land depuis de longues années, effectivement et ouvertement, et,
jusqu'aux temps modernes, sans objection de la part de la Répu-
blique Argentine, faits qui sont irréfutablement établis dans les
paragraphes 6 à 25 ci-dessous %.
3. Bien que le Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni ait ouvertement
pris possession et exercé une longue et paisible souveraineté sur
ces territoires et malgréla délimitation claire et précisedes Dépen-
dances des îles Falkland dans les lettres patentes, précitées,
le Gouvernement de la République Argentine a formulé des
prétentions en 1925 aux Orcades du Sud, en 1927 à la Georgie du
Sud ainsi qu'aux Orcades du Sud et aux environs de 19-77à tous
les territoires des Dépendances des îles Falkland. Par la suite,
la République Argentine, dans un avis de réclamation, déposé
en janvier 1942 à l'île de la Déception (Shetlands du Sud) et dans
une note adressée au Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni, le 15 février
1953, a définises prétentions sur la régionau sud du 60n" degréde
latitude sud comme englobant tous les territoires antarctiques et
leurs Dépendances situésentre les 2pedegré et 68' 34'de longitude.
Cette limite occidentale a étéétendue plus tard par décret du
2 septembre 1946, 74m~degréde longitude ouest. En conséquence,
les prétentions formulées à diverses reprises par l'Argentine sur
II est i notque si. pour des raisons de convenanes territoires sur lesquels
porte la présente requète ont pour des raisons administrativeétéconstitués
en Dépendances dçs iles Falklan<l,titrbritannique sur ce territoire est distinct
et indépendant et qu'il neéïoitle ni ne depenen aucune rnaniérï du titre sur
lei iles Fsll<l;~tidelles-in8niïs.10 APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (V55)
appear to cover South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands as
well as the islands and lands sitnated between 25' and 68"34' West
and south of latitude 60" South.
4. South of latitude 60" South, the western limit of Argentina's
pretensions, as given in the above-mentioned decree of Septemher 2,
1946, is longitude 74"West :whereas the western limit of the Falk-
land Islands Dependencies is 6" further to the west at longitude 80"
West. The United Kingdom's present Application does not, there-
fore, relate to the areas of the Falkland Islands Dependencies
between longitudes 74"and 80' West, which lie outside the declared
limits of Argentina's pretensions. Similarly, the eastern limit of
Argentina's pretensions, as stated in Argentina's above-mentioned
notice of claim, and diplomatic Note of Fehruary 15, 1943, is
longitude 25" West, whereas the eastem limit of the Falkland
Islands Dependencies is 5" further to the East at longitude 20'
West. The United Kingdom's present Application does not,
therefore, relate to the areas of the Falkland Islands Dependencies
hetween zj" and zooWest, which lie outside the declared limits of
Argentina's pretensions. It follows that the United Kingdom's
cornplaint in the present Application relates to the pretensions of
Argentina to the sovereignty of the islands and lands of the Falkland
Islands Dependencies which lie between longitudes 25" and 74"
West and to the southwards of latitude 60' South. A inap depicting
the territones to which the United Kingdom's present Application
relates is attached as Annex z. As this map shows, the principal
terntories in dispute between the United Kingdom and Argentina
in the present case are the South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia,
the South Orkneys, South Shetlands, and Graham Land together
with its coastal archipelagos. There is also Coats Land, to which
(at Vahsel Bay) the Argentine Government has, during the last
few weeks, sent an expedition.
5. The main facts relative to the United Kingdom's titles to the
sovereignty of the Falkland Islands Dependencies and the territories
cornprised in it, and to the violation of her sovereignty by the
Repuhlic of Argentina, are set out in paragraphs 6-33 below 3.
The United Kingdom Government considers that the facts stated in
the present Application suffice to establish conclusively both the
United Kingdom's title to sovereignty, and the violation of that
solidation by occupationuseradministration and otlier means appropriate tothe
circumetances of the territories, as contained in para6-25hand 30-31hereof,
are substantially identical with the corresponding passages in the Application which
the United Kingdom Governmentis making concurrently with the present one,
coniplainingofviolationsofits sovereigntover thesame area,on the part of the
Republic of Chile. REQUETE INTRODUCTIVE D'ISSTASCE (v 55) IO
les territoires faisant partie des Dépendances des iles Falkland
semblent viser la Georgie du Sud et les îles Sandwich du Sud,
aussi bien que les îles et terres situéesentre le zgmedegréet le 68me
degré34'ouest et au sud du 60mcdegré delatitude sud.
4. La limite occidentale des prétentions de l'Argentine, telle
qu'elle ressort du décret du z septembre 1946 précité,est au sud
di160medegréde latitude Sud le 74"'~degréde longitude ouest,alors
que la limite occidentale des Dépendances des iles Falkland est
de 6" à l'ouest du 8omedegréde longitude ouest. En conséquence,
la présente requête du Royaume-Uni ne concerne pas la zone
des Dépendances des îles Falkland située entre le 74meet le 80me
degré de longitude ouest, qui se trouve en dehors des limites des
prétentions formuléespar l'Argentine. De mème, la limite orientale
des prétentions de l'Argentine, telle qu'elle est énoncéedans l'avis
de rCclamation précitéet la note diplomatique du 15 février 1945,
est le z5medegréde longitude ouest, alors que la limite orientale
des Dépendances des îles Falkland est de 5" plus à l'est au zorne
degré de longitude ouest. C'est pourquoi la présente requête du
Royaume-Uni ne concerne pas la zonedes Dépendances des ilesFalk-
land situéeentre le 2gmeet le 3Ome degréouest, qui setrouve endehors
des limites des prétentions formulées par l'Argentine. En consé-
quence, la réclamation du Royaume-Uni dans la présente requête
se rapporte aux prétentions formuléespar l'Argentine à la souve-
raineté sur les îles et terres des Dépendances des iles Falkland
situéesentre les 25meet 14medegrés de longitude ouest et au sud du
6omedegré de latitude sud. Une carte représentant les tenitoires
auxquels se rapporte la présente requête du Royaume-Uni est
donnée à l'annexe z. Ainsi que l'indique cette carte, les principaux
territoires en litige entre le Royaume-Uni et l'Argentine dans le
cas actuel sont: les îles Sandwich du Sud, la Georgie du Sud, les
Orcades du Sud, les Shetland du Sud.et la Terre de Graham avec
ses archipels catiers, ainsi que la Terre de Coats où le Gouvernement
de l'Argentine, pendant ces dernières semaines, a envoyé une
expédition (ainsi qu'à la baie de \'ahsel).
j. Les principaux éléments relatifs au titre de souveraineté
du Royaume-Uni sur les Dépendancesdes îlcs Falkland et les terri-
toires y rattachés ainsi que les faits relatifs à la violation de
sa souveraineté par la République Argentine sont exposés aux
paragraphes 6 à 33 ci-dessous 3.Le Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni
estime que les faits exposés dans la présente requêtesuffisent à
établir irréfutablement tant le titre de souveraineté du Royaume-
L'exposé relatiaux originesdestitres britanniqueetà leur consolidation
àll'état desterritoires. fait l'objet des par6 à 25et30 à31de la présenteriés
requéte. identiques dans une largmesure aux passages correspondantsde la
requéte séparee que le Gouvernemendu Royaume-Uni introduit parall&lemenà
celle-ci. pour protester contlesatteintes portees par la Républiqdu Chili
à sa souverainetéPUTles mème~ territoires.sovereignty by the Republic of Argentina. The United Kingdom
Government reserves the right, however, to amplify in its pleadings
its exposition of the relevant facts, and to furnish further proof of
both these matters.
Origins of the British Titles, Histonc Discoveries and Acts of
Annexation by British Nationals in the Period 1675-1843
6. The British title to the temitories concerned goes back to a
number'of dates varying from, at latest, 1775 to 1843. The first
discovery of any of the islands or lands of the Falkland Islands
Dependencies may well have been that of South Georgia in 167j
by the British merchant Anthony de la Roche. This group of islands
was rediscovered in 1775 by the great English navigator Captain,
James Cook, R.N. On January 17 of that year he landed at three
places on the islaiid, took possession of it formally in the name of
King George III and called it South Georgia in honour of the King.
7. Captaiii Cook also discovered the Soz~thSandwich Islands in
1775 Sailing east\vards from South Georgia, be sighted first a small
group of islands which he called the Clerke Rocks after the name
of his lieutenant, and then, on January 31, a larger group which
he called the Sandwich Land after the First Lord of the British
Admiralty of that date.
S. The Soadh Shetlaizd Islands were discovered by the English
sea captain \Villiam Smith on February 18, 1819. lzevisiting the
islands in October of the same year, he landed, planted the British
flag and formally took possession of the group in the name of
King George III, calling it New South Britain-(this \iras after-
wards changed to South Shetlands, named after the Shetlands
Islands, north of Scotland). A feuzmonths later, Edwards Brans-
field, R.N., accoinpanicd by William Smith, proceeded again to
the islands and made a survey of thewhole group. On January 16,
1820, he landed on the largest islaiid (King George Island) in
the centre of the group and took possession formally in the name
of King George 11'. After a voyage south-westwards between the
South Shetlands and Graham Land, to which further reference
is made in paragraph 10 below, he retumed to the South Shetland
Islands. On February 4 he landed on the most easterly island of
the group, taking possession formally in the King's name and
calling the island Clarence Island in honour ofthe Duke of Clarence,
the brother of the King.
g.The South Orkney Islands (named after another Scottish
group) were discovered by the British sealing captain, George
Powell, on December 6, 1821. On the following day he landed REQUET ENTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE (V 5j) II
Uni que la violation de cette souveraineté par la République
Argentine. Le Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni se réserve,cepen-
dant, le droit de développerson exposédes faits pertinents et d'ap-
porter de nouvelles preuves à cc double égard dans la procédure
écrite.
Origines des titres britanniques, dbcouvertes historiques et
actes d'appropriation par des ressortissants britanniques
de 1675 à 1843
6. Le titre britannique sur les temtoires en cause remonte
àdes dates qui s'échelonnententre 1775et 1843 au plus tard. Il est
très possible que la première découverte des îles ou terres des
Dépendances des îles Falkland ait étécelle de la Georgie du Szid
en 1675 par le négociant britannique Anthony de la Roche. Ce
groupe d'îles fut redécouvert en 1775 par le grand navigateur
anglais, le capitaine James Cook,R. N. Le 17janvier de cette année,
il aborda dans l'îlà trois endroits différents, en prit officiellement
possession au nom du roi George III et en l'honneur du roi la
baptisa Georgie du Sud.
7. C'est en 1775 également que le capitaine Cook découvrit les
Sandwich du Sud. Parti de la Georgie du Sud et voyant vers l'est,
il aperçut tout d'abord un petit groupe d'îles qu'il appela Clerke
Rocks du nom de son lieutenant, puis, le 31 janvier, un groupe plus
étendu qu'il dénommaTerre Sandwich, du nom du premier lord de
l'Amirauté britannique de l'époque.
8. Les iles Shetland du Snd furent découvertes par le capitaine
anglais William Smith, le 18 février1819. Au cours d'une nouvelle
visite à ces iles en octobre de la mème année,il aborda, planta le
drapeau britannique, et prit officiellement possession, au nom du
roi George III, de ce groupe d'iles qu'il baptisa Nouvelle Bretagne
du Sud - (nom reniplacépar la suite par la désignation Shetland
du Sud, d'après les îles Shetland situées au nord de l'Écosse).
Quelques mois plus tard, Edward Bransfield, R. N., accompagnéde
William Smith, repartit pour ces îles qu'il explora complètement.
Le 16 janvier 1820, il aborda dans la plus grande de ces îles (île
du Roi George) situéeau centre du groupe et en prit officiellement
possession au nom du roi George IV. Après avoir mis le cap sur le
sud-ouest entre les Shetland du Sud et la Terre de Graham dont
ii sera de nouveau question au paragraphe IO ci-dessous, il retourna
aux Shetland du Sud. Le 4 févrierii aborda dans l'île la plus à
l'est du groupe, en prit officiellement possession au nom du roi et
la baptisa île Clarence, en honneur du duc de Clarence, frère du
roi.
9. Les Orcadesdu Sud (ainsi nomméesd'après un autre groupe
d'îles écossaises)furent découvertes par le phoquier anglais, le
capitaine George Powell, le 6 décembre 1821. Le jour suivant il12 APPLICATION INSTITUTIA'G PROCEEDINGS (155)
on the largest of the islands, took possession of it formally in
the name of King George IV and called it Coronation Island in
honour of the King's Coronation.
IO. Graham Land, the northern extremity of the Antarctic
continent, \\.as first discovered on January 30, 1820, by E. Brans-
field, R.N., in the course of the voyage of exploration south-
westwards from the South Shetlands which was mentioned in
paragraph 8 above. He sighted, in hazy weather, the outline of
parts of the Antarctic mainland and one or two coastal islands.
He named the land Trinity Land in compliment to the Board
of Trinity House (the British institution responsible for pilotage
and maritime lights), and he named t\iro of the coastal islands,
Hope Island and Tower Island, respectively. He also traced the
outline of the Antarctic mainland and coastal islands, as he had
seen them, on the chart which he drew of the South Shetlands
and forwarded to the British Admiralty. Soon afterwards, further
sightings of the Antarctic peninsula or its coastal islands were
reported by British and Amencan sealers, by the Russian navigator
Admiral Bellinghausen, and by the French navigator, Captain
D'Urville, but the first sighting \\,as that ofE. Bransfield, R.N.
In 1829, Captain H. Foster. R.N., in H.31.S. Chanticleer,effected
a landing on one of the coastal islands, Hoseason Island off West
Graham Land, and deposited there a copper cylinder in which
was a document taking possession in the name of King George IV.
On February 21, 1832, the British sealiiig captaiii, John Biscoe,
landed on an island of the Palmer Archipelago, believing it to
be part of the mainland, and took possession formally in the
name of King William IV, calling the territory Graham Land,
by which name the peninsula is knobvn to-day, in honour of
Sir James Graham, then First, Lord of the British Admiralty.
On January 6, 1843, Captain J. C. Ross, R.N., commanding
H.M.S. Evebtls and H.M.S. Terror, penetrated into a gulf on the
eastern side of the peninsula and landed on a coastal island. He
named the gulf Erebus and Terror Gulf, and the island James
Ross Islarid, and took possession of the island together with its
"contiguous lands" for the British Cro\r?i.
II. The first discoveries of South Georgia, the South Sandwich
Islands, the South Orkneys, the South Shetlands. and Graham
Land were thus al1 made by British nationals-a fact reflected
in the names given to these territories by which they have heen
known, and have figiired in maps and charts, ever since. The
same applies to Coats Land, as to which see paragraph 14 below.
Some discoveries of particular parts of these principal groups of
temtory were made by explorers or seamen of other nationalities ;
but the initial discoveries of al1five principal groups were British.
There were no Spanish or Argentine discoveries. Furthermore,
,during this early penod in Antarctic history from 1678 to 1843, REQUÊTE INTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE (v55) 12
aborda dans la plus grande des îles, en prit officiellement possession
au nom du roi George IV et l'appela l'île du Couronnement en
commémoration du couronnement du roi.
IO. La Terre de Graham, extrémitésepteiitrionale du continent
antarctique, fut découverte la première fois le 30 janvier 1820 par
E. Bransfield, R. N., au cours d'un voyage d'exploration en direc-
tion du sud-ouest en partant des Shetland du Sud et dont il a été
question au paragraphe 8 ci-dessus. Il aperçut dans la brume le
profil d'une partie du continent antarctique et d'une ou deux îles
côtières. Il dénomma cette terre, Terre de la Trinité. en hommage
au Ijoard of Trivrity Horise(institution britannique de pilotage et
de signalisation maritime) et baptisa deux des îles côtières du nom
de Hope Island et Towcr Island, respecti\,emcnt, Il traça également
la silhouette du continent antarctique et des îles côtières, telle
qu'il l'avait aperçue, sur la carte qu'il fit des Shetland du Sud et
qu'il envoya à 1'.4mirauté britannique. Peu après, des phoquiers
britanniques et américains, un navigateur russe, l'amiral Belling-
hausen, ainsi qu'un navigateur français, le capitaine d'Urville,
déclarèrent avoir aperçu soit la péninsule antarctique soit les îles
côtières, mais elles avaient été vues pour la première fois par
E. Bransfield, R. N. En 1829, le capitaine H. Foster, R. N., à
bord du H. M. S. Chanticleer,débarqua daiis une des îles côtières,
l'île Hoseason, situéeà l'ouest de la Terre de Graham, et il y déposa
un cylindre de cuivre contenant le document de prise de possession
au nom du roi George IV. Le 21 février 1832, le capitaine phoquier
anglais, John Biscoe, croyant toucher le continent, débarqua sur
une île de. l'archipel Palmer, en prit officiellement possession au
nom du roi Guillaume IV et la baptisa Terre de Graham, nom que
porte aujourd'hui la péninsule, en l'honneur de sir James Graliarn,
alors premier lord de l'Amirauté britannique. Le 6 janvier 1843,
le capitaine J.C. Ross. R. N., commandant du H. M.S. Erebzis
et du H. M.S. Terror, pénétra dans un golfe de la côte orientale
de la péninsule et débarqua sur une île côtière. Le golfe fut baptisé
golfe de l'Érèbe et de la Terreur et l'île, île James Ross. Il prit
possession de l'île et des «terres contiguës 1)pour la Couronne
d'Angleterre.
II. Les premières décou\~ertesde la Georgie du Sud, des Sand-
wich du Sud, des Orcades du Sud, des Shetland du Sud et de la
Terre de Graham furent donc toutes effectuéespar des ressortissants
britanniques - ainsi qu'en témoignent les noms donnésà ces terri-
toires, noms sous lesqiiels ils sont depuis connus et désignéssur les
cartes géographiques et marines. Il en va de mêmede la Terre de
Coats, dont il est question au paragraphe 14 ci-dessous. Certaines
découvertes partielles furent effectuéesdans ce groupe de territoires
par des explorateurs ou des marins d'autres nationalités, mais la
découverteinitialedesciiiq groupes principaux est due à des Anglais.
Aucune découverte ii'est due ni à l'Espagne ni à l'Argentine.
2 APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (V55)
I3
acts of annexation were performed in the name of the British
Crown at places ashore within al1 the principal groups except the
South Sandwich Islands, where, frequently, the local conditions
render landing impossible. On the other hand, during this period
no acts of annexation were performed in any of the territories.
concerned on behalf of any otlier State.
12. The facts stated in paragraphs 6 to II above show that
from very early dates varying between 1775 and 1843. Great
Britain possessed, on the basis of discovery, acconipanied by a
forma1 claim in the name of the British Crown, an original root
of title to al1 the territories concemed.
Display of British Sovereignty in or in regard to the Falkland
Islands Dependencies in the Period 1843to July 21, 1908
13. In pursuance of a British Act of Parliament (6 Victoria,
Chapter 13-British and Foreign State Papers, Volume 31,
page 1211), Royal Letters Patent were issued on June 23, 1843,
making provision for the government of the "Settlements in the
Falkland Islands and their Dependencies" (Annes I hereto, No. 3).
Supplemental LettersPatent were issued on April 28, 1876, making
further provision for the government of the "Settlements in the
Falkland Islands and their Dependencies". On February Zj, 1892,
fresh Letters Patent were issued by which the Government of
the "Settlements in the Falkland Islands and their Dependencies"
was designated as the Governmeiit of a Crown Colony (British
and Foreign State Papers, Volume 84, page 262). Similarly, the
Commission issued to the ncw Govemor in November, 1847
(Annex I hereto, No. 4). and the teil succeeding Commissions to
Governors issued between that date and 1908, were in the form
of an appointment covering "the Falkland Islands and their
Dependencies". Again, numerous laws passed by the Falkland
Islands Government during the period 1843-July 21, 1908. were
made for "the Falkland Islands and their Dependencies" The
particular territories coniprised in the "Dependencies of the
Falkland Islands" were not iiamed in the various Letters Patent,
Governor's Commissions,or laws of the Falkland Islands Govern-
ment. The Colonial Office Year Book, however, begaii in 1887
to specify South Georgia as one of the Dependencies. There had
bcen comparatively little urhaling and similar activity in the
Antarctic in the middle of the nineteenth centiiry, but from 1892
onwards whaiiig, sealing and scientific exploration began to
revive. This renewed activity called for a corresponding exercise
of State authority in the Antarctic and led very soon to special
As regardsthe nature of the connnetween the Eaiklands Islands and the
Dependenciesseefwtnote 2to paragraph2above.En outre, au cours de cette période primitive de l'histoire antarc-
tique qui va de 1678 à 1843,desprises depossessionfurent effectuées
an nom de la Couronne d'Angleterre surle sol desgroupes principaux
à l'exception des Sandwich du Sud où les conditions locales inter-
disent leplus souvent d'aborder. D'autre part, au coursde cette même
période,on ne relève dans les territoires en cause aucune prise de
possession au nom d'un autre État.
12. Les faits exposésaux paragraphes 6 à II ci-dessus indiquent
que trèstôt, à des dates s'échelonnantentre 1775et 1843.du fait de
la découverte accompagnée d'un titre officiel de revendication au
nom de la Couronne d'Angleterre, la Grande-Bretagne possédait
une source de titre sur tous les territoires en cause.
Manifestations de la souverainetébritanniquedans ou à l'égard
des Dependancesdes iles Falkland, entre1843 et le 21 juillet 1908
13. Des lettres patentes royales émisesle 23 juin 1843, en appli-
cation d'un acte du Parlement britannique (6 Victoria, Chap. 13 -
British and Foreign State Papers, volume 31, page I~II), conte-
naient des dispositions relatives au gouvernement des r Colonies
fixéesdans les îles Falkland et leurs Dépendances 1(annexe I,no3).
Des lettres patentes supplémentaires, datées du 28 avril 1876,
contenaient de nouvelles dispositions visant les IColonies fixées
dans les îles Falkland et leurs Dépendances ».Dans d'autres lettres
patentes, émises en conséquence le 25 février1892,le Gouvernement
des 1Colonies fixéesdans les iles Falkland et leurs Dépendances i>
était désignécomme gouvernement d'une colonie de la Couronne
(British and Foreign State Papers, volume 84, page 262). De meme,
le brevet remis au nouveau gouverneur en novembre 1847(annexe 1.
no4). ainsi que les dix brevets suivants remis à ses successeurs entre
cette date et l'année 1908, stipulaient que son mandat s'étendait
aux a îles Falkland et à leurs Dépendances 11En outre, les nom-
breuses lois émanant (lu Gouvernement entre 1843 et le 21 juillet
1908 étaient faites pour les K iles Falkland et leurs Dépendances 1'.
Les divers territoires compris sous l'appellation IDépendancesdes
iles Falkland » ne figuraient pas nommément dans les lettres
patentes, les brevets de gouverneur ni les lois édictéesparle Gouver-
nement des îles Falkland. Toutefois, à partir de 1887, la Géorgie
du Sud est mentionnée comme l'une des Dépendancesdans I'an-
iiuaire du ministère des Colonies. Vers le milieu du xlxme siècle,la
p&cheà la haleine et autres activités du même genreétaient rela-
tivement réduites dans l'Antarctique, mais en 1892, la pêche à
ln baleine et au phoque ainsi que les explorations scientifiques
prirent un nouvel essor. Cette reprise d'activité appelait de nou-
velles manifestations de l'autorité de l'État dans l'Antarctique
En ce qui concerne la naturedes liens entre les fles Falkletles Dbpen-
dances. voirnote 2 au paragraphe 2 ci-dessus.I4 APPLIC.4TION ISSTITUTING I>ROCEEDIXGS (V 55)
provision being made by Great Britaiii for the government of
the five principal territories as Dependeiicies of the Falkland
Islands and to their formal constitution as the 17alklaiid 1sl:~iids
Dependencies.
14. The Antarctic revival in the area no\!. iiidispute begaii
with the voyage of four Scottish vessels in 1892 to the easterii
side of Graham Land and the \lieddeIl Sea for whaling and scaling.
In the same year a Nonvegian whaling espedition which went
to the Weddell Sea, called at the South Orkneys, and further
Nonvegian expeditions in 1893 and 1894 visited the South Shet-
lands and Graham Land. In 1897 and 1901 respcctively, Belgiaii
and Swedish scientihc expeditions aent to the South Shetlaiids-
Graham Land area, and in 1902 they were followed by a Scottish
scientific expedition under Dr. IV. S. Briice in the S.S. Scotia.
Dr. Bruce established a meteorological station at Laurie Island
in the South Orkneys in 1903. the working of which \vas entrusted
to the Argentine meteorological office in the follo\ving year. He
spent the Antarctic winter of 1903 at Laurie Island and in 1904,
after revisiting Laurie Island to land the Argentine nieteorologists,
he penetrated deep into the Weddell Sea, discovering Coals Land
(named after a Scottish supporter of the expedition) \vhich is
now the eastern frontier of the Falkland Islands Dependencies
on the Antarctic coiitinent.
15.In 1904 the Norwegian whaling expert, Captain Larsen.
formed a company in Buenos Aires, the Compania Argentins de
Pesca, for the purpose of whaling in the Aritarctic and established
a shore whaling station at South Georgia. In 1905, a Chileaii
company, the South Georgia Exploration Company, financed by
British subjects in Chile, was granted a mining and grazing lease
of South Georgia by the Governor of the Falkland Islands aiid
proceeded there, only to find Captain Larsen's Compania Argeiitina
de Pesca already in occupation of the best site for :rbase. Mean-
while, the Captain had applied through the British Legatioii in
Buenos Aires to the British Government in London for a whaling
licence for South Georgia. The British Government, lcarning that
another licence had previously beeii granted by the Govemor,
despatched H.M.S. Safifihoto South Georgia to investigate the
situation on the spot. The result aas that a whaling licence was
granted by the Governor to the Argentine company, and the
Chilean company then ahandoned its project. In the same year,
1905, Nonvegian whalers visited South Georgia aiid the South
Shetlands, taking with them the first whale-factory ship employed
in the Antarctic. In connexion with this enterprise, the Norwegian
Government addreçsed an inquiry to the British Governinent
concerning the sovereignty of territories in the ûrea between
longitude 35' and 80" West and latitudes 45' and 6jo South, i.e., REQUETE INTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE (V55) 14
et, très rapidement, la Grande-Bretagne fut amenée à prendre des
dispositions spéciales en vue du gouvernement des cinq temtoires
principaux dépendant des îles Falkland et de leur constitution
officielle en Dépendances des îles Falkland.
14. La renaissance de la région antarctique actuellement en
litige débuta en 1892 par le voyage de quatre navires écossaisqui se
rendirent à l'est de la Terre de Graham et dans la mer de Weddell
pour y pêcherla baleine et le phoque. La mêmeannée,une expédi-
tion baleinière norvégienne, à destination de la mer de Weddell, fit
escale aux Orcades du Sud et d'autres expéditions norvégiennes,
en 1893et 1894,visitèrent les Shetland du Sud et la Terre de Graham.
En 1897 et Igor respectivement. des expéditions scientifiques belges
et suédoises serendirent dans la région des Shetland du Sud et de
la Terre de Graham ;elles furent suivies en 1902 par une expédition
scientifique écossaise, dirigée par leDI W. S. Bruce, à bord du
S. S.Scotia. En 1903, leDrBruce fonda à l'îleLaurie, dans les Orcades
du Sud, une station météorol6giquedont l'exploitation fut confiée
au service météorologiqueargentin l'annéesuivante. Il passa l'hiver
antarctique de 1903 à l'île Laurie et en 1904, après s'êtrearrêtéune
nouvelle fois à l'île Laurie pour y débarquer les météorologues
argentins, il s'engagea profondément dans la mer de Weddell où
il découvrit la Terre de Coats (du nom d'un écossaisayant financé
l'expédition), qui forme actuellement la frontière orientale des
Dépendances des iles Falkland sur le continent antarctique.
15. En 1904, le capitaine Larsen, expert baleinier norvégien,fonda
à Buenos-Aires la Compania Argentina de Pesca, destinée à la
pêche à la baleine dans l'Antarctique, et il installa une station balei-
nière sur la côte de la Georgie du Sud. En 1905, la South Georgia
Exploration Company, société chilienne financéepar des ressor-
tissants britanniques fixésau Chili, obtint du gouverneur des îles
Falkland la coricession des mines et le droit de pacage en Georgie
du Sud, où elle se rendit uniquement pour constaterque la Compania
Argentina de Pcsca du capitaine Larsen occupait l'emplacement
le plus propice à l'établissement d'une base. Entre temps, le capi-
taine avait demandé au Gouvernement britannique, par l'inter-
médiairede la légation britannique à Buenos-Aires, une licence pour
la pèche à la baleine en Georgie du Sud. Le Gouvernement britan-
nique, apprenant qu'une autre licence avait déjàétéaccordéepar le
gouverneur, dépêchale H. M. S. Sappho en Georgie du Sud pour y
examiner la situation sur place.Il apparut que le gouverneur avait
accordé licence de pêche à la baleine à la sociétéargentine, et la
sociétéchilienne abandonna son projet. La mêmeannée, 1905, des
baleiniers norvégiens se rendirent en Georgie du Sud et dans les
Shetland du Sud, emmenant avec eux le premier navire-usine
utilisédans l'Antarctique pour le traitement de la baleine. A propos
de cette expédition, le Gouvernement norvégien adressa au Gou-
vernement britannique une demande d'information concernant laI5 APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (V55)
in the area covering South Georgia, the South Shetlands, the
South Orkneys and the northeru part of Graham Land. The
British Government replied that the South Shetlands were not
international but were British possessions as were also South
Georgia, the South Orkneys and Graham Land (the South Sand-
wich Islands lie outside the area of the Nonvegian inquiry) and
that Nonvegian whalers should apply to the Governor of the
Falkland Islands for any facilities that they might need.
16. In view of these developments, the Falkland Islands Govern-
ment promulgated a whaling ordinance in 1906 (Ordinance No. 3
of 1906) by which the taking of whates without licence was made
unlawful, and a royalty was made payable in respect of each urhale
caught under licencefrom that Government. It was further consider-
ed desirable, in view of the iucreasing importance of the five
principal temtories as whaling and sealing bases, to make specific
provision for their government and to make more specdïc provision
for their government as dependencies of the Falkland Islands.
Accordingly, on July 21, 1908. as recited in paragraph z above,
South Georgia, the South Orkneys, the South Shetlands, the Sand-
wich Islands and the territory of Graham Land were by Royal
Letters Patent formally constituted Dependencies of the Colony
of the Falkland Islands and placed under its government. Under
these LettersPatent (Annex I hereto, No. 1)it was provided that :-
(a) the Governor of the Colony sliould be the Governor also of
the Dependencies and be invested with the same powers
of government and legislation in respect of them as he
should from time to tirne possess in the Colony ;
(b) the Executive Council of the Colony should act also as the
Executive Council of the Dependencies ;
(c) the Governor should have, and be deemed always to have
had, power by and with the advice and consent of the
Legislative Council of the Colony, to make laws for the
peace, order and good government of the Dependencies ;
(ci)the Governor should have, and be deemed al~vaysto have
had, power to make grants and dispositions ofland within
the Dependencies in the name of the Crown.
The definition of the lands comprised in the Falkland Islands
Dependencies, as mentioned in paragraph z above, was afterwards
amended by Letters Patent of March 28,'1917, so as to include
explicitly al1 islands and territories situated between longitudes
zooand 50" West, and south of latitude 50" South ; and ail islands
and territories situated between longitudes 50' and 80" West, and REQUÊTE INTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE (v 55) 15
souveraineté des territoires compris entre 35' et 80' de longitude
ouest et 45' et 65" de latitude sud, c'est-à-dire la régionenglobant
la Georgie du Sud, les Shetland du Sud, les Orcades du Sud et le
nord de la Terre de Graham. Le Gouvernement britannique répondit
que les Shetland du Sud n'étaient pas du domaine international
mais constituaient des possessions britanniques, tout comme la
Georgie du Sud, les Orcades du Sud et la Terre de Graham (les
Sandwich du Sud sont en qehors de la zone sur laquelle portait le
questionnaire norvégien) et que les baleiniers norvégiensdevaient
s'adresser au gouverneur des îles Falkland pour obtenir les facilités
nécessaires.
16. En raison de ces événements,le Gouvernement des iles Falk-
land promulgua en 1906 une ordonnance sur la p@cheà la baleine
(ordonnance no 3 de 1906) déclarant illégale lacapture de baleines
sans licence et assujettissant au paiement d'une redevance chaque
prise faite sous licence du Gouvernement. De plus, étant donné
l'importance croissante des cinq territoires priiicipaux en tant que
bases de peche à la baleine et au phoque, on jugea nécessaire de
prendre des mesures détailléesen vue de leur administration et des
mesures plus détailléesencore en vue de leur administration en tant
que dépendances des îles Falkland. En conséquence, ainsi qu'il a
étédit au paragraphe z ci-dessus, par lettres patentes du21 juillet
1908, la Georgie du Sud, les Orcades du Sud, les Shetland du Sud,
les iles Sandwich et la Terre de Graham étaient officiellementconsti-
tuéesen Dépendancesde la colonie des îles Falkland et placéessous
son gouvernement. Ceslettres patentes (annexe I,no 1)disposaient :
a) le gouverneur de la Colonie doit également faireoffice de
gouverneur des Dépendances et êtreinvesti à l'égard de
celles-ci des mêmespouvoirs gouvernementaux et législatifs
que ceux qu'il exerce dans la Colonie,àl'époqueenvisagée;
b) le conseil exécutif de la Colonie doit également faireofficede
conseil exécutifdes Dépendances ;
c) le gouverneur doit avoir et doit êtreconsidéré comme ayant
toujours eu le pouvoir, coiiféréparle conseillégislatifde la
Colonie, d'édicter, après consultation et avec le consente-
ment de ce dernier, des lois en faveur de la paix, de l'ordre
et de la bonne administration des Dépendances :
d) le gouverneur doit avoir et doit être considéré comme ayant
toujours eu le droit de céder ou d'aliéner au nom de la
couronne des parties du territoire des Dépendances.
La définitiondes territoires désignéspar Dépendances desiles Falk-
land, telle qu'elle est mentionnéeauparagraphe zci-dessus,fut modi-
fiéedans la suite par lettres patentesdu 28 mars 1917 de manière à
inclure explicitement toutes les îles et tous les territoires situésentre
50' et 80" de longitude ouest, en-dessous du 58medegrédelatitude
sud. Les indications de longitude et de latitude donnéesdans ces16 i\PPLICATION IXSTITUTISG PROCEEDINGS (V55)
south of latitude 58"South. The lines of longitude and latitude laid
down in these Letters Patent as defining the territories comprised
within the Falkland Islands Dependencies are indicated in red on
the map exhibited as Annex 2 of this Application
Display of British Sovereignty in or in Regard to the Dependencies
in the Period July 21, 1908-September 22, 1938
17. Great Britain's title to the islands and territories of the
Dependencies was thus formally confirmed and defined by the
issue of the Letters Patent of 1908and 1917,but, as has been shown,
it did not originate in or depend on these Letters Patent, and had
been in existence for many decades previously. This title \vas now
consolidated and maintained by a further effective display and
exercise of British sovereignty. In pursuance of the authority
contained in the Letters Patent of 1908, a Falkland Islands Ordi-
nance was promulgated in that year under which the Governor
in Council was empowered to declare any law passed for the Colony
to bc applicable also in the Dependencies so far as niight be appro-
priate to their circumstances. Under this principal Ordinance
numerous laws were either made or made applicable to the Depend-
encies by the Governor in Council, covering inter uliu the adminis-
tration of civil and criminal justice, mamage, testacy andintestacy,
&c., and constituting a full and sufficient corpus of laws for those
temtones, having regard to their particular circumstances.
18. Especially important are the la\r.s made by the Falkland
Islands Governnient for xvhaling and sealing, which provide
convincing proof of the effectiveness of Great Britain's display and
exercise of sovereignty in the Dependencies. In 1908 the whaIing
Ordinance of 1906 referred to in paragraph 16 above \vas repealed,
and replaced by a new Ordinance. This principal whaling Ordinance
of 1908, as amendcd by later Ordinances, together with the Regula-
tions made under it,established a detailed and coinprcherisive code
of whaling lawfor the Dependencies, as can beseenfrom the sumrnary
of the whaling laws in force in the Dependencies in 1920 which
is contained in the report of an official coinmittee prescnted to the
British Parliament in that year (Command I'apcr No. 657). The
relevant extract from this report is annexcd to this Application
(Annex Ihercto, Xo. 5).It sho\\-sthat one of the chief objects of the
legislation \vas the conservation of stocks by regulating the number
and tonnage of whaling vesscls, the number of whaling licences.
the number of whales to be taken by each licence-holder, by
protecting whale calves and by othcr measures. Analogous, if
j Rcierence is again made to foot2oto paragrapl2. lettrespatentes pour délimiterles territoires compris dans les Dépen-
dances des îles Falkland sont portées en traits rouges sur la carte
figurant à l'annexe 2 de la présente requête
Manifestations de la souveraineté britannique dans ou à l'égarddes
Dépendances des iles Falkland entre le 21 juillet 1908 et le
22 septembre 1938
17. Le titre britannique sur les îles et territoires des Dépendances
fut donc officiellement confirmé et précisépar les lettres patentes
émisesen 1908 et 1917, mais, comme nous l'avons montré, il n'en
dépend pas non plus qu'il ii'y trouve son origine, puisque ce titre
existait déjà depuis de nombreuses décades. Ce titre fut ensuite
consolidé et conservé grâce i de norivelles manifestations et à un
exercice effectif de la souverainetébritannique. En vertu du pouvoir
stipulé dans les lettres patentes de 1908, il fut promulgué cette
annéeaux îles Falkland un décret autorisaiit le gouverneur siégeant
en conseil à déclarertoute loi votéepour la Coloiiieapplicable égale-
ment aux Ilépendances, dans la mesure où le permettaient les cir-
constances. En vertu de ce décret principal, le gouverneur siégeant
en conseil édictadenombreuseslois, soitdestinées, soit renduesappli-
cables aux Dépendances, concernant notamment l'administration
de la justice civile et criminelle, le régimedes mariages, des succes-
sions et de l'intestat et formant un corps de lois complet et siiffisant
pour ces territoires sil'on tient compte des circonstances qui leur
sont propres.
18. Particulièrement importantes sont les lois votées par le
Gouvernement des îles Falkland en matière de pêclie à la baleine et
au phoque: elles constituent une preuve convaincante quant à
I'effectivité des nianifestations et de l'exercice de la souveraineté
britannique dails les Dépendances. En 1908, l'ordonnance de ;go6
sur la pêche à la baleine, dont il a étéquestioii nu paragraphe 16
ci-dessus, fut abrogée et remplacée par uiie ~iouvelleordonnance.
Cette ordonnance principale de 1908, les ordonnances ultérieures
qui la modifièrent, ainsi qiie les règlements qui s'en inspirent,
forment uii code détailléet complet des lois sur la pêchà la baleine
dans les Dépendances, comme le montre le résumédes lois sur
la pêche i la baleine, en vigueur dans les Ilépendances en 1920,
résumé qui figure dans le rapport qu'une commission officielle
présenta cette année-là , au Parlemeiit britariiiiquc (Command
Paper no 657). Un passage pertinent de ce rapport est joint en
annexe à la présente requête (annexe I,no5). Il cil ressort que l'un
des buts principaux de la législation était de préserver le cheptel
marin en réglementant le nombre et le tonnage des balciniCres,
jSouvelle r&f&rencà lanote 2au paragraphe 2I7 APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (Vj5)
somewhat less elaborate, laws were introduced in 1909 for the
regulation of sealing in the Dependencies. These laws made it
unlawful to take seals in the Dependencies without a licence, gave
authority for the issue of licences, and provided for the creation
of a close season and of seal reserves.
19. The above-mentioned whaling and sealing laws were actively
and extensively applied in the Dependencies. For whaling-licence
purposes, as appears from the summary of laws given in Annex I,
No. 5, the Dependencies were divided into four units-South
Georgia, the South Shetlands together with Graham Land, the
South 01kneys and South Sandwich Islands.
(1) In Ihe case of South Geovgia, the Buenos Aires company
mentioned in paragraph 15 above, the Compania Argentina de
Pesca, \vas granted a lease of joo acres of land at an annual rent
of £250 for 21 years from January 1, 1906, and obtained an addi-
tional lease of land in 1909.Seven other companies, four Norwegian
and three British, were granted whaling leases betareen 1908 and
1911 on terms similar to those given to the Argentine company.
Applications for further leases in South Georgia were refused in
order to conserve whale stocks. The whaling companies concerned,
in addition to their leases, were required to take out whaling licences
for South Georgia which were renewable annually. In 1910 the
Argentine Company took out, in addition, a sealing licence, and
after that year South Georgia was divided into four areas for sealing
purposes, three being let out on licence each year and the fourth
being left vacant as a seal reserve. An additional place was made
into a seal reserve in 1918.
(2)111the caseof the South Sheflaqtdsartd Graha,n Land, a licence
to take whales in their temtorial waters \\.as granted to a Chilean
company in 1907, and a similar licence >vasgranted in 1908 to a
Newfoiindland company. By the season of 1912-13, there were
12 factory ships and 32 catchers of various companies working in
the South Shetlands arca, al1 holding'licences from the Falkland
Islands Govemment. In 1912 a Nonvegian company, the Hektor
Whaling Company, was granted a 21 years' lease of a site on
Deception Island for a whaling station but, in the absence of other
suitable sites, the remaining companies operated with factory ships
moored at Deception Island or, occasionally, at King George Island.
From that date, whaling companies operated in the temtorial
waters of the South Shetlands and Graham Land nnder licence REQUÊTE INTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE (V 55)
17
le nombre des licences accordées,le nombre de captures permises à
chaque titulaire de licence, en interdisant la capture des baleineaux,
etc. Des lois analogues, bien que moins détaillées,furent introduites
en 1909pour réglementerla chasse au phoque dans les Dépendances.
Ces lois déclaraient illégale la prisede phoques sans licence dans les
Dépendances, accordaient le pouvoir d'octroyer des licences et
prévoyaient une saison fermé6ainsi que la constitution de réserves
de phoques.
19. Les lois précitéessur la pêche à la baleine et au phoque
reçurent une application active et étendue dans les Dépendances.
En ce qui concerne les licencesde pêche à la baleine, ainsi que
le montre le résumé deslois figurant sous le no5 de l'annexe I,les
Dépendances étaient diviséesen quatre districts - In Georgie du
Sud, les Shetland du Sud et la Terre de Graham, les Orcades du
Sud, les Sandwich du Sud.
I) Dans le cas de la Georgiedz*Sud, la Compania Argentina de
Pesca, société deBuenos-Aires dont il a étéquestion au paragraphe
15, avait obtenu une concession de 500 acres de terre au loyer
annuel de £ 250 pour une durée de 21 ans à courir du Ierjanvier
1906 et, en 1909. elle obtint la concession de nouvelles étendues
de terre. Entre 1908 et 1911, sept autres sociétés,dont quatre
norvégiennes et trois britanniques, obtinrent des concessions de
pêche à la baleine à des conditions analogues à celles accordées
à la sociétéargentine. D'autres demandes de licence pour la Georgie
du Sud furent rejetéesdans le but de préserver les réservesde ba-
leines. Les sociétéde pêche à la baleine dont il vient d'êtrequestion
furent requises de se procurer, outre leurs conccssions polir la pèche
à la baleine en Georgie du Sud, des licences renouvelables tous les
ans. En 1910, la sociétéargentine y ajouta une licence pour la
pkhe au phoque et après cette année,la Georgie du Sud fut divisée
en quatre zones de p&che au phoque, dont trois étaient cédées
sous licence chaque année, tandis que la quatrième était constituée
en réservede phoques. Une nouvelle réservede phoques fut encore
crééeen 1918.
2) Dam le cas des SItetlaptddu Sud et de la Terre de Graham,
une licence pour la capture des baleines dans leurs eaux territoriales
fut octroyéeen 1907 à une société chilienneet en 1908 une licence
similaire fut accordéeà une sociétéde Terre-Xeuve. .4ii cours de
la saison de 1912.13, 12 navires-usines et 32 bàtiments de pêche,
appartenant à diverses sociétés,opéraient dans la zone des Shet-
land du Sud sous licence du Gouvernement des iles Falkland. En
1912, un emplacement situé dans l'île de la Déception fut cédé
à bail, pour une duréede 21 ans, à la sociéténorvégienne Hektor
Whaling Company, qui y érigea une station baleinière. Mais à
défaut d'autres emplacements propices, les autres sociétés pourvues
de navires-usines amarraient à l'îlede la Déceptionou, à l'occasion,
à l'île du Roi George. A partir de cette date, les sociétés baleinières18 APPLIC.\TION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (Vjj)
from the Falkland Islands Government every year without inter-
ruption, even during the first world war, until 1930, when develop-
ments in pelagic whaling led them to co~iduct thcir operations on
the high seas. Activity in these two territories has been practically
confined to whaling, although one sealirig licence was issued in 1913
with respect to Graham Land.
(3) In the case of the South Orkneys, the first whaling licence was
granted in 1908 to the Newfoundland Steam Whaling Company.
Other companies applied for licences, and in the 1914-rj season
four Norwegian companies were granted licences. Whaling ceased
during the remainder of the first norld war, but in 1920 a Nonvegian ,
company, the AIS Tonsberg Hvalfangeri, was granted a lease of
500 acres on Signy Island for a shore whaling station. A further
whaling lease for the South Orkneys was granted in 1925 but by
1930 pelagic whaling had made it ulinecessary for whalers to
a ions
conduct their operations in territorial waters, and applic t'
for licences ceased. One sealing licence was also issucd for the South
Orkneys in 1913.
(4)Itz the case oi the Soz~thSandwich Islands, where access to
the land is extremely difficult, whaling activity has been less
frequent. In 1912, six Norwegian companies took out licences
from the Falkland Islands Governmeiit, and in 1927 the Tonsberg
Company applied for and obtained a licence. In addition, a sealing
licence was granted in 1910 for the South Sandwich Islands to
the Argentine company, the Compania Argentina de Pesca.
zo. British sovereignty has also been displayed and exercised
in the Dependencies through magistrates commissioned by the
Falkland Islands Government.
(i) As early as 1909, a resident magistrate was sent to South
Georgia,and there has been a British administration in that group
coiiti~iuously since that date. Customs and police officers were
added to the magistrate's staff, and in 1912 a post office was
established at Grytviken. By 1925, the Government buildings
included offices, a wireless station and a marine laboratory in
addition to dwelling houses.
(ii) The South Shetlalzds and Grahanz Lad, as mentioned in
paragraph 18 above, have been treated as a single unit for the
purpose of the mhale fishery, a single licence being granted to
corer both these territories. The whaling compaiiies normally
made their base first at Deception Island in the South Shetlands.
If the season was favourable, thcy moved southwards through REQUETE INTRODUCTIVE D'ISSTASCE (vjj) 18
opérèrent chaque année dans les eaux territoriales des Shetland
du Sud rt de la Terre de Graham sous licence du Gouvernement
des îles Falkland et cela, sans interruption- mêmepas pendant
la première guerre mondiale - jnsqu'en 1930, où, en raison du
développement de la méthode pélagique de pêche à la baleine,
elles furent amenées à transporter leurs activités cn haute mer.
Ces territoires étaient pratiquement réservés la pêcheà la baleine,
bien qu'en 1913 une licence de pêcheau phoque eùt étéaccordée
pour la Terre de Graham.
3) Dans le cas des Orcades du Sud, la première licence de
pêcheà la baleine fut octroyée en 1908 à la Xewfouudland Steam
Whaling Company. D'autres sociétésdemandèrent des licences qui,
au cours de la saison 1914-15. furent accordées à quatre sociétés
norvégiennes. La pêche à la baleine fut interrompue pendant le
restant de la première guerre mondiale, mais en 1920 une société
norvégienne, la AIS Tonsberg Hvalfangeri, obtint à bail jûo acres
de terrain sur l'île Signy, pour y établir une station baleinibre. Une
autre concession de pêche à la baleine dans les Orcades du Sud
fut encore accordéeen 1925, mais dès 1930. en raison des conditions
de la pêche à la baleine dans les zones pélagiques, il n'était plus
nécessaire pour les baleiniers d'opérer dans les eaux territoriales
et il n'y eut plus de demandes de licence. Une licence de pêcheau
phoque dans les Orcades du Sud fut également octroyée en 1913.
4) Dans le casdesSandwich du Szld, dont l'accèsest extrêmement
difficile, la pêcàela baleine est restée réduite.En 1912, six sociétés
norvégiennes obtinrent licence du Gouvernement des îles Falkland
ainsi que la Tonsberg Company, en 1927. D'autre part, une licence
de pêcheau phoque dans les Sandwich du Sud fut accordéeen 1910
à la Compania Argentina de Pesca.
zo. La souveraineté britannique s'est également manifestée et
exercée dans les Dépendances par l'intermédiaire de magistrats
nommés par le Gouvernemerit des îles Falkland.
i) En 1909 déjà, un magistrat résidant était envoyé en Georgie
du Sud et depuis cette date il existe dans ce groupe d'îles une
administration britannique permanente. Des fonctionnaires des
douanes et de la police furent adjoints au personnel du magistrat
et, en 1912, un bureau de poste était créé à Grytviken. Dès 1925
les bâtiments gouvernementaux coinportaient, outre les habita-
tions, des bureaux, une station deT. S. F. et un laboratoire marin.
ii) Les Shetland du Sud et la Terre de Graham, mentionnées
au paragraphe 18, ont étéconsidéréescomme un ensemble unique
en ce qui concerne la pêche à la baleine, et une même licence
était valable pour ces deux territoires. Normalement; les com-
pagnies baleinières prenaient tout d'abord comme base l'île de
la Déception dans les Shetland du Sud. Lorsque la saison était19 .4PPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (V 55)
the Bransfield Strait and established a forward base in the Palmer
Archipelago either in the Melchior Islands or at Port Lockroy.
But Port Foster at Deception Island is the most convenient
starting point for operations in the Bransfield Strait and off
Grahani Land, and it was accordingly made by law a "port of
entry" for shipping visiting the area. A resident British magistrate
was sent to Port Foster every summer season from 1910 to 1930.
and this official exercised jurisdiction over al1 whaling vessels
operating in the waters either of the South Shetlands or of Graham
Land and its coastal islands. From 1g12 to 1930 a post office was
maintained by the magistrate at Port Foster.
(iii)4t the South Orkneys ysvhalingactivity waç someivhat less
frequent than at South Georgia and the South Shetlands, with
the res~iltthat the visits of British magistrates were correspondingly
less regular. But in 1913 a Customs Officer spent two months in
the islands supervising the observance of the whaling laws, while
a special M'haling Officer spent ahout three months there hoth
in 1914 and 191j. Xext, the South Georgia magistrate went to
Signy Island in 1921 to inspect the site which the Tonsberg
Hvalfangeri Company proposed to lease, and in the following
year a \ilhaling Officer speiit three months at Signy to eiisure
that the terms of the lease and the whaling laws were carried
out by the Company. In the three seasons 1925-26, 192627
and 1927-28, a Whaling Officer again spent three months in
the South Orkneys. In 1928 the Govemor of the Falkland Islands
himself visited Signy Island to inspect the area leased to the
Tonsberg Hvalfangeri Company.
(iv) The comparatively slight whaling activity at the almost
inaccessible Solith Sarzdwich Islands has called for very little
exercise of administrative authonty at the islands themselves 6.
21. The cessation of certain facilities and activities after 1930
came about as follows. The introduction between 1925 and 1930
of pelagic whaling witli large whale factory ships, enabled the
\vhaling compaiiies to conduct their operations on the high seas
without the use of bases ashore or in coastal waters. The result
was that after 1930 the companies, in order to avoid payment
of the licence fees imposed by the Falkland Islands Govemment,
ceased to take out licences for operating from bases in the various
Dependencies-(licences continued to be taken out by the com-
panies with permanent bases in South Georgia). But, although
Coats Land(reeparagraphs14 and 15 above) is anotdiçcussed here in any
furthcr detail only veryrecent Argentine ahaving brought this terriinto
questio(seeparagraph4 above). REQUÊTE INTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE (V55) I9
favorable, ils pénétraient plus profondément vers le sud par le
détroit de Bransfield et établissaient une base 'avancée dans
l'archipel Palmer, soit aux îles Melchior, soit à Port Lockroy.
Mais Port Foster, dans l'île de la Déception, est le point de départ
le plus propice aux opérations dans le détroit de Bransfield et
au large de la Terre de Graham. Et en conséquence une loi le
décréta sport d'entrée Bpour les navires circulant dans les parages.
De 1910 à 1930, un magistrat britannique résidant fut envoyé
chaque été à Port Foster ; sa juridiction s'étendait à tous les
navires baleiniers opérant dans les eaux soit des Shetland du
Sud, soit de la Terre de Graham et de ses îles côtières. De 1912
à 1930, ce magistrat maintint en exercice un bureau de poste
à Port Foster.
iii) Dans les Orcades du Sud, la pêche à la baleine était moins
fréquente qu'en Georgie du Sud et dans les Shetland du Sud et, en
conséquence,les séjours desmagistrats britanniques étaient moins
réguliers.Cependant, en 1913, un fonctionnaire de la douane passa
deux mois dans les îles pour veiller à l'application des lois sur la
pêcheà la baleine et un fonctionnaire spécialement chargé desques-
tions relatives à la pêcheà la baleine y passa trois mois en 1914et
en 1915. Ensuite, le magistrat de la Georgiedu Sud se rendit à l'île
Signy en 1921 afin d'examiner l'emplacemeiit que la Tonsberg
Hvalfangeri Compagnie se proposait de prendre à bail, et l'année
suivante un fonctionnaire spécialement délégué pour les questions
baleinièrespassa trois mois à Signy afin de veiller à ce que les condi-
tions du bail et les lois sur la pêche la baleine soient respectéespar
la société.Au cours des trois saisons 1925-26,1926-27et 1927-28,un
fonctionnaire spécialement chargé des questions de la pêcheà la
baleine passa encore trois mois dans les Orcades du Sud. En 1928.le
gouverneur des îles Falkland lui-mêmevisita l'île Signy afind'exa-
miner l'emplacement concédé à la Tonsberg Hvalfangeri Compagnie.
iv) Du fait que la pêche à la baleine était relativement minime
dans les îles presque inaccessibles des Sa>zdwichdu Sud, l'autorité
admiiiistrative a eu peu d'occasions de s'exercer sitr ces territoires
21. La suspension de certaines facilités et activités après 1930
est due aux faits suivants. L'introduction entre 1925 et 1930 de la
pêchepélagique au moyen de vastes navires-usines pour le traite-
ment des baleines permettait aux compagnies baleinières d'opérer
en haute mer sans devoir utiliser de bases terrestres ou dans les
eaux côtières. 11en résulta qu'après 1930 les compagnies ne prirent
plus de licence pour opérer à partir de bases dails les diverses Dépen-
dances afin d'éviter le paiement des redeva~ices imposéespar le
Gouvernement des îles Falkland - (seulesles compagnies possédant
des bases fixes en Georgie du Sud continuèrent à se procurer des
La Terre deCoats (voir paragraphes14 et 15) ne fait pas ici I'od'un
examen détailléétantdonne que ce territoirn'a et6 mis encause que tout
recemrnent par suitde l'initiatidel'Argentine (voir paragrap4eci-dessus).20 APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (v 5j)
in consequence there was some diminution in the administrative
activity of the Falkland Islands Government with regard to the
\vhaiing vessels themselves, British State activity iii the Depend-
encies continued in full force and without interruption in the
period between 1930 and the outbreak of the second world war.
During this period, the Dependencies were exteiisively visited
and surveyed by the vessels of the Discovery Cornmiltee, an official
body responsiblc to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. As
early as 1917,proposals had bern made for a thorough iiivestigation
into the economic rcsources of the Dependencies, and a Committee
had been set up to report on the preservation of the whaling
industry, the possibilitics of developing other industries, and the
needs of scicntific research. Following the presentation of this
Committee's report to the Uiiited Kingdom Parliaiiieiit in 1920,
a permanent Committee known as the Discouery Cornmiltee \vas
established in 1923 under the direction of the Secretary of State
for the Colonies. The principal fuiiction of this Committee, under
its terms of refercnce, was to conduct research into the economic
resources of the Antarctic aiid sub-Antarctic regions, with special
reference to the Falkland Islands Dependencies. But its functions
also included coastal surveys and general scientific research into
the oceanography, weather and ice conditions and flora and fauna
of the Antarctic and siib-Antarctic regions. Between 1925 and
1939 the Committee's research ships, Discovery I (one commission),
Discouery II (five commissions) and WilliamScoresby (seven
commissions) made very extensive investigations of the Depend-
encies. Numerous voyages among the principal territories of the
Dependencies were made by these ships on each coinmission, and
detailed surveys were made of their coasts and coastal waters.
As a result, the Dependencies during this period were covered
literally hy a network of patrols undertaken by the Discovery
Committee. The main focus of the Committee's research was on
the natural history of whales, the most important economic
resource of the Ilependencies. and especially intensive obser-
vations were niade on the mhaling grounds of South Georgia,
the South Shetlands and Graham Land. But the Committee also
collected very exteiisive information on the hydrography and
biology of the Dcpendencies, on the navigation and charting of
their waters, and on Antarctic ice and ice-navigation. A large
and important body of scientific material has been published by
the Comrnittee in the 27 volumes of "Discovery Re;ports", and its
research on the iiatural Iiistory of whales is admitted by expert
opinion to have made a vital contribution towards the effective
solviiig of the international problem of the conservation of whale
fisheries. REQUÊTE INTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE (V 55) 20
licences). Bien qu'il en soit résultéun certain ralentissement de
l'activité administrative déployéepar le Gouvernement des îles
Falkland à i'égard des navires baleiniers, l'activité de l'État
britannique dans les 1)épendancesse maintint pleinement et sans
interruption entre 1930 et le début de la deuxième guerre mon-
diale. Au cours de cette période,les Dépendancesfurent fréquem-
ment visitées et exploréespar les vaisseaux du DiscoueryCommit-
tee, organisme officiel responsable devant le secrétaire d'État aux
Colonies.En 1917déjà,despropositions avaient été faites envued'un
examen approfondi des ressources économiquesdes Dépendances
et une commission avait été crééepour faire rapport sur la pro-
tection del'industrie baleiiiière,lespossibilitésdedévelopperd'autres
industries et la nécessitéd'entreprendre des recherches scientifiques.
Cette commission fit rapport au Parlement du Royaume-Uni en
19~0,et <%I1923on nomniciune coriiinissioripcrninnenic coiiiiiicsous
-. - - ~ ~1)tscouervConr?nit/ee et nlacéesons la direction dii scçrk-
taire d'État aux ~chonies. Aux teimes de son mandat, cette com-
mission avait pour tâche principale d'entreprendre l'examen des res-
sources économiquesdes régionsantarctiques et sub-antarctiques et
plus particulièrement dans les Dépendances desîles Falkland. Mais
ses fonctions comportaient également L'étudedes côtes ainsi que des
travaux de recherches scientifiques généralesconcernant l'océano-
graphie, les conditions climatiques, la nature des glaces, la flore et
la faune des régionsantarctiques et sub-antarctiques. Entre 1925et
1939, les navires de recherche de la Commission Discouery I (une
mission), Discovery II (cinq missions) et William Scoresby(sept mis-
sions) se livrèrent à des explorations très étendues dans les Dépen-
dances. Au cours de chacune de leurs missions ces navires effec-
tuèrent de nombreux voyages parmi les temtoires principaux des
Dépendanceset ils procédèrentài'étude détailléede leurs côtes etde
leurs eaux côtières. Ainsi donc,au cours de cette période; lesDépen-
dances étaient littéralement recouvertes d'un réseaude patrouilles
entreprises par le Discovery Committee. L'objet principal des tra-
vaux de recherche de la commission portait sur l'histoire naturelle
des baleines, ressource économiquela plus importante des Dépen-
dances, et il fut procédéàdes étudestrèsapprofondies dans les zones
de pêcheà la baleine de la Georgie du Sud, des Shetland du Sud et
de la Terre de Graham. En outre, la commission rassembla d'abord
des renseignements sur les conditions hydrographiques biologiques
des Dépendances,sur la navigabilité et l'aspect hydrographique de
leurs eaux, ainsi que sur la nature des glaces de i'Antarctique et sur
la navigation à travers les champs de glace. La commission publia
un ouvrage volumineux et important de donnéesscientifiques com-
portant 27 volumes sous le titre de «Discovery Reeorts ri,et de l'avis
des experts ces recherches sur l'histoire naturelle des baleines ont
apporté une'contribution d'importance primordiale à la solution
effective du problèmeinternational posépar la protection des p&che-
ries de baleines.
321 APPLICATION INSTITUTISG PROCEEDlNGS (V 55)
22. In addition, a large-scale expedition, the British Graham
Land Ezpedition, visited the southern parts of the Falkland
Islands Dependencies in 1934-37 to make land investigations.
Reaching Deception Island late in 1934, the expedition proceeded
to Port Lockroy in the Palmer Archipelago in January 1935.
Shortly afterwards, a base was established and occupied further
south, and from there various sledge aiid planc journeys were
made which threw much fresh light on the gcography of the area.
In February, 1936, the expedition moved still further to the
south to Marguerite Bay and established a base on the Debenham
Islands. From there, important sledge journeys were made across
Graham Land to the east coast and far southwards into King
George VI Sound. Numerous reconnaissance Aights were carried
ont, and the expedition ascertained conclusively for the first
time that Graham Land is attached to the Antarctic mainland.
23. Other examples of the display of British sovereignty in
or in regard to the Dependencies during the period July 21, 1908-
September 22, 1938, are mentioned in the three next succeeding
paragraphs of this Application dealing with the recognition of
the British claims hy Norway, Argentina and Chile. Still further
examples could be citcd. The facts given in paragraphs 16-22
above and in paragraph 24 below, however, are by themselves
sufficient to establish conclusively a continuous and peaceful.
display of British sovereignty in and in regard to the temtones
of the Dependencies during the period July zr,rgoS-September 22,
1938, ~vhichis that reviewed in the present section.
Recognition of the British Claimsby Norway,Argentina and Chile
after the Issue of the Letters Patent of July 21, 1908
24.-(1) The existence of British claiins, not only ta South
Georgia but to other territories in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic
regions was known in Norway before the formal constitution of the
five principal temtories as Dependencies of the Falkland Islands by.
the Letters Patent of 1908. The Nonvegian Government, as stated
in paragraph 15 ahove, addressed an enqniry to Great Bntain in
1905 concerning the sovereignty of the temtories situated betmeen
35Oand 80" West, and was informed in reply that South Georgia,
the South Orkneys, the South Shetlands and Graham Land were
British possessions. When Nonvay made a further enquiry in 1907,
Great Britain reasserted her claim. Norway, neither then nor after
the issue of the Letters Patent of 1908,made any protest or reserva-
tion against the assertion and exercise of British sovereignty over REQUÊTE INTRODUCTI\'E D'INSTANCE (V55) 21
22. D'autre part, de 1934 à 1937,une expédition importante, la
Briti shraham Land Expedition, visita les parties australes des
Dépendances des îles Falkland pour y faire procéder à des inves-
tigations géodésiques.L'expédition aborda à l'île de la Déception
vers la fin de 1934,et en janvier 1935 elle partit pour Port Lockroy
dans l'archipel Palmer. Peu de temps après, une hase fut établieet
occupéeplus profondément vers le sud. Cette base servait de point
de départ à des voyages en traîneau ou par avion grâce auxquels
la géographie de la région fut éclairéed'une lumière nouvelle.
En février 1936, continuant en direction du sud, l'expédition se
rendit à Marguerite Bay et établit, dans les îles Debenham, une
base d'où furent entrepris de longs voyages en traîneau à travers
la Terre de Graham jusqii'à la côte orientale et vers le sud très
profondément dans le détroit du Roi George VI. Il fut procédé à
de nombreiix vols de reconnaissance et l'expéditionfut la première
à constater d'une manière certaine que la Terre de Graham fait
partie dri continent antarctique.
23. D'antres exemples de manifestations de la souvcraiiieté
britannique dans ou à l'égard des Dépendancesdans la périodedu
21 juillet 1908 au22 septembre 1938 sont mentionnésdans les trois
paragraphes suivants de notre présente requête concernant la
reconnaissance des prétentions britanniques par la Norvège,
l'Argentine et le Chili. D'autres exemples encore pourraient être
cités. Toutefois,les faits, exposésaux paragraphes 16 à22 ci-dessus,
et aux paragraphe 24 ci-desssous,suffisent à prouver avec certitude
I'existence ininterronipue des manifestations pacifiques de la,
souveraineté britannique dans ou à l'égard des territoires des,
Dépendances au cours de la période du 21 juillet 1908 au 22 sep-
tembre 1938 dont il a étéquestion dans ce chapitre.
Reconnaissance des prktentions britanniques par la Norvège,
.
l'Argentine et le Chili après l'émissiondes lettres patentes du
21 juillet 1908
24. - 1) La Norvège connaissait I'existence des prétentioiis
britaiiniqrics non seulement sur la Georgie di1Sud mais sur d'autres
temtoires antarctiques et sub-antarctiques bien avant la consti-.
tution officielledes cinq territoires principaux.en Dépendancesdes
îles- Falkland, par les lettres patentes de 1908. Ainsi qu'il a été,
dit au paragraphe 15, le Gouvernement norvégienadressa en 1905:
à la Grande-Bretagne une demande d'information relative à la
souveraineté des territoires compris entre le 35rnaet 80medegrés
de longitude ouest, et il lui fut réponduque la Georgie du Sud, les
Orcades du Sud, les Shetland du Sud et la Terre de Graham étaient
des possessions britanniques. A l'occasion d'une nouvelle demande
faite par la Norvège en 1907. la Grande-Bretagne réaffirma ses
prétentions. A ce moment, pas plus qu'après i'émissiondes lettres22 APPLICATION INSTITUTIKG PROCEEDIKGS (V 5j)
the Dependencies. At the same time numerous h'onvegian whaliiig
companies took out Bntish licences and othenvise complied with
the laws of the Falkland Islands Government. These facts establisli
by implication Norway's recognition of British sovereignty over the
Dependencies in or about 1908. This implicatioii is completely coii-
firmed by the Nonvegian Proclamation of January 14,1939, in which
the western boundary of Nonvay's omn Antarctic claiin was defined
by a line coinciding with the eastern boundary of the Falkland
Islands Dependencies. It was further expressly stated in the Procla-
mation that the area named the Falkland Islands Dependencies had
been brought under Great Britain's dominion in 1908.
(2) The existence of British claims to at least some of the Depend-
encies was also weU known in Argeizti~tabefore the issue of the
Letters Patent of 1908.It has been mentioned above baragraph 15)
that as early as 1906 an Argentine company, the Compania Argen-
tins de Pesca, took out a Bntish lease of land in South Georgia for
21 years. Indeed, il mas thetheizDirecforof.4rnzaments of theArgen-
tine Ministry of Marine wlzo,in kis capacity as technicaladviserto the
company, visited the British Legation in Buenos ilires to apply for
the lease. In the same year Great Britain, in order to remove any
possible misconception as to the legal basis on which operation of
the meteorological station on Laune Island in the South Orkneys
had been transferred to the Argentine Meteorological Office (see
paragraph 14 above), addressed a note to the Argentine Govern-
ment emphasising that the islands were a British possession. This
reservation of the British sovereignty over the South Orkneys was
repeated to Argentina in January 1907. Shortly aftenvards, when
Chie proposed to Argentina the negotiation of a treaty dividing
between the two countries "the islands and the American Antarctic
continents", the Argentine Foreign Minister, inrejecting the proposal,
said expressly that "Chile ought to know that England claimed
al1theselands". In 1908,after the issue of the Letters Patent formally
constituting the Falkland Islands Dependencies, the Argentine
Foreign Minister asked to be informed of the terms of the British
"declaration". Accordingly, the British Miiiister in Buenos Aires
in a note of Febmary 20,1909,transmitted tothe Argentine Foreign
Minister a copy of the Falkland Islands Gazettecontaining the text
of the Letters Patent. The Argentine Foreign Minister replied in a
note of March 18, 1909 :- REQUÊTE ISTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE (V 55) 22
patentes de 1908, la Norvège ne protesta ni n'émit de réserves
à l'égardde i'affirmation et de l'exercice de la souveraineté britan-
nique dans les Dépendances. A l'époque,de nombreuses compagnies
baleinières norvégiennes seprocurèrent des licences britanniques,
se conformant de manière généraleaux lois émanant du Gouver-
nement des iles Falkland. Ces faits démontrent qu'aux environs de
1908 la Norvège avait implicitement reconnu la souveraineté
britannique sur les Dépendances. Cela est pleinement confirmé
par la proclamation norvégienne du 14 janvier 1939 dans laquelle
la frontière occidentale des prétentions antarctiques de la Norvège
est définiepar une ligne coïncidant avec la frontière orientale des
Dépendances des îles Falkland. En outre, il était dit expressément
dans la proclamation que la zone dénommée Dépendancesdes
îles Falkland avait étéplacéesous l'autorité de la Grande-Bretagne
en 1908.
2) De mêmel'Argentineconnaissait parfaitement l'existence des
prétentions britanniques sur une partie tout ou moins des Dépen-
dances, avant l'émissiondes lettres patentes de 1908. 11a été dit
précédemment(paragraphe Ij) qu'en 1906déjà,unesociétéargentine,
la Compania Argentina de Pesca. avait obtenu une concession
britannique en GeQrgiedu Sud pour une durée de zr ans. En fait,
c'est le directeur anx arn~emeridu ministère argentinde la Marine
qni, en sa qualitéde conseillerlechniqnede la compagnie, se rendit
lzri-même à la légation britanniquede Bnenos-Aires ponr demander
la concession. La mêmeannée, afin d'éviter toute possibilité de
malentendu quant aux conditions juridiques sous lesquelles l'exploi-
tationde la station météorologiquedcLaurie Island dans lesOrcades
du Sud avait étéconfiéeau service météorologiqueargentin (voir
paragraphe 14), la Grande-Bretagne adressa au Goiivernement
argentin une note spécifiant que les îles étaient une possession
britannique. Cette réservation de la souveraineté britannique à
l'égarddes Orcades du Sud fit l'objet d'une nouvelle confirmation
à l'adresse de l'Argentine en janvier 1907. Peu de temps après.
lorsque le Chili proposa de négocieravec l'Argentine un traité à
l'effet de partager entre ces deux pays ales îles et continents de
l'Antarctique américain »le ministre des Affairesbtrangèresd'Argen-
tine rejeta la proposition en disant que «le Chili devrait savoir
que l'Angleterre revendiquait toutes ces terres ». En 1908, après
I'éniissiondes lettres patentes portant officiellement constitution
des Dépendances des îles Falkland, le ministre des Affaires étran-
gèresd'Argentine demanda communication du texte de la Idéclara-
tion »britannique. En conséquence,par une note du zo févrierrgog;
le ministre de Grande-Bretagne à Buenos-Aires transmit au ministre
des Affaires étrangèresd'Argentine un exemplaire de la Falkland
Islands Gazette contenant le texte des lettres patentes. Le minis-
tre des Affair estrangères d'Argentine répondit par une note du
18 mars 1909 :23 APPLICATION INSTITUTISG I'ROCEEDINGS (V 55)
"1 have the pleasure of acknowledgingthe receipt of your Note
dated the 20th of February last with which you weregood enough
to fonvard a publication called Falkland Islands Gazettecontaining
a Decree bv whicli the 'South Orknevs'are cleclareda de~endencv
of the '~aikland Islands'.
While thanking you for this attention, 1 am happy to renew to
you the assurances of niy high consideration."
The British Minister, in communicating this reply to the British
Foreign Office, commented that he concluded from its terms that
"Argentine Government do not dispute the rights of Great Britain
over the South Orkneys". A fortiori it is to be concluded from the
terms of ber reply that in 1909Argentina did not dispute the British
title to South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands, the South Shet-
lands and Graham Land, which territories wcrc also covered by the
communication sent to the Argentine Government, but were not
mentioned in the Argentine reply '. Three years later, negotiations
were begun for the cession by Great Britain to Argentina, of the
South Orkneys in return Fr a Legation site in Buenos Aires and on
conàition of respecting any cxisting British whaling rights. By 1914,
the final text of a treaty of cession had been agreed betureen the two
countries but, on a change of Government in Argentina, the new
Government declined on financial grounds to complete the trans-
action. The terms of this draft treatv ~rovide further evidence of
r\rgvntin;~'srecognition of ttic~ritish'ti'tl~ of thc South Urkneyî :tt
tliis tiiii~..~rolwrIh.slaOrdi~t1reFi1li.e(111/1rlrOznli~ie i~ieldt~v"li.~'i~d
station on Laurie Island. Again, Argentina made no protests or
reservations against the issue of the British Letters Patent of 1917.
Nor did she make any protests or reservations against the promul-
gation of British Law for the Dependencies, nor against the appli-
cation of those laws to the Argentinecompany, thecompania Argeii-
tina de Pesca, and to other foreign companies. Nor did she make any
protests or reservations against the exercise of authority by British
magistrates in the severai territories ofthe Falkland Islands Depend-
encies and, in particular, in the South Orkneys, South Shetlands
and Graham Land. These facts establish beyond question that
at this period Argentina recognised British sovcreignty over the
Dependencies.
(3) The existence of British claims at least to some of the Depend-
encies was equaiiy known in Chile, even beforc the issue of the
Letters Patent of rgo8. Three years earlier, in 1905, a Chilean com-
pany, as stated in paia&aPh 15above, applied for a British lease of
'It seems clear in fact that Argentinintereçtat thatdatc hardly extended
beyond the South Orkneys. whertheArgentine meteorologicastationaassituated. REQUETE INTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE (v 55) 23
u J'ai le plaiiir d'accuser la réceptionde votre note 20 février
à laquelle vous avez eu l'amabilitéde joindre une piiblication du
nom de FalklandIslands Gazettecontenant le texte d'un décreten
vertu duquel les Orcades du Sud sont déclaréesdépendance des
aîles Falkland ».
Je vous remercie de votre attention et suis heureux de pouvoir
vous renouveler les assurances de ma haute considération. n
En transmettant cette réponseau ministkre britannique des Affaircs
étrangères, le ministre britannique signala que d'après les termes de
cette réponseil concluait que «leGouvernement argentin ne conteste
pas les droits de la Grande-Bretagne sur les Orcades du Sud ».
A fortiori, il faut conclure des termes de sa réponse qu'en 1909
l'Argentine nc contestait pas les titres britanniques sur la Georgie du
Sud, lesSandwich du Sud, les Shetland du Sud et la Terre de Graham,
territoires également compris dans la communication envoyée au
Gouvernement argentin, mais auquel ce dernier n'a pas fait appel
danssa réponse '.Trois ans plus tard, desnégociationsfurententamées
qui avaient poiir objet la cession par la Grande-Bretagne à I'Argen-
tine desOrcades du Sud en échanged'un terrain destiné à I'établisse-
ment d'une légation à Buenos-Aires, sous condition de respecter
les droits britanniques existant en ce qui concernait la pêcheà la
baleine. En 1914, les deux pays s'étaient mis d'accord sur le texte
définitif d'un acte de cession, mais à la suite d'un changement de
gouvernement en Argentine, le nouveau Gouvernement, invo-
quant des raisons financières, refusa d'exécuter l'opération. Les
termes de ce projet de traité fournissent une nouvelle preuve de
ce qu'à l'époquel'Argentine reconnaissait le titre britannique sur
les Orcades du Sud. malgréla $résencede ln station n~étéorologiqr6e
argentine dans l'ile Lnurie. De même, lorsde l'émissiondes lettres
patentes britanniques de 1917, l'Argentine nc souleva aucune
protestation et ne fit aucune réserve. Elle ne protesta pas et ne fit
aucune réserve lorsde la promulgation des lois britanniques sur les
Dépendances et de l'application de ces lois àla sociétéargentine, la
Compania Argentina de Pesca, tout comme aux autres sociétés
étrangères. Elle ne protesta pas davantage et ne fit aucune réserve
quant à l'exercice de l'autorité par des magistrats anglais dans les
différents territoires des Dépendances des îles Falkland et plus
particulièrement les Orcades du Sud, les Shetland du Sud et la
Terre de Graham. Ces faits établissent d'une manière indubitable
qu'à cette époque l'Argentine avait reconnu la souveraineté
britanniques sur les Dépendances.
3) Le Chili également connaissait l'existence des prétentions
britanniques. tout au moins sur une partie des Dépendances,
même avant I'émiSsjon.des lettres patentes de 1908. Trois ans
auparavant, en 1905, comme nous l'avons dit au paragraphe 15,
' II semble &identqu'à l'époque I'intédetl'Argentinne s'étendait gubre
au delà des Orcades du Sud dans lesquelles se trouvait la station m4téorologique
argentine.24 APPLICATION INSTITUTISG PROCEEDINGS (V55)
land in South Georgia from the Falkland Islands Government. In
1907, another Chilean company, the Sociedad Ballenera de Rlagal-
lanes of Punta Arenas, took ont a British whaling licence of the
South Shetlands and Graham Land. In the same year, when Chile
invited Argentina ta negotiate a division of "the islands and Ameri-
can Antarctic continents", she was expressly warned by Argentina
that "England claimed aU these lands". Neither theii nor after the
issue of the Letters Patent of 1908 or of 1917 did Chile make any
protest or reservation against the assertion and exercise of British
sovereignty over the Dependencies. She inaintained a Consular
Officer in the Falkland Islands, but at no time did she make any
representations either to the Government of Great Britain or to the
Falkland Islands Government in regard to the Letters Patent, or to
the promulgation of British laws for the Dependencies, or to the
application of those laws to the Chilean company, the Sociedad
Ballenera de Rfagallanes, and ta other foreign companies. Nor did
she make any protests or reservations against the exerciseofauthor-
ity by British magistrates in the several territories of the Falk-
land Islands Dependencies and, in particular, in the South Shet-
lands and Graham Land. Al1these facts establish beyond question
that at this period Chile recognised British sovereignty over the
Dependencies.
25. The facts recited in the three inimediately preceding sub-
paragraphs show conclnsively that, during the years at the begin-
ning of the present century, when Great Britain was confirming and
consolidating her ancient titles to the Dependencies, Norway, the
State principaiiy interested in Antarctic whaling, and Argentine and
Chile, made no reservations in regard to Great Bntain's display and
exercise of State activity in those territories. They further show that
these three States in fact recognised Great Britain's sovereignty over
the Dependencies. Nor did any other State during this period make
any reservations or enter any protests against the British claims.
Origin and Development of Argentina's Pretensions to the Islands
and Lands of the Falkland Islands Dependencies and Attempted
Usurpation of British Sovereignty over these Territories
26. Argentina, as related in paragraph 24 (2)above, was left in
no doubt by Great Britain that the transfert0 the ArgentineMeteor-
ological Office in 1903 of the meteorological station previously
establis-d on Laurie Island in the South Orkneys by a British
expedition did not also involve the transfer ta Argentina of the REQUETE IXTRODUCTIVE D'IXSTANCE (1'j5) 24
une société chiliennes'était adressée au Gouvernement des îles
Falkland pour obtenir une concession de terrain britannique en
Georgie du Sud. En 1907, une autre sociétéchilienne, la Sociedad
Rallenera de hlagallanes de Punta Arenas, se fit délivrer une
licence britannique pour la pêcheà la baleine dans les Shetland
du Sud et la Terre de Graham. La mêmeannée, lorsque le Chili
invita l'Argentine à négocier le partage des îles et continents de
l'Antarctique américain, il fut formellement averti par l'Argentine
que a l'Angleterre revendiquait la totalité de ces terres ,D.A ce
moment, tout comme après l'émission des lettres patentes de
1908 et de 1917, le Chili ne fit aucune protestation ou réserveà
l'égard de la revendication et de l'exercice de la souveraineté
britannique dans les Dépendances. Le Chili avait un agent consu-
laire dans les îles Falkland, mais à aucun moment il n'adressa
de représentations soit au Gouvernement de Grande-Bretagne soit
au Gouvernement des îles Falkland au sujet des lettres patentes,
de la promulgation des lois britanniques concernant les Dépen-
dances ou de l'application de ces lois à la compagnie chilienne,
Sociedad Ballenera de Magallanes, ainsi qu'aux autres compagnies
étrangères. En outre, il ne fit aucune protestation ou réserve au
sujet de l'exercice de l'autorité par des magistrats britanniques
dans les différents territoires des Dépendances des îles Falkland
et plus particulièrement les Shctland du Sud et la Terre de Graham.
Tous ces faits établissent de manière indubitable qu'à cette époque
le Chili admettait la souverainetébritannique dans les Dépendances.
25. Les faits exposés dans les trois paragraphes précédents
établissent avec certitude qu'au début de ce siAcletout au long
des années pendant lesquelles la Grande-Bretagne affirmait et
consolidait ses titres anciens sur les Dépendances, ni la Norvège,
principale intéressée à la pêcheà la baleine dans l'Antarctique,
ni l'Argentine ni le Chili ne firent de réserves au sujet des mani-
festations et de l'exercice par la Grande-Bretagne de l'activité
étatique dans ces territoires. Ils indiquent en outre que ces trois
États reconnaissaient en fait la souverainetéde la Grande-Bretagne
sur les Dépendances. Au cours de cette même période aucun
autre État ne fit de réserveset ne souleva de protestations quant
aux revendications hritaiiniques.
Origines et évolution des prétentions de l'Argentine sur les îles et
terres des Dépendancesdes îles Falkland et tentatives d'usurpation
de la souveraineté britannique sur ces temtoires
26. ,Ainsi que nous l'avons dit au paragraphe 24 (2) ci-dessus,
la Grande-Bretagne a tout fait pour que l'Argentine n'ait aucun
doute que le transfert à l'office météorologiqueargentin en 1903
de la station météorologique,antérieurement établiesur I'ile Laurie
dans les Orcades du Sud par une expéditionbritannique, ne consti-2s APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (V 55)
I
sovereignty either of the South Orkneys group or of Laurie Island
itself. Argentina, as was also related in paragraph 24 (z), was fully
aware in 1908 of the British claims to the several territories of the
Falkland Islands Dependencies, and dunng the first part of the
present century sliowed by her acts that she recognised Great Bri-
tain's sovereignty.
27. Rotwithstandiiig this, the Argentine Governinent in 1925
embarked upon a course of action hy which it has progressively, and
it woiild seem deliberately, sought to encroach upon the Falkland
Islands Dependencies, with a view to ousting the British Croir-n
from its sovereignty, and to replacing it by a pretended Argentine
sovereignty. In that year, on the crection by Argentina of a wirclcss
station at the observatory on Laurie Island, a Note was addressed
to the Argentine Government drawing its attention to the fact that
under the relevant International Telegraph Conventions, the cal1
sign would have to be applied for through the British Government.
The Argentine Govemment replied that, with regard to wireless
stations constructed on Argentine territory, it would act in accord-
ance with the Conventions. In view of the eqnivocal nature of this
reply, a further Note was addressed to the .4rgentine Government
on April 14, 1926, emphasising Great Britain's undoubted rights to
the sovereignty of the islands and pointing out the absence of any
previous notice of claim on the part of Argentina. No answcr was
returned by Argentina and, on the wireless station being put into
operation in 1927without reference to the British Government. the
latter leamed from the International Telegraph Bureau at Berne
that the cal1 signal had heen applied for by Argentina in terms
implying an assumption of Argentine sovereignty over the South
Orkneys. Great Britain having objected to this action in a Note
of September 8, 1927, Argentina replied in a Note of January zo,
1928,that she herself laid claim to the South Orkneys on the ground,
apart from pretended "inatienable rights", of an aiieged first occu-
pation constantly maintained. (This may be contrasted with the
-4rgentine attitude about the South Orkneys in 1909, described in
paragraph 24 (2) above-and as regards the pretended Argentine
"first occupation", see paragraph14 above.) At the saine tirne, how-
ever, the Argentine Government in an accompanying memorandum
showed itself conscious of the weakness of its position by suggesting
the reopening of the negotiations for the exchange of the islands
against the grant of a Legation site in Buenos Aires (see paragraph
24 (2) above). Bleanwhile, the ,Argentine Government in 1927 had
also represented to the International Postal Bureau at Berne that
Argentine territorial jurisdiction extended de jure and de facto over
both the South Orkneys and SozithGeorgia.On this statement being
contested by Great Bntain in an aide-mémoire of December 17.tuait pas en mêmetemps le transfert à l'Argentine de la souve-
raineté soit sur le groupe des Orcades du Sud, soit sur l'île Laurie
elle-même.Ainsi que l'on a également dit au paragraphe 24 (2).
l'Argentine avait parfaitement connaissance en 1908 des récla-
mations de la Grande-Bretagne sur les divers territoires des
Dépendances des îles Falkland et a montré par ses actes dans
la première partie du siècle actuel qu'elle reconnaissait la souve-
raineté britannique.
27. Nonobstant ces faits, le Gouvernement argenti- a entrepris
CI) "25 LillesCried~. l le si ipar lesqiiclleils'cit progr~jsivcmci~t
ct <li.lil)i:rériieiits.cinl>lc-1-il.cfforci.cl'ercr 1t.sl)éi,t.ridniicei
des îles ~alkland dan; le but d'expulse; la Couronne bhtannique
et sa souveraineté et de lui substituer une prétendue.souveraineté
<le l'Argentine. A cette date, lorsque l'Argentine a édifiéune
station de T. S. F. à l'observatoire de l'ile Laurie, une note a
étéadresséeau Gouvernement argentin pour signaler à son attention
le fait qu'en vertu des conventions internationales télégraphiques
applicables, la demande d'indicatifs devrait être présentée par
l'intermédiaire du Gouvernement britannique. Le Gouvernement
de l'Argentine a répondu qu'à l'égard des stations de T. S. F.
édifiées sur territoire argentin, il agirait conformémentaux conven-
tions. En raison du caractère équivoque de cette réponse, une
nouvelle note a étéadresséeau Gouvernement argentin, le 14avril
1926, pour souligner les droits certains de la Grande-Bretagne à
la souveraineté sur les îles et signalait l'absence de tout avis
préalable de réclamation de la part de l'Argentine. Celle-ci ne fit
aucune réponse,et la station ayant étémise en opération en 1927
sans référenceau Gouvernement britannique, ce dernier fut avisé
par le bureau international des Télégraphesà Berne que l'Argentine
avait présentéune demande d'indicatif dont les termes impliquaient
une affirmation de souveraineté argentine sur les Orcades du Sud.
L'Angleterre ayant protesté dans une note du 8 septembre 1927,
l'Argentine répondit par une note du 20 janvier 1928 qu'elle
revendiquait elle-même les Orcades du Sud pour le motif en
dehors de <<prétendus droits inaliénables I>d'une première occu-
pation coiistamment maintenue (on pent opposer cette attitude
à celle adoptée par l'Argentine à propos des Orcades du Sud en
1909 décrite au paragraphe 24 (2) ci-dessus - et pour ce qui
est de la prétendue «première occupation » de l'Argentine, voir
paragraphe 14 ci-dessus). Toutefois, le Gouvernement argentin,
dans uii mémoireannexé, manifestait en mêmetemps qu'il avait
conscience de la faiblesse de sa position en proposant la réouverture
des négociationspour.l.'échangedes îles contre 1'octroi~d'~terrain
de légation à Buenos-Aires (voir paragraphe 24 (2) ci-dessus).
Entre temps, le Gouvernement de l'Argentine, en 1927, avait
également déclaréau Bureau postal international à Berne que la
compétence territoriale de l'Argentine s'étendait de jure et de facto26 APPL.ICATIOS ISSTITUTISG PROCEEDINGS (Vjj)
1927, the .Argentine Governnient replied that, as regards the South
Orkneys, it formaily reaffirmed its previous claim. Accordingly,
Grcat Britain took steps in 1928 to notify the International Postal
Bureau that bath the South Orkneys and South Georgia rvere
included in the Falkland Islands Dependencies and were represented
in Postal Union matters by thc British Postmaster-General.
28. On June r, 1937. the Argentine Ambasador iii London drew
the attention of the Foreign Office to a statement by the British
Minister of Agriculture aiid Fisheries at the inaugural session of the
\Vhaling Conference, to the effect that the Dependencies were
under the jurisdictioii of the Falkland Islands Govcrnnient, and
he reserved the rights claimed by Argcntina over them. The Ambas-
saclor'sdémarchewas the first intimation of an Argentine claim not
mcrely to South Georgia and the South Orkneys but to al1 the
territories oj tlte Falkla>td Islalids Defiei~dencies.The progressive
and deliberate character of the Argentine invasion of British
rights in thus evident. The British Foreign Secretary, while joining
in an agreed statement that tlie character and purpose ofthe Whaling
Coiiference had nothing to do nith questions of jurisdiction, made
an express declaration that the Argentine reservation could not
in any way affect British rights to the Falkland Islaiids Dependeii-
cies. That .4rgentina had now enlarged her pretensioiis to include
al1the Dependencies was, however, confirmed by an express reserva-
tion ta that effect on September 22, 1938, made by the Argentine
I'resident when promulgating Argentina's ratification of the varioiis
postal conventions concluded at Cairo on Rfarch 20, 1934, which
the United Kingdom had signed on behalf of the Falkland Islands
and their Dependencies.
Rejection of the Argentine Pretensions by the United Kingdom and
Continued Display of British Sovereignty up to the Present Time
29. The methods (of which some account has jiist bceii given)
by which Argentina sought between 192j and 1938 to advance
pretensions to the sovereigiity of the Falkland Islands Dependencies
were not those to be expected of a State already having sovereignty,
aiid relying upon prior and well-established legal titles. They were
rather those of a State seeking gradually to manreiivre another
State out of its possession and rights. Instead of actively displaying REQUÊTE INTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE (Y55) 26
à la fois sur les Orcades du Sud et sur la Georgiedtr Sud.Cette
déclaration ayant étécontestée par la Grande-Bretagne dans un
aide-mémoire du IO septembre 1927, le Gouvernement de l'Ar-
gentine répondit qu'en ce qui concerne les Orcades du Sud, elle
réaffirmaitformellement sa réclamationantérieure. En conséquence,
la Grande-Bretagne prit en 1928 des mesures pour notifier au
Bureau postal international que les Orcades duSud et la Georgie
du Sud étaient les unes et les autres comprises dans les Dépen-
dances des îles Falkland et représentées dans les questions de
l'Union postale par le directeur des Postes britannique.
juin 1937, l'ambassadeur d'Argentine à Londres
28. Le
attira l'attention du ministère des Affaires étrangèresbritannique
sur une déclaration du ministre britannique de l'..\griculture et
des Pbcheries à la session inaugurale de la conférence baleinière,
d'après laquelle les Dépendances relevaient de la compétence du
Gouvernement des îles Falkland et réserva les droits revendiqués
par l'Argentine sur ces iles. La démarche de l'ambassadeur fut
la première indication d'une revendication de l'Argentine non
seulement sur les Orcades et la Georgie du Siid,mais encoresur
tous les territoiresdes Défiendancdes iles FalklandLe caractère
progressif et délibéréde l'invasion des droits britaiiniques par
l'Argentine est ainsi mis en évidence. Le secrétaire des Affaires
étrangères britannique, tout en adhérant à une déclaration d'accord
d'après laquelle le caractère et le but de la conférencebaleinière
étaient sans rapport avec les questions de juridiction, fit une
déclaration expresse aux termes de laquelle la réserve formulée
par l'Argentine ne pouvait en aucune façon affectcr les droits
britanniques sur les Dépendances des iles Falkland. Toiitefois,
une réserve expresse du zz septembre 1938 faite par le président
de la République Argentine en promulguant la ratification par
l'Argentine des diverses conventions postales conclues au Caire.
le zo mars 1934, et que le Royaume-Uni avait signée pour le
compte des îles Falkland et leurs Dépendances, confirme que
l'Argentine avait maintenant étendu ses prétentions à toutes les
Dépendances.
Rejet des prétentions de l'Argentine par le Royaume-Uni et
persistance des manifestations de souverainet6 britannique jusqu'a
I'heure actuelle
zg. Les méthodes (dont il vient d'êtrerendu compte dans une
certaine mesure) par lesquelles, en1925 et 1938 ,'Argentine s'est
efforcke de mettre en avant des prétentions à la souveraineté des
Dépendances des îles Falkland, n'étaient pas celles qu'on pourrait
attendre d'un État ayant déjà lasouverainetéet se fiant à des titres
juridiques antérieurs et bien établis.Elles étaientplutôt le fait dun
État cherchant peu àpeu à manŒuvrer pour expulser un autre Etat27 APPLlCATlOW IXSTlTUTlXG PROCEEDlNGS (Y55)
and exercising its authority in and in regard to the territories of the
Dependencies in accordance with their circumstances, the Argentine
Government merely attempted by diplomatic moves to throw
doubt upon the existing British titles. Thus, in the first quarter
of thc preseiit ceiitury, when the territorial waters of the Depend-
encies were the base of operations of several whaliiig companies
of different iiationalities, Argentina took no measures (as a prudent
sovereigtzwould have done, or sought to do) to regulate these activi-
ties, or to conserve the stocks of the principal economic resource
of the territories concerned. Nor in 1927.although she was a Rlember
of the League of Nations and had recently formulated pretensioiis
to the South Orkneys and South Georgia, did Argentina take any
part in the 14'halingConference convened at Geneva in that year
under the auspices of the League, which, if she had had sovereignty
over these territories, she might be expected to have done. Xor
did she voice any objection to the fact that the United Kingdom
took a leading part in that conference in its capacity as the Stnte
responsible for the regulation of whaling in the Falkland Islands
Dependencies. It was only in 1937 that Argentina first participated
in an international whaling conference and contested the United
Kingdom's right to represent the \vhaling iiiterests of the Depend-
encies. During the whole period up to 1938 Argentine interests
in the Dependencies consisted in actual practice of a meteorological
station in the South Orkneys, taken over (but not on a basis of
sovereignty) by the permission and at thc invitation of the British
Governinent (seeparagraphs 14and 24 (2)above), andan Argentine
whaling Company operating in South Georgia continuously under
leases and licences issued by the British Crown as sovereign of the
Depeiidencies (see paragraphs 15 and 19 (1)above). On the other
hand, Great Britain during this period, as related in paragraphs
13-25above, displayed and exercised lier authority in and in regard
to the Dependencies according to their circumstances. During
al1this period, up to 1938,Great Britain alone undertook the respon-
sibilities of sovereignty and performed the functions of a State in
and in regard to the several territories of the Dependencies. It
is not, therefore, to be wondered at that. as indicated above, the
British Government rejected ail Argentina's pretensions to the
territories of the Dependencies and continued to assert its own
titles to them.
30. After the outbreak of the second world war, in 1939, the
United Kingdom Government was occupied in the North and
South Atlantic in dealing with attacks by Axis naval forces on
Allied and Neiitral sea-borne trade;and in March, 1941. dispatched REQUÊTE INTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE (V55) 27
de ses possessions et de ses droits. Au lieu d'exercer et de manifester
activement son autorité dans les territoires des Dépendances et à
leur égard, conformémeiit à leur situation, le Gouveniement de
l'Argentine a simplemeiit essayédejeter le doutesur lestitresbritan-
niques existants par des manŒuvres diplomatiques. C'est ainsi que
dans le premier quart du siècleactuel, alors que les eaux territoriales
des Dépendances servaient de base aux opérationsde plusieurs com-
pagnies baleinières de nationalités diverses, l'Argentine n'a pris
aucune mesure (comme L'aurait fait ou aurait essayéde le faire un
souuernin prudent) pour réglementer ses activités et préserver le
stock de la principale ressource économiquedesterritoires envisagés.
De même, en 1927, bien qu'elle fût Membre de la Sociétédes
Nations et qu'elle eût récemmentformulédes prétentions aux Orca-
des et à la Georgie du Sud, l'Argentine n'a pris aucune part à la
conférencebaleinière réunieàGenèvecette année-là souslesauspices
de la Sociétédes Nations, ce qu'on aurait pu s'attendre à lui voir
faire si elle avait eula souverainetésur cesterritoires. Elle n'apas non
plus fait d'objections quelconques au fait que le Royaume-Uni ait
pris une part prépondéranteà cette conférence ensa qualité d'État
responsable de la réglementation de la chasse à la baleine dans les
Dépendancesdes îles Falkland. Ce n'est qu'en 1937 que l'Argentine
a participé pour la première fois à une conférencebaleinière inter-
nationale et contesté le droit du Royaume-Uni de représenter les
intérets baleiniers des Dépendances. Pendant toute la périodequi
se termine en 1938, les intérets argentins dans les Dél~endances
consistaient en fait en une station météorologiquesituéeaux Orca-
des du Sud, reprise (mais non sur la base de la souveraineté)avec la
permission et à l'invitation du Gouvernement britannique (voir
paragraphes 14et 24 (2) ci-dessus) et uiie socibaleiniéreargentine
opérant constamment eii Georgie du Sud en vertu de baux et de
licences délivréspar la Couronne britannique en sa qualitéde souve-
rain des Dépendances (voir paragraphes 15 et 19 (1)ci-dessus). En
revanche, pendant toute cette période,ainsi qu'on l'a rappelé aux
paragraphes 13-25 ci-dessus, la Grande-Bretagne a manifesté et
exercé son autorité sur les Dépendances et à leur égardconformé-
ment à leur situation. Pendant toute cette périodeet jusqu'en 1938,
la Grande-Bretagne seule a assumé les responsabilités de la souve-
rainetéet rempli les fonctions étatiquessur les divers territoires des
Dépendanceset à leur égard.Il n'y a donc pas lieu de s'étonnerde
ce que, comme on l'a dit plus haut, le Gouvernement britannique
ait rejeté toutes les prétentions de l'Argentine aux territoires des
Dépendances et continué d'affirmer ses propres titres sur ces terri-
toires.
30. Après l'ouverture des hostilités de la deuxième guerre
mondiale en 1939, le Royaume-Uni était engagédans le Nord et
le Sud de l'Atlantique à riposterà des attaques perpétréespar les
forcesnavales de l'Axecontredesnaviresmarchands alliéset neutres;28 APPLICATION IXSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (V 55)
H.M.S. Queen of Bermuda to the South Shetlands to destroy oil
tanks and stocks of oil left on Deception Island by the Hektor
Whaling Company, one of the companies holding a lease of land on
that island from the British Crown. This measure, xvhichtvas taken
to deny the use of the oil tanks and fuel stocks to Axis raiders,
constituted a most significant display and exercise of British
sovereignty over the South Shetlands. In January, 1943. another
British warship, H.M.S. Carnarvon Castle, was dispatchetl to the
South Orkneys and South Shetlands, to examine the anchorages
in those temtories for any signs of use by enemy raiders, and to
investigate Press reports of purported acts of sovereignty at Decep-
tion Island by the Argentine naval transport Primero de Alayo.
H.M.S. CartzarvonCastle landed a party at Deception Island in the
South Shetlands on January 8, and there obliterated from the walls
of the Hektor IVhaling Company's factory the national colours of
Argentina, ahich appeared to have been painted on them recently
by the Primero de Mayo. and also removed the Argentine notice
of claim mentioned in paragraph 3 above. A mit was at the same
time affixed to the building proclaiming that the company's lease
had lapsed and that the building was the property of the British
Government. The warship theii proceeded to the South Orkneys,
and on February 8 landed a party on Signy Island, which erected
flagstaffs carrying the Union Jack. The following day the vesse1
called at the meteorological station on Laurie Island and exchanged
courtesies with the Argentinestaff. Aieanwhilethe ArgentineGovem-
ment was notified of the visit of H.M.S. CavnarvonCaslle to Decep-
tion Island, and was'informed that the United Kingdom Govem-
ment had no intention of allowing the British title to the island
to be usurped by Argentina. Soon afterwards the Primero de Mayo
was reported to be departing again for the Falkland Islands Depend-
encies, and to have two Chilean naval officers on board. The
Republic of Chie having also formulated pretensions to the South
Shetlands and Graham Land, the British Ambassador in Santiago
made representations to the Chilean Government in regard to
these officers.He was informed that they were sailing in the Argen-
tine ship merely as observers, and that the Chilean Government had
itself protested against Argentine attempts to establish a claim to
Deception Island
same Britistenitories (sseparateApplicatirespectinChile)-acircumstancee
that can hardly fato reflect adversely both on the motives and the validity of
both setsofclaims. KICQU~~TEISTKOOUCTIVE D'IKS~.~\KCI~ (V jj) 26
et en iiiars 1941, il ciivoyza le H. hl. S. Qzbee~ l/ L'eii~tudcarilx
Shetland du Sud, pour jr détruire des réservoirs et des stocks
d'huile, abandonnés sur l'île de la Déception par la Hektor Whaling
Coiiipany, l'une des sociétésqui avaient obtenu dc la Couronne
britaiiiiiqiic ilne concessioii de terrains sur cette île. Cette mesure,
qui avait pour but d'einpéclicr les expéditions de l'!\se d'utiliser
les réservoirs d'huile et Ics stocks de carburants, constituait uiic
iiiaiiifestatioii des plus sigiiificatives de l'exercice de la souveraineté
hritaiiniquc clans les Shetland du Sud. En janvier 1943. un aiitrc
navire dc guerre britaiiiiic]ue, Ic H. M.S. Cnr~~arooiC r nstla, fiit
envoyk dans les Orcndcs (lu Sud et les Shetland du Sud pour
examiner si les iiiouillagas tlaiis ces territoires avaient étéutilisés
par Ics expéditions ennemies et pour vérifierles rumeurs de i~ressc
relatircs à dc prétendus actes de sou\reraincté l'îlede la DEceptioii
tle la part du transport ;irgeiitiii Priqiierode !llayo. Le H. hl. S.
Cnr>rnrooiiCnslle déharqii:~le S jaiil-ier une cxl~édition à l'île tic
la Uéccptioii. dans les Shctlaiid du Sud, et y fit disparaître, dcs
murs rle I'iisiiicde la tlcktor Whaling Company. les couleurs iiatio-
nales de I'r\rgcntine qui )-:ivaieiit étépeintes récemment apparcin-
ment p:ir I'équi~~agd eii I'virivro de Mnyo et ciilcv:~l'avis de récla-
mation rlc I'jirgentinc iiiciitionné au paragraplic 3 ci-dessus.
Par la iiiémeoccasioii, on :rfficha siir le bâtiment iin avis déclarant
que le bail dc la socibti: &tait expiré et que Ic bàtiinent était la
propri6tC di1 Couvcrneinetit I>ritaiiiiique. 1.c nevirc de guerre se
rcndit alors aiix Orcades dit Siitl et le S fkvrier débarqua unc
espéditioii ci l'île Signy qiii k11:vades inâts portant dcs drapeaux
britaiinirliics. Lc lendeinain, le navire aborda à la station inétéoro-
logique sur l'îleJ,aiirie et rendit iine visite de courtoisie au personnel
argentin. JSiitre temps, le Coli\-crnemeiit argentin recevait notifica-
tioii de In visitc di1 K. AI.S. CnriinruoiiCnstle à I'ilede la Déception
et apprenait que le C;oi~rcriicment du' Royaiiine-Uiii n'avait
nullenient l'intention de permettre à I'r\rgentiiie d'usurper le
titre britannique sur l'île. I'cii après, on apprenait que le Primero
de Mnyo &tait de nouveau cri partance pour les I)épciidaiices des
îles Falkland ct qu'il avait à bord deux officiers (le niarine chilieiis.
La Républiclue di1 Chili ay:iiit égaleiiieiit formulé des préteiitions
aux Slietlaiid du Sud ct h la Terre <le Graham, l'ambassadeur
britaiiiiiquc h Santiago fit des rel~résentations au Gouveriicment
chilien au sujet de ces oficiers. II apprit que ceux-ci SC trouvaient
à bord du navire argeiitiii uniqiieineiit 'en (lualité d'observateurs
et que le Gouvernement cliilicn lui-mênie avait protesté contre
-lestentatives faites par l'r\rgciitiiie pour faire valoir des prétentions
sur I'ile dc la IIPceptioii
--
. . .. . .
' On rïiiiarqiicrque ces deus Ctats comtnçiicçiil;ilorsii&laver des prç-
rcntioiis sur leiiiéiiiterritoirebritanniqiie(r,oirrequete séparéecplcernaui
Iï Chili)- circoiiçtance.qui,.,>outmanqyr. d'avoirune intluencedéfavorahlc
sur In \.ïlciicleniotifset lav:ili<litc! <leccs deux groupesrevendications.
429 APPI.ICATIOS INSTITUTIXG PHOCEEDINGS (Y jj)
31. The tinited I<ingdom Government, in view of the appareiir
intention of Argentins and Chile to disregard British territorial
rights iii the South Orkneys, South Shetlands aiid Grahaiii Land,
dispatched H.M.S. Williant Scoresby and S.S. l'itzroy to those
territories nt thi: encl of Jaiiuary, 1944. These ships visited the
mainland niitl coastal islands of Graham Laiid, Deceptioii Islaiid
in the Soiith Shetlancls, and Signy Island iii the South Orkneys.
A permanent shore base \vas established at Deccptioii Island and
another at Port Taockroyin the Palmer Archipelago off the west
coast of Graham Land, meteorological statioiis heiiig attached tu
both bases. Furtlier visits were paid by H.hl.S. lVillia?~rScoresby
to these two bases iiihlarch and, agaiii, in tlpnl, 1944. Alagistrates
were sworii iii for the South Orkneys, Soiith Slietlaiids and Grahani
Land, and a specinl series of postage. stamps was issued for the
iise of British cstablislimciits in those tcrritories and in South
Grorgia. Since 1944 the U~iitedIiiiigdom lias inaiiitaiiied a iiiiinber
of British büses in the Dependencies, the followiiig beirig the bases
(either coiistructed or re-established) iii the ti:rritories on \\,hich
Argeiitiiin hns innde encroachmerits-
So~tlr Orkneys-
Saiidefjord Bay, Coronatioii Islaiid (1945).
Cape Geddes, Laiirie Island (1946).
Sigiiy Islniid (1947).
Soi~thShetla?~ds-
Port Foster. Deception Island 11944) $.
r\dmir;ilty Ray, King George Islaiid (1947).
Grnhni~iLand at~dits Archifielagos-
Port Lockroy, Palmer Archipelago (1944).
Hope Bay, Triiiity Peniiisula (194j).
Stonington Island, &%argueriteBay (1946).
Barry Islaiitl, Debenham Islands (1946) Io.
Argentine Islands (1947) ln.
Ililse Bay, Trinity Peninsula (1953).
The Uiiited Kiiigdom Government hns seiit ships to the South
Shetlaiids-Grahain Laiid area every tiiitarcticsummer since
1944; and al1 the above bases, with the exception of those in
Laurie Islaild and in the 'Debenliain Islands, have been occupied
either coiitinuously or interrnitteiitly by British parties. A special
organisation, the Falkla?idIslands DepeitdeitciesSriraey, was set
up in 1945 to administer these bases, together with three others
in the South Orkneys, and to supervise their work. Under its
.. --
'Headquarters of British Yagistratcs. igio-30.
InRiiiland occupied by tlio British GrahLand Expedition,1935-37. HEQUÊTE IXTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE (V 55) 29
31. En raisoii de l'intention apparente de l'Argentine et du
Chili de ne tenir aucun compte des droits territoriaux britanniques
dans les Orcades do Sud, les Shetlanddu Sud et la Terre de Graham.
le Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni envoya le H. M. S. Willmia
Scoresby et Ic s.S. Fifzroy dans ces territoires à la fiiijanvier
1944. Ces navires visitèrent le contiiient ainsi que les îles côtièrcs
de la Terre dc Graham, l'île de la I)éccption, dans les Shetlands
du Sud,et l'ileSigny, dans les Orcades du Siid. Une base permanente
terrestre fut crééeà l'îlede la Déceptionet uiic autre à Port Lockroy
dans l'archipel Palmer au large de la cOtc ouest de la Terre de
Graham, et les deux bases furent dotées tle stations météorolo-
giques. Le H. M. S. I.l7illinmScoresby visita tlc nouveau ces deus
bases en niars, puis eii avril 1944. 011fit prêter serment aux magis-
trats des Orcades du Sud, des Shetland du Sud ct de la Terre de
Graham, et on procéda à l'émissiond'une série spécialede timbrcs-
poste à l'usage des établissements britaiiniques siir ces territoires et
en Georgie du Sud. Del~uis 1944, le Royaume-Uiii entretient uiie
séricde bases Ijritaiiiiiqucs dans les Uél~cndaiices.dont les suivantes
(soit nouvellenieiit créées,soit reconstmites) se trouvent sur les
territoircsà l'égardtlcscliielsl'Argentine a comniis dcs empiétements :
Orcades rl7cSi~d
Baie de Sandefjord, ile dii Couroniiemeiit (1945).
Cap Geddys, île Laurie (1946).
ile Signy (1947).
Shetland di6Sibd
Port Foster, ile de la Ilfception (1944')
La baie de l'Amirauté, ile du Roi George (1947).
Terre de Grahum et ses archipels
Port Lockroy, archipel Palmer (1944).
Baie de I'Espéraiice, péniiisule de la Trinité (1945).
fle Stonington, baie Marguerite (1946).
Île Barry, îles Debeiiham (1946) Io.
ries Argentines (1947) 1°.
Iluse Bay. péniiisiilede la Triiiité (19.53).
Le Gi>uveriicinent du Royaume-Uni a expédif des navires i
destination des Shetland du Sud et de la Terre de Graham au
cours de chaque été antarctique depuis 1944, et toutes les bases
précitées, à l'exception de cellesde 1'EleLaorieet des ilesDebenham.
ont étéoccupées soit en permanence, soit par intermittence, par
des missioiis britanniques. Une organisatioii spéciale, le Falkland
Islands DependenciesSlcrzrey,fut créée en1945 pour administrer ces
bases, ainsi qiie trois autres situées dans les Orcades tlii Sud et
* Siëge des magistrats 1,ritaiiniqigio-30.
: '0Base érigbect occupée par I'expeditionirita~iniqçn.Terre <letirahaiii.
1935-37-direction cxteiisi\xc s~i-\~cysaiicl cxploratioiis were i:arrie<l ont in
the Depciideiicies, iiicluding grouiid siirveys, over large stretcties
of tlie Grnliaiii T-aiid ~iciiiiisiila. aiitl ineteorological stations were
establishcd. So\sereigiity \ras :tlso diplayed in other ways as, foi
exaiiiple, by the appoiiitiiient of niagistrates, the issiie of postage
stainps, niid the lodgiiig of protests 110thlocally and through the.
diploinatic cliaiiiiel agaiiist encroacliniciits by Chileaii aiid Argen-
tine parties. Tlios, tlie United ICiiigdoin Govcrnrneiit has at al1
times takcii al1 sucli stcps as were operi to it in the circurnstaiices
to asscrt aiicl inaint~iiii its titlc. .,
Argentins's Persistence in Her Pretensions to the Falkland Islands
Dependencies and in Her Physical Encroachments on the South
Orkneys. South Shetlands and Graham Land
3. II 1941 Argentiiia. \vliicli iii tlie period ~gzj-36 had put
for\vard iiiaiiily paper claiins, eiiil>arked iipoii a tlefiiiite policj
of encroachiiieiit in the So~itli Orkiieys, Soutli Shetlands and
Grsahani 1.niicI. In tlint year the mcteorological station on Laune
Islaiid iii tlic Soiitli Orkiieys \vns iii:miied by t\rgciitiiie ?zava/
personnel, aiid thc opeiiiiig of a periiiaiieiit post office in the
Soiith Orkiieys \vas eniioiiiiçed iiit\rgentiiin and notifiecl tlirough
tlie Iiiternatiotial i'ostal tinioii. l'lie follo\viiig j7ear the naval
transport ZJriiileru[le Arlnyo \iras sent to 1leceptioii Islaiid iii 'the
Soiitli Shetlands \vhere, ;is lia nlready beeii stated, it painted
the Argeiitiiie colours »il tlie ivalls of tlie Hcktor Whnliiig Coin-
paiiy's factory and cleposited ilic noiicc claiming :\II laiids and
depciidencics I)etweeii 25' aiid 6s" 34' \Vest, wvhicliis nientioned
in paragrapli 3 ;tl)o!:e. Tlic ship thcii proceeded to Lainbda Islaiid
(;\lelcliior Group) iii the Paliiicr r\rcliipelago and erected a flag
aiid Ixacon there. r\ year I;itcr. tlie :\rgentinc coloiirs on Deceptioii
Islaiid were ul>literated by H.1I.S. Crrritnrÿoa Cirstle, and the
Argentine act of possessioii \\,as rcrnovecl (l~aragraph 30 above).
011 being so iiiforiiied, the :\rgciitiiie Foreign >liiiister replied
tliat the t\rgeiitiiie,Govcriiincnt coiisidcred its clairns, "inlierited
froin Spaiii 12", tu lx justifietl. ln :i menioraiidnm ol February 15.
,1943, tlie Argentine Go\-eriiinciit reaffiriiietl its prcieiisions to $1
Antnrçtiç laiids aiid depeii~lciicics soutli of latitiide 60" Soutli
" As has already becxiiiieiitioiie(~raragraplis3and 26-28 above), i\rgeiitinalias
iiia<lç pape* daim to ail the territories coinpriscd tlicFalkland !slandsDcpcnd-
eiicies.Slie liasnot. Iiowever. atteniptçd to assert tliisclairn iiany overt way
with rrferenca <O tlieSoutli SuiidwiçliIslaiirlor Soutli Ceorgia. These territovics
are iiottlierefore furtherinentiiinedIiçreiiiexcept iii theConclusions.
':Tlie territories ci~iicernwcm barely discovrred iii Spain'sday. aiid thçii riot
1,)Spain (sïcpurngraplis 6-1i:tbovcj.'l'heywcrc ncaer part ofany Spanishdominioii.
. .. pour surveiller leurs travaux. Des études et des exploratioiis trCs
étendues, y compris des relevés topograpliiques, furent entrepris
sous sa direction dans les Dépendances et sur de grandes étendiics
de,la.péniiisule de la Terre de Graham ;elle y installa également
des stations météorologiques.La soiiveraineté se manifesta égale-
ment par d'autres moyens, par exemple, la nomination de inagis-
trats, l'émission de timbres-poste ainsi que les protestatioi~s tant
localement que par la vvie diplomatiqiie contre les empiéterneiiti
cotnmis par des ressortissants cliiliens et argentins. Ainsi doiiç, en
tous temps, le Gouvernement di1 Royaume-Uni a pris les niesures
dont il poiirait disposer selon les circonstaiices polir affirmcr et
maintenir son titre.
. .
Persistance des prétentions élevéespar l'Argentine sur les
Dépendances des îles Falkiand et de ses empietements matériels
sur les Orcades du Sud, les Shetland du Sud et la Terre de Graham"
> 8
32. En ,1941, l'Argentine, qui, dc 192j à 1928, n'avait gucre
&&enté que des réclamations sur le papier, a inauguréunc politique
définied'empiétements dans les Orcades et les Shetland du Sud et
Terre dc Graham. Cette année-là, la station rnétéorologiquc
$5, iïle Laune dans les Orcades du Sud a étépourvue d'un pcr-
sonne1 i~nv(ilargentin et 1'Argeiitine a annoricb et donné avis par
l'intermédiaire de 1'C'nioiipostale internationale de I'ouverturc
c1:un bureau de poste permanent aux Orcades di1 Sucl. L:année
suivante, le transport naval Primero de Mmyo fut envoyé à l'île
de la Iléception dans los Shetland [lu Sud »il, conitiie on l'a déjctdit,
il a peint sur les murs dc I'iisiiic de la Fielitor Whaliiig Cornpan?
les couleurs ile I'Argentiiir ct dkposél'avis !iientioiiiit au paragraphe
3 ci-dessus, 'réclamant toiites terres et dé1)eiidancessituées entre
le 2ye degréet 6ô"34'ouest. Le navire se rendit alors àl'île Lambda
(groupe hlelcliior) dans l'archipel Palmer, y élevaun mit et y édifia
un feu. 1,'aiiiiécsuivante, les coiilciirs argentines sur l'île de la
Jléception ont été effacéespar H. Er.S. Cnrnnrvor~ Castleet l'acte de
possession argentin fut retiré (paragraphe 30 ci-dessus). l~orsqu'il
en fut informé,le ministre argentin des Affaires étraiigi.res répondit
qitc le Gouvernement dc l'Argentine considérait que ces réclama-
tions « héritéesde l'Espagne 'ai,Étaient jiistifiécs. Dans uri mho-
randum du 15 février 194.3,le Gouveriicnient arge~itin afliriiia de
nouvcau ses prktentions à toutes les terres aiitarcticlues ct ?L lcurs
'1Comme oii l'adéjà mïntiorind (paragraplies j, ?G-?S ci-dcssii),l',\rgeiitine
a présent8 surle papier une réclamntioii visanttuus les territoires compris dan=
les Dépendances des îlesI'allilundToiitefoiselle ii'pas essaye <I'affirincrcettf
rdclamation d'auciinï manirre ustensiblc cn ce qui estdes ilcs Sandwich <luSud
et de la Georgiï du Sud. Ces territoirene sont donc pas <Iç iioiivenrnesitionn6s
ici,sauf dans les conclusions.
'8Lesterritoires eii question xrcnaie~ith pçind'Mi<: <Ucouvaits h i'ïl~aquç dt.
la <I<irninationespagnole enc Pavaient pas Btdpar l'Espagne (voirparagnplics ci
;tII ci-<Iessiis). Ils n'ont jamais fait pardeel'Empire espagnol. :\I~i'I,IC:\TlON INSTITU'I'ING I>KOCEEULN<:S (V jj)
jr
aiid I>ci\veetiIiiiigitudes nj" aiici 68" 34' \trcst. It also yurl>orte<l
ti~ "protest" :rg:~iiist j~irisdictioi~i~lac1s carrietl oilt hv British
officiais. l'lic Uiiited I<iiigdoni Goveriimcnt, iii a riicmorandiini
of .4pril 7, 1941, replied reassertiiig the Kritisli titles. Meaiiwhile,
the Prifnrro [le Muyo ivas eiigaged on a second espedition tu the
Ant;lrctiç, during \vliicli it visitetl the Melchior Islaiids aiid Port
Lockroy iii tlic Pilliner r\rchipcl:igo. ;riiciMarguerite Bay forther
to tlic Si~iitli.The ship tlieii rctlirned to 1)eception Islaiid iii th,:
Soutli Slietlaiitls, aiitl there r<:l>aiiitedtlic .-\rgeiitiiic coloiirs ori
the \\.ails of the \I1liale factor!.. It was aftci. this exlieditioii that
the Ijiiited Kiiigtlom, despite its heavy coiiiiriitiiieiits iiithe secoiid
world \r,:lr,iiiiti:lted iii1944thc pr<ig,lraiiiiiio ef iiiairitaiiiiiig I3ritisli
bases iii the Sucith Orkiieys, South Slietlaiids aiid Gr:\liam Laiid
descrihecl iii 1>;trngral>l3 i1 :rhrnre.
33. 1111947, %iiiictliree yc;trs aftcr the reiienfal of tlie Britisli
1)rograniiiic of I~nses,tlie ..\rgeiitiiie Goveriiiiieiit began a course
of systernatiç ciicroaclimeiit oir the Ilritisli territories of the Sontli
Slietlaiids aiid Grahaiii I.aiit1. \Vhile citirtitiiiiii~its ineteorological
station :lt Latirie Islaiid in the Sniith Orkiieys, it proceeded to
estal>lish,as well as a fe\v eii1i:rgeiicyhiits, the followviiig.4rgentiiie
Posts la:
South Slzetlrrir~ls-
I'ort Foster, l:)ecelitioii Islatid (1947).
Half Nooii Islaiid. Liviiigst:sti~nIeslniid (1952).
l'otter Covc, Kiiig George Islaiid (19j3).
Harnioiiy Coire, Xclsoii Islaiid (1954).
itrdley Peiiiiisuln, I<iiig George Island (1954).
Graham Lnicd rritd ils Ara:hipelagos-
Gainnia lslaiicl, Palnier Archipelago (1947).
Paradise Harlioiir, llaiico Coast (19j1).
Barry Island, 1)ebenhaiii Islands (1951).
Hope Bay. l'riiiity Peniiisuln (1951).
I>iiiidee Islniid (1gj2).
Brialinoiit Cove (19j4).
Peteriiiniiii Isl;riid (19j5).
Conls Laird-
Iii the iieighl~oiirlio<~o lf Valiscl Bay (10jj).
Thesc posts are al1 withiii the I7alklaiid Islaiids L)epeiideiiciesaiid.
in areas covered hy British :ictivity as already descrihed. The
- ~p
" The Uiiiiqtctiiti&.lrtii.overiiii!i:i;ai<;tillc~>g~g~< ln iilvcrrkgi%riii& tnii>ii
ioccnt Argentine ciisronch~neiit at Vahrel IIa) iilCuat I.an<l (ïrel>nracrnl> 4li14
end i~ ahiivt.)where ari ,\rpîntine po$r nia).Iiave han estal>lisl~e,l REQUETE INTRODUC~~VE D'INSTANCE (v 35)
31
.Dépendancesau sud tlu 60111d ~egré de Intitiide sud et eiitrc les
zjme degré et 68" 34' de longitude ouest. Il prétendit également
nprotester Icontre Icsactes de juridiction accomplis par Icsfonction-
naires britanriiqiies. Dans un mémoraiiduin du j avril 1943. le
Gouvernement du Royaiiine-Uni réaffirma les titrcs britanniques.
Entre temps, le Priqnero de Maya entreprenait iinc deiixiériie
expédition antarctique au cours dc laquellc il reiidit visitc aux iles
Melchior et à I'ort Lockroy dans l'archipel Paliiicr et à la baie
Marguerite plus aii sud. Le navire revint alors à l'île dc la I)éceptioii
dans les Shetland clii Sud et peignit de iioii\7eaii les coiileurs de
l'Argentine sur les murs de l'usine baleinière. C'est après cette
expéditioii que, inalgré les lourdes charges qu'il supportait dans la
deuxième guerre nioncliale, le Royaume-Uni ouvrit cii 1944 le
programme (l'entretien des bases britanniques dans les Orcades
et les Shetland du Siid et la Terre de Graham mentionnés au para-
graphe 31 ci-dessus.
33. En 1947, environ trois ans après le renou\~elleiiient du
programme britaiiniqiic sur les bases, le Gouvernement argentin
entreprit uiic suite d'empiétenients systéinatiques siir les terri-
toires britanniques des Shetland du Sud et de la Terre de Grahaiii.
Tout en mainteiiaiit la station météorologique à l'îlc 1-aiiric, daris
les Orcades du Siid, il se tnit à établir en inéine tcinps qiie des
ahris d'urgence les postes argentins suivants l3:
Slzella>~ddî, Sud
I'ort Fostcr, ile dc la I>6ceytioii (1947).
Île de la Dernie Luiie, île Livingstone (~gjz).
.liise de l'otter, île dit Roi George (195.3).
.4iise de I'Harmoiiic, île Nelson (1gj4).
Pénirisule.4dley, ilc dii Roi George (1954).
Terre de Grahmrz etses archipels '
fle Gainrna, arcliipcl I'aliiier (19.17).
Rade du Paradis, cote de Ilanco (1951).
île Harrey, îles l)cl,eiihain (1951).
Baie de I'Esp&rance, phinsule de la Triiiité (1951).
île Diindee (1gj2).
iiiise de Rrialnioiit (1954).
île Peteriiiaii (rgjg).
Terre de Coals
:III \.oisiiiage de la baie tle \'ahsel(rgjj).
Cespostes soiit tuus situésdans les J>épendaiicesdes iles Falklaiid
et dans des régionscoiivcrtes par l'activité britaiiniqiie déjà décrite.
--
siilL'einpiétçmentIciplusruceiit <ll'Argentineudaiis Ici liaic \'nhsel surla
T'erre de Coats (voiparagraplies4. rq et rg ci-deîrus)où il scpoiirraiqu'un
posteargentin ait dt6 &(iihli. API>I,ICATIOiY ILÏSTITUTING YROCEEL>IX<;S (Y jj)
32
recciit or very recent establishment of these hrgentiiie posts
appears to foreshado\v a rapid expansion of the prcseiit Argentine
encroachiiieiits ;ilid \~iof:itioiis of British sovereignty. I'rotests
against these \~iolatioiis niid eiicroachments have been lodgecl at
vanous dates hy the United Kingdoni througli the diplomatic
channel, aiid 1oc:illy by vIXci:ils of the British Admiriistratioii in
the Falklaiid Iskriids 1)epeiideiicics. The Argeiitiiie Goveriimeiit
has iievertlieless persisted in its policy of encroachmeiit, iiiaiii-
taiiiing the :rbove-iiieirtioiied posts, and repeatedly niaiiifesting
its intention to coiitiiiiie to disregard the United Kiiigdoin's prior
and areIl-established legnl litles.
34. In tlic ril,iiiioii of the Uiiitect liiiigdoiii Govcriiinciit. these
Argentine nets takeii tog-ctlicr,aiid related to the coniplete absence
of aiiy Argentine claiiii prior to 192.5or 1937, as the case iiiay he
(dcpendiiig oii the territory concerncd), and to the pi-evioiis coni-
plete Argïntinc indiffcrciiçc to, and even recognitioii of, the British
claim, are cvidcncc of a quite recent, deliberate, and coiisidered
policy of infiltration on the part of thc Argentine C;o\.ernineiit,
directed to creatii~ga sernblance or fiction of Argeiitiric sovereignty,
and to placing tliat Governiiient in a position, after a suliicicrit lapse
of tinie, to argue that any previous British sovereigiity \vas no\\.
replaced or overlaitl by Argentine sol-creignty. In effect. this is a
polie? of usurpatioii.
Limited Relevance in Point of Law of Events after 1925 in the Case
of the South Orkneys and after 1937 in the Case of the South
Shetlands and Graham Land
35. Thc acts of the Parties after 1925 in the case of the Soritli
Orkneys and after 1937, in the case of the Soiith Çl~ctlaiids :riid
Graham Land, :ire of 1iniitt:d juridical relevaiicc, for t\\.oreasoiis.
First, tlii: clisputi: crystallisecl whcn Argentine first asscrtetl her
clairns, iiaiiicliiior ahoiit 1926 in the case of the Soiitli Orkiicys.
and in or ahoiit 1937 in thc case of thc other two tcrritories ;and
accortliiig tu well-cstal>lishcd priiiciples of law, it is :rt the datc of
crystallisation that tlic rights of the Parties arc ta be arljiidged. 'The
subse~luciit acts of thc tlrgcntiiic Govcriiment werc clearly iintlci--
l
takeii, iiot ris a geniiiiic inanifestatiori of an esisting title, lxit witli
a vicw to trying to crcate one, and in order to improvc .Argentilla's
legal position. They are not, therefore, to he taken into considcratioii
(Miny~~zers niid Ecrelios Case, I.C.J. Reports, 1953, pagc jg).
Secondly, wen if the United Kingdom had not previously accluircd
a good titlc, it undoubtedly displayed and exercised its sovei-cignty
inand in regard to the South Orkneys, SoiithShetlands aiid Grahani
Land during (at the latcst) a period running-in the case of the first-
nametl territory-from Jiily 21. 1906, to 19zj and after ; aiid-in REQU~CI'. ISTROI)UC~TI\'IS I>'INSTANÇE (Y 5j) :j2
I.'établissenieiit récentoii tout récentde ces postes argentins parait
annoncer I'espansioi~ rirpide des empiétements argentins actiiels et
des violations de la souveraineté britannique. Des protestations
contre ces violations et empiéteinents ont été foriiiiiléesà diverses
dates par le Royaiime-Urii, par la voie diplomatiqiic et à l'échelon
local par les fonctionnaires de l'administration britannique rles
Ilépendances des îles Falklaii<l. Toiitcfois, le Goiivernement de l'Ar-
gentine a persisté clans sa politiqiie d'empiétement, maintenant les
postes éniiméréc si-dessus et in:riiifcstant àplusieiirs reprises l'iritcii-
tion de ne pas tenir compte dcs titres légaux antérieurs et hicii
étal>lisdii Royaiime-Uni.
34. Ue l'avis du Gou\~eriiemeiitdii lioyauine-Cni, ces clivek iictcs
de l'Argentine, considérésdails leiir ensemble en tenant compte de
l'absence complète de revendication argentine avant 1925 oii 1937
suivant le cas (suivant le territoire ciivisagé) et de l'indifféreiicc
coinplète et mêmede la reconnaissance antérieure par l'Argentine :L
l'égarddes prétentions britanniques, coiistituent la preuve que le
Gouvernement argentin a adopté tout récemment et délibérérneiit
iine. politique d'infiltration dans le but de créer lin semblant 011
iiiie fiction de soii\rerainetéargentine et de mettre ce Gouvernement.
en mesure, après iin laps de temps siiffisant, de prétendre que les
titres antérieurs de son\,eraiiieté britannique sont inaintenaiit
remplacés oii dépasséspar la soiiveraineté argentiné. En fait, c'est .
là iiiie politique d'usiirpation.
Pertinence limitée,au point de vue du droit,des événements
postérieurs à 1925 dans le cas des Orcades duSud et à 1937 dans
le cas des Shetlanddu Sud et de la Terrede Graham
35. Les actes des Parties, après 192j dans le cas des Orcades <III
Sud et après 1937 daiis celiii des Shetland du Siid et de la Terre de
Graham, sont d'une importance juridique limitée pour deus raisoiis.
Preinièreiiieut, le différends'est cristalliséau moment où I'r\rgeiitiiie
:Lforiniilépour la première fois ses ~~réteiitionsc,'est-à-(lire vers1926
pour les Orcades di1Sud et vers 1937 pour les deus autres territoires.
Seloii Sesprincipes bien établis tlii droit, il faiit se prononcer sur les
({bits des parties au iriurrieiit de la cristallisation dri litige. Lcs actes
iiltérieurs du Gouveriienieiit :trgentin ont visihlement étéposk iioii
pas comme la manifestation sincbrc d'un titre existant iiiais pour Ic
créeret dans le but d'améliorer la position juridiqiie de I'Argentiiie.
II n'y a donc pas lieu d'en tenir compte (affaire clesMitlqirierset des
Écréhotrs, C. 1. J. Recueil, 1953. p. 59). Densiémemeiit, iiiêtnesi le
Royaume-Uni n'avait pas acquis précédeinmentiin titre solidc, il a
indiibitablement manifesté et exercésa souveraineté siir et à l'égard
des Orcades du Sud, clesShetland tlii Sud etde la Terre de (;rahaiii
au cours (au plus tard) d'urie périodes'étendant - pour le premier
territoire - du 21 jiiillet1906 à 1925 et plus tard ;er - polir les REQU~~E ISTROI>UCTI\'E D'ISSTANGI~ (Y jj) 33
deux autres territoires - dii21 juillet 1908 A 1937 et plus tard. Oés
lors, ,indépeiidaiiiment de ses titres antérieurs, le Royaumc-Uni
s'était déjà constitué à l'égardde 1'.4rgciitine un titre rlc souverai-
neté inattaquable siir ces trois territoires. En coiisE(luence,les revcii-
dications de titre par 1'.4rgentine sur les Orcades dii Sud eii 1925et
par la suite et sur Ics Shetland du Siid et I;iTerre de Graham en
1937et par la suite, oiit toujours étéillégaleset iiorivalables (affaire
dii Groërdrir~dorierttnl(x933). SérieA/B j3, page 64). Les événements
postérieurs à igzj oii 1937, suivant lc cas, ont donc cssciitiellemeiit
pour hot de iiioiitrcr qiie, devant les prétentions argentines, le
Royaunic-Uni n'a pas abaiidoniiS, mais a iiiaiiitcriii de manière
active ses titres sui- les territoires en qiicstioii. C'est cc qiii21été
déiiioiitréà I'évitleiicetlaiis le: paragraphes 2à :jr ci-tlessiis.Par une
manifestation iiiiiitermiu~>iiede l'activitéétatique, par.desprotesta-
tions et des ripostes toujours promptes, par les preuves d'une vigi-
lance toujoiirs active, par ses efforts en vue de régler le différendpar
la voie de négociations tliploiiiatiques, par ses efforts répétésen vue
de soumettre le différend à l'arbitrage oiià.un rfglemcnt judiciaire
(voir paragraplie 40 ci-dessoiis) ct par lefait d'introduire la présente
requêtedevant la Coiir, le Royaume-Uiii n éiiergiqiiement défendu
saposition, affirmésa soiiveraineté et niaiiiteiiii ses droits et titres.
La 'jurisprudence des tribunaux internationaux s'oppose aux
prétentions argentines et corrobore les titres du Royaume-Uni
36. Li joi.ispriitleiice des tril>iiiiaiis iiiteriiatioii;iux s'oppose aux
ievendicatioiis argentines tout autant qu'elle corrohtire les titres
jiiridiqucs dii 17oj~ai11iic-l'ii.lus particiilièrerneiit si l'unse réfère
aux seiiteiiccs et jiigcinc~its reiidiis <laiis les crffaircs hieii connues
ci-après :
Île de Palnias (iqz81, liecueil tles seiiteiices :rrbitrales internatio-
.< ,
iiales, vol.2, 11.831 ;
Affaire de I'îlede Clipperton (rgp), Recueil des seiiteiices arhitrales
interiiatioiiales, vol. 2, p. 110;
Statiit juridiqiie dii Groëiiland oriciital (1953). SérieA/U, na 53 ;
Affaire des Miiiqiiiers et des Ecréhoiis.Recueil C. 1.J., 1953, p. 47.
37. Ces cas iiioderiics qui font auturité s'opposent fornleliement
à toute prétention argentine fondée sur des sources de titres
prétendiiiiient historiques découlant de I'liéritagcde titres supposés
acquis par l'Espagne. En dehors du fait qu'il cst dc toute évidence
impossible de prouver l'existence de titres originaux espagnols
(voir notc rz ail parkigraplii:32 ci-dessus), l'affaire de l'$Lede Palmas
(page 846)et l'affairede I'îlede Clifiperton(page 1109)montrent claire-
ment qu'aucun titre espagnol aussi ancien nc saurait prévaloir
aujourd'liui au regard d'une longue souverainetébritannique, exercée
sans interruption. En outre, mêmes'il était possible d'appliquer la
théorie de la contiguïté géographique à des îles situées à environ-34 :\PPLICATIOS ISSTITUTISG I'HOCEEDINGS (Y 55)
Islarid uf Plilmns Case (pages S54-S5j, 869 and 870) negatives coni-
pletcly ariy Argentinc claim based on so-called geographical grounds
of title, aritl clcarly lays down that tliey coiild not prevail against
actiial display anclcsercise of sovcreigiity. 1t has also beeii suggestcd
on belialf of Argentins that she never rccognised British sovereigiity
over the Ilepcndeiicies. lgnoring for present purposes the qiiestioii
whether recognition hy other States is iiecessary for the acqiiisition.
of title, and if so in what circumstances, it siifficesherc to recall the
facts related iii paragraph 24 (2) above, \\.hich establish Argeiitiiia's
ac(luirsccrice in and recognition of the British clainrs to those tcri-i-
tories. But in any event the Ensterit GreeiilandCase (page 62) and
the Minquiers n~l Ecrehos Case (page 66) clearly show that aiiy
failure by Argeiitina to recognise tho British claims would not ha\.e
altered the character and legal effects of the British Letters Patent,
or of the other British legislative ancl ntlininistrntive acts, as inani-
festatioris of British sovereignty.
.. . . .
. .
j,;- . .
38. At thc suiiie tiiiie, tlic above-iiicntioned leadiiig ciiscs shou-
co~clusively that al1 recogtiised juricliail groonds stroirgly sripport
the claiins of the United Kingdom, aiitl iiot those of Argentiiia. Thus
the Island O/ Pal?rrnsCase (page 870) aiitl the ClififiertonIsllri~dCase
(cage I 110) indicate that the British takings of possessioiitlcscribctl
cfparagraplis 6-1 1 of the present Alq~licationcrcated iiiitial British
titles superior to ;in). ofArgentins's preteiided histoncalorgeograpli-
ical' titles. The Islan[l O/ Pakrms Case (pages 838-S4o aiid 567).
Ensterqt Greeitlai~dCase (pages ji.,54 aiid 63) and iVIirryr~iern îi~~i
Ecrehos Case (at page 65) conclusi\~elyshow that to-day, in case of
(lispirte, the primary test of sovereignty is the actual display and
exercise of the fiinctions of a State in arid iii regard to the dispiited
territories tlirring the rele\~ant periods. Iii the ltreserit case, it is
evident froiii the facts set out in the preseiit Application tliat it is
the United Kingdoni, not Argeiitina, that has displayed aiid exer-
cised the furiction of a State in regard to the South Orkneys, South
Shetlands and Graham Land, aiid csyecially during the tlecisive
pkriods imincdiately preceding the critical dates, that is tlic ycriotl
iipto 1925 in the case of the Soiith Orkneys. and up to 1-37 in tlie
case of the othcr two territones, as \\.cil as earlier.
. ..
..3g. Tlie Uiiited Icingdom, iii its pleaàiirgs, wiil refer with greater
1~àrticirlarityto the nuinerous passages in the four above-iiientioiied
leading cases and in other authorities \\,hich support its titles to
soverejgnty over the Falkland Islands 1)ependencies. Although the ~ii~uli.i~iINTROI~UCTI~E D'IXS~ASCE (\' jj) .31
400 niilles OU :i 111continent séparCsitué à ciiviroii joo iiiilles tlu
temtoire argentin. il n'en reste pas moins que I'affairede I'ileriePol.
Inas (pp. 854-855, 869 et 570) s'oppose complEtement à une revendi-
cati6n argentine foiidéesur des sources de titres dites d'ordregéogra-
phique et s~~écifc ilairement qu'elles ne sauraient prévaloircontre des
iiianifestations et uii exercice réeldc la souveraineté. 011 a prétendu
également au iioiii dc l'Argentine qii'ellc n'aurait jamais reconnu la
souveraineté 1)rit:riiiiiqucsiir les DCpeiidatices. L;rissaiit de côtépooi-
1: moinent la qiicstioii de savoir si la reconiiaissaiice 11;ird'autres
Etats est ntcessairc :iI'acqiiisition d'un titrc ct, si oui, daiis quelles
circonstaiiccs ; il suffira ici de rappeler les faits relatbs aparagraphe.
.zj (2) ci- CSS SUSq,ui déinontre I'acqiiiescciiicnt de I'r\rgciitine de la
reconnaissaiice par clle des réclaiiintioiis britanniques sur 'ces
temtoircs. Eii tout cas I'aflaire dii C;roë~tlunrlorier~tnl(page 62)
et celle des iltir~qiriersel des Eçréliot(page 66) indiquent clairciiiciit
que la iioii-rccoiiiiaissancc &\.entuelle par l'Argentine dcs droits
hntaiiiiiqiies 11';iur:titpu altérer la naturc ct l'effet tlcs lettres pateii-
tes britaiinitliics. ni tlcs autres actes britaiiiii~liics d'ordre lbgislatif
ou admiiiistratif cii talit qiic inaiiifcst;itioiis de In souvcraiiiete
Ipitanniqiic.
38.'ll'auti-1: part, les tlécisioiis faisaiit jiirisl>rotletice 1>ri.cit6es
iiioiitrent 1 1'évicli:iicccllie tous les inotifs juridiques reconniis
étayent forteiiieiit les ],rétentions dii 1Zoyaiiiiic-Uni ct non celles
de I't\rgentiiic. IXs lors, l'affaire dc l'ile rie Polriins (page 870) et
I'affaire de l'île de Clipperturr (page I 110) font appnraître que les
I>nsesde posscssioii I>ritaiiiiiquc,mentioiiii&csdaiis tes paragraphes G
à II de la l>ri.sciitereqiiêtc,ont cngcritlré (les titrcs I~ritanniques
initiaux sii~>ésiciir;srilx titrcs préteiidîiiiiciit liist«riqiies ct gkogrn-
phiques dc I'r\rgciitiiic. Les affaircs île de 1'crlriiu(pa~gcsS38-Sqoct
S67), Groërtl(ri~rlricitlal (pages jz,54 ct 63) et ~Wirzqicierest Ecréhoris
(pagc 6j) iiioiitrciit iiidul~itableinent que dc riils joiirs, cn casdt:
litige, le prciiiici- critkrc de soiivcraiiietC i.ésidctlnns la manifes-
tation ct l'exercice réelsdes fonctions d'iin 1:tat dails ou à l'égard
des,.territoii-cs cil litige ail cours des ]>6riotlcs)>crtiiientes. Dans
l'affaire actuelle. il cst évident, d'aprbs les faits exl~osésdans la
présente requete, que c'est le Royatiine-Uni et iioii l'rirgciitine qui il
nianifesté et exercé les foiictioiis d'un Etat :I l'égard <lesOrcadis
dii Sud, des Slietlniid di1 Siid et de la Tcrrc dc Graham, et pliis
particiili&reiiient au cours dc la périoderlécisivcqui précèdeiniiiié-
diateinent les dates critiques, à savoir la période SC tcrmiiiaiit cil
1925 dans le cas tlcs Orcades du Siid et celle qiii sc tcriiiinc en 1937
tlaiis le cas des tlciis autres territoires et iiiî.ii:iiiiic 6l>oqiie'l>lus
recuee.
39. Uaiis la yrockdurc écritc. Ic l<oj:iiiiiiic-liiii se réf6rcrad'uiic
iiianière plirs détailléeaux passages iiombreiis qui, dans les déci-
sions faisaiit jurisprudericc précitéesainsi cliic dans d'autres d0c.u-
inents qui font autorité. étayent ses titres à la soli\-eraiiieté sus,35 APPLICATIOS INSTITU'TIXG PROCEEDINGS (\.jj)
prcsent .Application is iiecessarily preliminary in cliaracter, the
special circumstaiices appear to justify drawing attention to the
jurisprudence of the four leading cases, as an indication of how solid
are the legal bases of the British titles and hou. devoid of any foiin-
tlatioii th(:Argentine pretciisions.
Acceptance of the Court's Jurisdiction in the Case
40. Tlie Lnited iiingclom, Iia\riiigregard tr, the long pcriod d~wing
which British sovercigiity has been effectivcly exercised iv.and in
regard to the tcrritories of thc Falkland Islands, would be justified
in takiiig stroiig incasures tu piit an end to Argentins's eiicroach-
meiits on the Soiith Orknays, Soiith Shetlands and Graham Land14.
1;irnily believing in the pacific settleinent of disputes ainong nations
I)yjudicial procedures and on tlic basis of law, it has prefcrred, when
ncgotiations proved fniitless, to scek to have its dispute with thc
liepiiblic of Argentinn regardiiig these territories siihmittcd to the
Iiiteriiatiorial Coiirt or othcr jiidicial or arbitral tribuiial. Thus, in
Notes of December 17, 1947, the United Kiiigdom Goveriiment
invitcd Argentins, aiid Chile to whoin a separate invitation \vas sent,
to challenge the British titlcs to sovereignty hg invokiiig the jiins-
(lictioii of the International Coiirt of Justice, \\'hich tlic United
Kiiigdoiii \vould then accïpt. rirgcntina, in a Note of January 28,
1945. replicd to the cffcct that shc was coii\rinccd of the uiiquestion-
:thle rights of hersclf aiid Cliilc ovcr the disputed arcas15, and that
it woiild bc nrroiig for hcr h> appcar before the Court in the position
of a Statc requesting what alrcady I~elongedto hcr. The United
Kingtloiii rcnewed its offcr to go bcfore the Court in Xotes of
hpril 30. igjr, and February 16, 19j3. without, hou~ever,obtaining
a favourable response from the Reyublic of Argentina. As the con-
tinuaiice of the dispute conccrning the sot~ereignt) of the terri-
tories of the Falkland Islands 1)epeiideiicies iiecessarily tlireatens
ta inipair the.existing frieiidly relations betwecn th(: two.countnes,
the United Kiiigdoin addrcssed a fiirther Note to Argentina on
I>cccrnher 21, 1954; iiivitiiig hcr, jointly with the Uiiitetl Kingdom,
to refcr thc dispute to an indepciident ud hoc arbitral tribunal.
On the samc date, the United Kingdoni adtlrcsscd :ri1 identical
" i'orçiblnclioii liaiiiisctLube takotiiioiiecasc (iiaiiical I>~.cïptioii Idand
iii Lieliriiary ,953\i.heii a particularly llagrant attriwas innde t« erect an
Argciitinebut actually witliin the prcçiiiofjthc existin; (niicl oeciipieil) Rritisli
Iiax on tliat island.
'=This can ooly increasï thilubiouscharnctçrofthe Argentine preiensionj, since
ground. Both coiild iiot be volçven ifçitl,cwçre.e most important pa.t of..the KEQUETB IXTK~I>IJÇ.~I~).: U'IXST~\SCE (\'jj) 35
les iles Falkland. A1:ilgri.Ic caractere nécessairement préliminairs
:de la présente requête,étant donné la nature des circonstances, il
.semhlc justifié d'attirer I'attciition sur la jiirispmdence des quatre
tlécisions précitées pour faireressortir combien sont solides les
Ix~sesjuridiqiies des titres Britanniqiies et combien les prétentions
iirgcntines sont dél>oiirviiesdc toiit foiirlcnient.
Acceptation de la juridiction de la Cour dans la présente affaire
40. Si l'on ticiit coiiiptc clc la longue pkriode pendant laquelle la
'soiivcraineté hritaniiiqiic s'est kffectivenieiit exercée dans ou a
I'egard des territoires dcs iles F;ilklaiid, le Royaunic-Uni aurait
Ctéfondé à prendre des niesures &iicrgi<]uespour mettre lin aux
cml>iétementsde l'rlrgentiiie siir les Orcades et les Shetland du Sud
et la Terre de Graham IL.Bieii ~liicpartisail con\:aiiicii di1règlement
l.:icifi<luedes clifféreiidseiitri: ii:rtioiis par le iiioyen de procédiircs
jiidici:iircs et sur la hast du rlroit, lorsque les négociations avec la
I<élxibliqiicArgentine conceriiaiit ces territoires se furent avérécs
stériles. le Iioyaume-Uni :i jugé préférnhlcde porter Ic différeiiti
rlcvarit la Cour internatioiialc di: Jiisticc oii toute aiitrc iiistaiice
jiidiciaire oii arbitral(:. Eii ~ons~rliiciicc. par notes cii date du
17 (l6cernbrc 1947, 1c(;oi~\~<:riieiiiciidtu Koyaume-Uni invita d'uiic
part l'Argentine et d'aiitrc part Ic Cliilii iliii iiiic invitation scpanie
avait &téadrcssGe,à soiiiiicttre Iciirs coiitestations des titres britaii-
~iitlucs :Lla souveraiiieté :ILijiiridictioii de la Cour internationale dl:
justice à laquelle le Royauiiic-Uni se soiiiiicttrait égalenieiit. Par
riote du 26 janvier 1946. I'r\i-gciitiiicralnoiitlitqu'elleétaitconvaiticiie
cles droits incontcstahlcs qu'clic posskdait ainsi que le Chili sur les
régionscontestées l5 et qii'il serait aiiorinal qu'elles comparaissent
devant la Cour dans la contlitioii d'iiii Etat réclainant ce qui lui
appartient déjà.Par notes du 30 avril 19j1 et du 16 février 1953, le
IZoyaiime-Uni réaffirma son offre tle coniparaitre devant la Coiir,
inais t,ontefoi sans jai~iais ol~teiiir<-le rél~onsefavorable de I'tlrgeii-
tine. Etant donné qiic ~~ersistanccdu diffkrend relatif à la souve-
rainetésur les temtoires ilcs 1)épendancesdes îles Falkland risque
inévitablement de coinl>roinettro les relations amicales actuelles
entre Ics deux pays, le Royaunir.-Uni adressa urie nouvelle note à
l'Argentine, Ic 21 déccrnhre 1954, l'invitant à se joindre à Iiii pour
" l<~i laitil cxiitcuti çiis<)ilil;i f;$liii rïcciu:ila forcï (i aiiviirilaiisI'ilc.
<IcIn 1)Çception. en février ,953) ljnc teritntivcl>itrticiiliereniçflagrante avait
éti.faite en ruc d'iiistallcitiiI>;iraqueinent;)rgoittiisiir le terraitmCme de la
b.ue britannique exista~ite (et ucciipde)siir cette ilç.
" Ceci ne petit qu'accentiiçr le cnractkrcdouteux des l>rétçiitioiis L'Argaiitiiiç
.~>uisqtte lesrdclamations <le l'Argentine et <lu Chili sont en conflitsiir laplus
,~rnndc partiedo la région. Elles nt: satiraienGtrï valables I'ilriet I'autrc. méine
si I'iine d'entreelleiI'ttait. Note to Chile. Xeither of tliese couiitricsiG, howcver, has thought
fit to accept tlie United Kingdom's proposal, and the Argentine
Govemineiit has in the meantime sent an expedition to Vahsel
Bay in Coats Land-a factor so recent tliat the United Kingdom
Goveriiiiient has nnt yet had time to investigatc it.
41. Tlic Uiiit<:tl I<iiigdoin. in its Notes of Ilecciiiber zr last.
statcd that. iii tlie cvent of Argstitina (or cqually Chilc) failiiig to
accepl its offcr of arbitration, it reserved the right to take such
steps as rnight I>copeii to it to ohtaiii ail adjiidicatiori of its legal
rights. Onc of the steps opeii to thc United Kiiigdom is to bring
the dispute beforc the Court 1)'. a unilateral t\pplicatioii under
Article 40 (1) of tlie Statute aiid Article 32 (2) of the Kules, aiid,
as indicatccl iii l>aragrapli I above, it is this procedure which the
Iinited 1;iiigdoiii has elected in adopt.
4% Tlic United I<iiigdoiii Goveriiiiierit, tliercfuri:. dcclarcs that
it hercby sul>iiiits tu the jurisdictinn of the Court for tlie purposes
of thc case rcfcrretl to the Court in the prescrit Applicatioii-(for
thc prccisc scopc riftliis siil)inissio~~s,ec footiiotc r to paragraph I
abovc). Tlic Argciitiiie i:;o\,crnment has riot, so far as tlic United
Kingdoin Govcriiinciit is alrare, yet filetl nny dcclarntion acceptiiig
the Court's jurisdicticiii. either generally uiidcr :\rticle 36 (2) of the
Statutc or spccially iii the present case. Tlic i\rgcntiiie Coveriirncnt.
\\.hich has freqiieiitly espresscd its adhercncc to the priiiciple of
judicial scttleiiiciit of international disputes, is, however, legally
qiialified tu sul>iiiil tri the jurisdictioii of the Court iii this case.
Conseqiiciitly, ul,oii iiotificatioii of the prcseiit t\pl>lic:itiori to the
Kel>ublic of Argciitiiia b!; the Kegisti-ar iii accortlance with the
Kitles of Court, the .Argciitiiie Governineiit, under the settled
jiirislxudciice of the Court, caii take the iiccessary steps to that
end, and thcrcb~~cause the Court's jurisdicjitiii iiithe case to he
constitiitcd iri rcsl>i:ctof hot11Parties.
'
43. Tlie tiiiitctl Iiiiigdom Governiiieiit fuuiids tlit: jurisdictioii
of the Court oii the furegoing corisideratioiis aiid oii Article 36 (1)
-of.thc Court's Statiite ; aiicl asks that a copy of the preseiit Appii-
catioii bc traiisiiiitted to the Governnieiit of t\rgciitiiia iii accord-
ance with t\rticle 33 of the Kules of the Coiirt, and to al1meinbers
of the United Xatioiis and other States cntitled to appear before
the Coiirt, iiiitlcr ~irticle 34 of the said Kules.
'
'q\fliilï tl>c irrcsïn;\l>plicstioiis of coursc. foriiiali!q.itilusçj>siatefruei tlie
curiciirrcntapplicati<,iin respect of Chile, tlicfact tliat t1ieiare alsu Cliileunprï-
tensiorir rclating 10 tliï South Shetlands-(;rnliant I.ai>d area. aiiciof equally or
eveii niore recoiitdate. lias a rignificaiircthat catinut bc u\~crloolicrlIt is clcar
soverïiazity ofi111,I:Jiiiteliiiig<lnrn.atteiiipts to oilst ancl .. .rp the legititnatr REQUÊTE INTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE (V 55) 36
soumettre le différend à un tribunal arbitral indépendant ad hoc.Le
Royaume-Uni adressa une note identique au Chili à la mêmedate.
Toutefois, ni l'un ni l'autre de ces pays '*n'ajugébon d'accepter la
proposition du Royaume-Uni, et le Gouvernement argentin a
envoyé dans l'intervalle une expédition à la baie de Vahsel sur la
Terre de Coats - facteur si récent que le Gouvernement du
Royaume-Uni n'a pas encore eu le temps de procéder à une enquête.
41. Par ses notes du 21 décembredernier, le Royaume-Uni faisait
savoir que si l'Argentine (de mêmeque le Chili) n'acceptait pas son
offre d'arbitrage, il se réservaitle droit de recourir à toutes les voies
qui lui seraient ouvertespour obtenir la reconnaissancc légale de ses
droits légitimes. L'une des voies ouvertes au Royaume-Uni est la
possibilité de porter le différend devant la Cour par une requête
unilatérale, en vertu de l'article 40(1) du Statut et de l'article 32
(2) du Règlement, et, ainsi qu'il a étédit au paragraphe I ci-dessus,
c'est cette procédureque le Royaume-Uni a décidéd'adopter.
42. En conséquence, leGouvernement du Royaume-Uni déclare
par la présente se soumettre à la juridiction de la Cour en ce qui
concerne l'affaire soumiseà cette dernièrepar la présente requête -
(au sujetde la portéeprécisedecetteacceptation, voir note I aupara-
graphe 1). Pour autant quele sache le Gouvernement du Royaume-
Uni, le Gouvernement argentin n'a pas jusqu'ici introduit de
déclaration par laquelle il accepte la juridiction de la Cour, soit de
maniere généraleen vertu de l'article 36 (2)du Statut, soit spécia-
lement en ce qui concerne la présente affaire. Le Gouvernement
argentin, qui a fréquemment déclaréson adhésionau principe du
règlement judiciaire des différendsinternationaux, a cependant la
compétence juridique voulue pour se soumettre àla juridiction de la
Cour dans la présente affaire. En conséquence,lorsque la présente
requête aura éténotifiéepar le Greffier à la République Argentine
conformément au Règlement de la Cour, le Gouvernement argentin
pourra, conformément à la jurisprudence établie par celle-ci,
prendre les mesures nécessaires à cet effet et faire par la que la
compétence.de la Cour dans la présente affaire soit établie à
l'égard des deux Parties.
43. Le Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni fonde la compétencede
la Cour sur les considérationsqui précèdentet sur l'article 36 (1) du
Statut de la Cour. Il demande qu'une copie de la présenterequête
soit transmise au Gouvernement de l'Argentine, conformément à
l'article33du Règlement de la Cour, ainsi qu'à chacun des Membres
des Nations Unies et aux autres États admis à ester devant la Cour,
en vertu de l'article34 du Règlement précité.
"Si la prbsente requêteest 6videmment entihrement distincte en la forme
de la requète correspondante relative au onine manquera pas de noter le
fait significatif qu'il existe également des prbtentions csurla r6gion
des Shetland du Sud-Terre de Graham d'une date semblable ou mème plus
rbcente. C'est un exemple évident de deux tentatives rivales et incompatibles
d'éiiminer la souverainet6 l6gitirne du Royaume-Uni. et de l'usurper.
537 APPLICATION INSTlTUTING PROCEEDINGS (V55)
44. The attitude of the Argentine Government in this case has
compelled the United Kingdom to take the initiative in placing
the matter before the Court, and therefore in effect to appear as
applicant. The United Kingdom Govcrnment nevertheless wishes
to make the fullest rcservations on thc question of the onus of
proof of title. It considers that the manifest priority in time of the
British possession oi the terntories, dating back to periods varying
between IIO and 180 years ago, and the complete absence during
virtually the whole of those periods. until a quite rccent date, of
any activities of a sovereign character, other than British, in the
territories, is indicative of a self-evident British title, which it
is for any country challenging that titlc to rebut.
The Contentions and Claims of the United Kingdom Government
in the Case
45. The Govemnieiit of the United Kingdom, in submitting this
application to the Court, accordiiigly contends :-
(1)that by reason of historic British discoveries of certain terri-
tories in the Antarctic and siib-Antarctic;by reason of the
long-continued and peaceful display of British sovereignty
from the date of thosc discoveries onwards in, and in
regard to, the territories concerncd; by reason of the
incorporation of these territories in the dominions of the
British Crown ; by virtue of their forma1 constitution in
the Royal Letters Patent of 1908 and 1917 as the British
Possession called the Falkland Islands Dependencies :the
United Kingdom possesses, and at aü material dates has
possessed, the sovereignty over tlie territories of the
Falkland Islands l)cpcndencies, and in particular theSouth
Sandwich Islands, South Georgia, the South Orkneys,
South Shetlands, Graham Land and Coats Land ;
(2)that the legal titles of tlic United Kingdom to the Falkland
Islands Dependencies, and in particular to the South
Sandwich Islands, South Georgia, the South Orkneys.
South Shetlands, Graham Land and Coats Land, are, and
at au material dates have becn, superior to the claims
of any othcr State, and in particular to those of the Republic
of Argentina ;
(3) that, in consequence, the pretensions of the Republic of
Argentina to the South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia,
the South Orkneys, South Shetlands, Graham Land and
Coats Land, and her encroachments and pretended acts
of sovereignty in those territories are, under international
law, illegal and invalid. REQUETE INTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE (V 55) 37
14. L'attitude du Gouvernement argentin dans cette affaire a
contraint le Royaume-Uni à prendre lui-meme i'initiativeen vke de
porter l'affaire devant la Cour et, en conséquence,d'apparaître en
qualité de demandeur. Le Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni désire
cependant faire les réservesles plus complètes en ce qui concerne le
fardeau ,de la preuve du titre. Il estime que, d'une part, la priorité
manifeste dans le temps de la possession britannique de ces terri-
toires, laquelle s'étenddans le passésur des périodesvariant de 110
à 180 ans, et, d'autre part, l'absence complète pratiquement pen-
dant toute cette périodeet jusqu'à une date trèsrécentede manifes-
tations de souverainetéautres que britanniques dans ces territoires,
constituent l'indication d'un titre britannique évident et que c'estau
pays qui le conteste qu'il appartient d'apporter la preuve contraire.
' .. !'
Pr6tentions et conclusions du Gouvernement du.Royaume-Uni en
l'affaire
; ?
45. En soumettant la présente requête à la Cour, le Gouverne-
ment du Royaume-Uni soutient en conséquence,ce :qu.i,suit:
I) en raison des découvertes britanniques historiques de certains
temtoires antarctiques et sub-antarctiques, .en,.raison du
caractère continu et pacifique des manifestations de la
, souveraineté britannique dans ou à I'égardfd'estemtoires
en cause depuis la date de leur découverte,~en:raison de
l'incorporation de ces territoires dans les possessions de la
Couronne britannique, en vertu deleur constitution officielle
en possessions britanniques sous le nom de Dépendances
des îles Falkland par les lettres patentes royales de 1908 et
de 1917: le Royaume-Uni détient et a dktenu à toutes dates
pertinentes la souveraineté sur les territoires des Dépen-
...dances des îles Falkland et en particulier les Sandwich du
Sud, la Georgie du Sud, les Orcades du Sud, les Shetland
du Sud, la Terre de Graham et la Terre de Coats;
2) les titres juridiques du Royaume-Uni sur les Dépendances
des îles Falkland et en particulier sur les Sandwich du Sud.
la Georgie du Sud, les Orcades du Sud, les Shetland du Sud,
la Terre de Graham et la Terre de Coats sont et ont été i
toutes dates pertinentes supérieurs aux prétentions de
tout autre État et en particulier celles de la République
Argentine ;
3) en conséquence. les prétentions de la République Argen-
tine sur les Sandwich du Sud, la Georgie du Sud, les Orcades
du Sud, les Shetland du Sud, la Terre de Graham et la
Terre de Coats ainsi que ses empiétements et ses prétendus
actes de souveraineté sur ces temtoires sont illégaux et
sans effets en vertu du droit international.38 APPLICATION II~STITUTIKG PROCEEDIKGS (vjj)
46. The Government of the United Kingdom. therefore, asks the
Court to declare-
(1).that ththeUnited Kingdom, as against the Republic of Argen-
tins, possesses, and at ail material dates has possessed,'
valid and subsisting legal titles to the sovereignty over al1
the temtories comprised in the Falkland Islands Depend-
encies, and in particular South Sandwich Islands, South
Georgia, the South Orkneys, South Shetlands, Graham
Land and Coats Land ;
(2) that the pretensions of the Republic of Argeritiria to the
temtories comprised in the Falkland Islands Dependencies,
and in particular South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia.
the South Orkneys, South Shetlands, Graham Land and
Coats Land, and her encroachments and pretended acts
of sovereignty in or relative to any of those territories are,
under international law, illegal and invalid ;
(3) that the Republic of Argentina is bound to respect the United
Kingdom's sovereignty over the territories comprised in
the Falkland Islands Dependencies, and iii particular
South SandwichIslands, South Georgia, the South Orkneys,
South Shetlands, Graham Land and Coats Land, to cease
her pretensions to exercise sovereignty in or relative to
those territories and, if caiied on by the United Kingdom.
to withdraw from them al1or any Argentine personnel and
equipment. . .
1 have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) G. G. FITZMAURICE,
Agent for the Government of
the United Kingdom. REQUÊTE INTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE (V55) 38
46. En conséquence, le Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni
demande à la Cour de dire:
1) que vis-à-vis de la République Argentine le Royaume-Uni
possède et possédait à toutes dates pertinentes des titres
juridiques valables et permanents A la souveraineté sur
tous les territoires compris dans les Dépendances des îles
Falkland et en particulier sur les Sandwich du Sud. la
Georgie du Sud, les Orcades du Sud, les Shetland du Sud,
la Terre de Graham et la Terre de Coats;
2) que les prétentions de la République Argentine sur les
territoires compris dans les Dépendances des îles Falkland
et en particulier les Sandwich du Sud, la Georgiedu Sud, les
Orcades du Sud, les Shetland du Sud, la Terre de Graham
et la Terre de Coats, ainsi que ses empibtements et prbten-
dus actes dc souveraineté sur ou en ce qui concerne ces
territoires sont illégaux et sans effets en droit intern;tional
3) que la République Argentine est tenue de respecter la
souveraineté du Royaume-Uni sur les temtoires compris
dans les Dépendances des îles Falkland et en particulier
sur les Sandwich du Sud, la Georgie du Sud, les Orcades
du Sud, les Shetland du Sud, la Terre de Graham et la
Terre de Coats, de renoncer à ses prétentions l'exercice
de la souveraineté sur ou en ce qui concerne ces territoires
et, si elle en est requise par le Royaume-Uni, d'en retirer
tout ou partie du personnel et du matériel argentins.
Veuillez agréer, etc.
(Signé ). G. FITZMAURICE,
Agent du Gouvernement
du Royaume-Uni. 39
ANNEXES
Annex I
(1) Letters Patent of July 21,1908 E.xtract from British and Foreign
State Papers, ~gg-08, Vol. IOI (London, 1912). pp. 76-77.
BRITISHLETTERSPATENTappointing the Governor of the Colony of
the Falkland Islands to be Governor of South Georgia, the South
Orkneys, the South Shetlands, the Sandwich Islands, and Graham's
Land, and providing for the Govemment thereof as Dependencies
of the Colony.-Westminster, July 21, 1go8*.
Edward the Seventh, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond
the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India: To al1
to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting.
Whereas the group of islands known as South Georgia, the South
Orkneys, the South Shetlands, and the Sandwich Islands, and the
territory known as Graham's Land, sitiiated in the South Atlantic
Ocean to the south of the 53th parallel of south latitude, and lying
between the 20th and the 80th degrees of west longitude, are part of
our Dominions, and it is expedient that provision should be made for
their government as Dependeficies of our Colony of the I'alklands ;
I. Now we do hereby declnre that from and after the publication
of these Our Letters Patent in the Government Gazetteof our Colony
of the Falkland Islands thesaid group of islands known as South Georgia,
and the said territory of Graham's Land shall become Dependencies
of Our said Colony of the Falkland Islands.
z. And we do hereby further declare that from and after such publi-
cation as aforesaid the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of our Colony
of the Falkland Islands for the time being (hereinafter caUedthe Gover-
nor) shall be the Governor of South Georgia, the South Orkneys, the
South Slietlands, and the Sandwich Islands, aiid the temtory of Graham's
Land (al1of which are hereinafter called the Dependencies) ;and we do
herebv vest in him ail such powers of government and legislation in
and over the Dependencies as are from time to time vested in our said
Governor in and over Our Colony of the Falkland Islands, subject,
nevertheless, to any instructions which may from time to time be here-
after given him undcr Our Sign Manual and Signet, or tlirough one of
Our Principal Secretaries of State, and to suc11laws as are now or shaU
hereafter be in force in the said Dependencies.
3. In the event of the death or incapacity of the Governor, or in the
event of his absence from our Colony of the I'alkland Islands othenvise
than for the purpose of visiting the Dependencies, the officer for the
time being administering the government of Our said Colony shall be
Governor for the time being of the Dependencies.
4. There shaU be an Executire Council for the Dependencies, and the
said Council shall consist of such persons as shall from time to time
constitute the Executive Council of OurColony of the Falkland Islands ;
* Falkland Islands Gazette, No. g.xviiiSepternberI,igo8.42 AXXEXES l'O APPLICATIOS (NO. 1)
such Courts and for tlie Administration of Justice as may be necessary
for the peace, order, and good govemment of Our subjects and others
within the said present or future Settlements respectively, or any of
tliem, any law, statute, or usage to the contrary, in any wise notwith-
standing :
And whereas by the said recited Act of Parliament it is further enacted
that it shall be lawful for Us, by any Commission or Commissions under
tlie Great Seal of the United Kingdom, or by any Instmctions under
Our Signet and Sign Illanual accompanying and referred to in any
such Commission or Commissions, to delegate to any three or inore
persons within any of the Settlements aforesaid respectively, the powers
and authorities so vested in Us in Our Privy Council as aforesaid,
either in whole or iri part, and upon, iinder, and subject to al1 such
Comniissioiis ur Iiisiructioiis, as ;iforeinid, \\je sl;sectitoto I,rc;cril>e
Pro\,idcd al\r,ay;. tlintn~~t\i.ith~tnritliaiiy siicli delcgalioii uf aiitliority
as aforcs;iid. itsliall still bc ci,iiil>l.teiitto iiiOiir l'iivv ('oiiiiciIII
inanner afoiesaid, to esercise all'the powers and authonties so veited
as aforesaid in Us in Our Privy Council :
Now therefore, in pursuance and esercise of the powers so vested in
Us as aforesaid by the said recitcd Act of Parliament, We, of Our special
Grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, by this Commission under
the Great Seal of the United Kingdom aforesaid. delegate to the persons
hereinafter named within the said Falkland Islands, the powers and
autliorities so vested in Us in Our Pnvy Council as aforesaid ; but upon,
under and subject to.all sucli conditions, provisoes, and limitations as
by this Our Commission, or by the Instructions under Our Signet and
Sign Manual accompanying the same, are prescribed. And \\'e do
declare Our Pleasure to be, and do hereby declare and grant, that the
Governor for the tiine being of the said Falkland Islands, and such other
persons, not being less tlian two, as are Iiereinafter dcsignated, sliall
constitute and be a Legislative Council for the said Islands. And We do
hereby direct and appoint tliat the persons other than tlie said Governor
constituting the said Legislative Council sliall be such Public Officers
within the said Islands as shall be designated, or such otber persons
within the same as shaU fromtime be named for that purpose by Us by
any Instmction or Instmctions, or Warrant or Warrants, to be by Us
for tliat purpose issued under Our Signet and Sign hlanual, and with
the advice of Our Privy Couiicil, al1 of wliich Council1o;s shall hold
their places in the said Council at our pleasure.
And We do hereby authorise, empower, and enjoin siicli Legjslative
Council to make and establisli al1 such Laws, Institutions, and Ordi-
nances as may from time to time be necessary for the peace, order, and
good govemment of Our subjects and others within the said present or
future Settlements in the said Falkland Islands and in their Dependen-
cies :and Our pleasure is that in the making and establishing al1 such
Laws, Institutions, and Ordinances, the said Legislative Council shall
conform to and observe ail such rules and regulations as shall be given
Privy Council, ishaU from time ta time make for thcir guidance thereinur :
Provided nevertheless, and We do herehy reserve to Ourselves, Our
Heirs and Successors, Our and Their riglit and authonty to disaUow
any such Ordinances in the whole or in part ;and to make and establish ANNEXES TO APPLICATIOX (NO. 1) 43
from time to time, with the advice and consent of Parliament, or with
the advice of Our or Their Privy Council, al1 siich Laws as may to Us
or them appedr necessary for the order, peace, and good government
of Our said Settlements and their Dependencies as fiilly as if these
Presents had not heen made.
And whereas it is expedient that an Executive Council should he
appointed to advise and assist the Governor of Our said Settlements
in the Falkland Islands and in their Deuendencies. for the time bein~..,.
in ttic :i<lriiiiiiilr.ijftlic i;<i\.t,riiiiieiil tli\Vtiao tli~rclorc. by
tlicsOur Lettcis I1;itcnt.:iiithori!ticGovrriior of Oiir snitl i.ttleriii:iiti
for the time being, to suminon asan Executive Council such persons as
may, from time to time, be named or designatcd by Us in any Instruc-
tions under Our Signet and Sign Manual addressed to him in that belialf.
And We do hereby authorise and empower tlie Governor of Our said
Settlements in the I'alkland Islands and in their Dependencies, for the
time being, to keep and use the Public Seal appointed for the sealing
of al1things whatsoïver that sliall pass the Seal of Our said Settlemeiits.
And U'e do hereby give and grant to the Governor of Our said Settle-
ments in the Falkland Islands and in their Dependencies, for the time
being, full power and autliority, with tlie advice and cotisent of Our
said Executive Council, to issue a I'roclamation, or Proclamations
dividing Our said Settlements into districts, countics, hundreds, towns,
townships, and parishes, and to appoint the limits thereof respectively.
And Ive do hereby give and grant to the Governor of Our said Settle-
ments in the Falkland Islands and in their Dependencies. for the time
being, full power and authority, in Our name and ori Our hehalf. but
subject nevertheless to such provisions as may be in tliat respect con-
tained in any Instructions \%,hichmay from time to time be addressed
to him by Us for that purpose, to make and execute in Our name and
on Our behalf, under the Public Seal of Our said Settlements, grants
of waste land to Us belonging witliin the same, to private persons for
their own use and benefit, or to any persons, bodies politic or corporate,
in trust for the public uses of Our subjects there resident, or any of tliem.
And We do herehy authorise and empower the Governor of Our said
Settlements in the Falkland Islands and in tlieir Dependencies, for the
time being, to constitute and appoint Judges, and, in cases requisite,
Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer, Justices of the l'eace, and other
necessary Officers and Ministers in Our said Settlements, for the due and
impartial administration of justice, and for putting the Iaws into exe-
cution, and to administer or cause to be administered unto thein such
oath oroathsas are usually given for the due esecution and performance
of offices and places, and for the clcaring of truth in judicial matters:
And We do herehy give and grant unto tlie Governor of Our said
Settlements in the I.'alkland Islands and in their Dependencies, for the
time being, full power and authority, as he shall see occasion, in Our
name and on Our behalf, to remit any fines, penalties, or forfeitures
which may accrue or become payable to Us, provided thc same do not
exceed the sum of fiftv oounds sterline in anv one case. and to res~ite
and suspeiid the payment of any such fine, or forfeiture, excéed-
in^ the snid sum of fifty pounds, until'our pleasure tliereon shall be
made known and signifieid-to such Goveruor:
And We do hereby give and grant unto the Gorernor of the said
Settlements in the I'alkland Islands and in tlieir Dependencies, for the44 ASSEXES TO AI'PLICATIO'J (NO. 1)
name and oii Our behalf, to grant to any offender convicted of anyn Our
crime, in any Court, or before any Judge, Justice, or Ilagistrate within
Our said Settlements, a free and uncoiiditional pardon, or a pardon
subject to such conditions as by any Law or Ordinance hereafter to be
in force in Our said Settlements may be thereunto annexed, or any
respite of the execution of the sentence of any such offeiider for such
period as to such Govemor may seem fit.
And We do hereby give and grant unto the Govemor of Our said
Settlements, for the time being, full power and authority, upon sufficient
cause to liirn appearing, to suspend from the exercise of his officewithin
Our said Settlements any person exercising any officeor place under or
by virtue of any Commission or \Vamant granted, or which may be
granted, by Us, or in Our name, or under Our authority ; which suspen-
sion shall continue and have effect oiily until Our pleasure therein shall
be made known and signified to such Govemor. And We do hereby
strictly require and enjoin the Governor of Our said Settlements, for
the time being, in proceeding to any such suspension, to observe the
directions in that behalf given to him by Our Instructions under Our
Signet and Sign Manual, accompauying his Commission of appointment
as Governor of the said Settlements.
And in the event of the death or absence out of Our said Settlements
in the Falkland Islands and in their Dependencies, of such person as
may be commissioned and appointed by Us to be the Governor thereof,
We do hereby provide and declare Our pleasure to be, that al1and every
the powers and aiithonties herein granted to the Govemor of Our said
Settlements in the Falkland Islands and in their Dependencies for the
time heing, shaU be and the same are hereby vested in such person as
inay be appointed by Us by Warrant under Our Signet and Sign Manual
to be the Lieutenant-Governor of Our said Settlements ; or in the event
of there being no person within Our said Settlements commissioned
and appointed by Us to be Lieutenant-Governor thereof, then Our
pleasure is and \Ve do herebv ~rovide and declare. that in such contin-
iency ail tlic powcrs and auili6rities Iierein graritcd ttlii(;o\fcrririr or
1-ieutcnant-Govenir,r of Our said Çettleiiieiits. sliallbc and tlic sarne
arc.ti~'rchy grniiteil to rhc lusticr of tlie I'encr whost: iianie slinll be
standing fir& in order in any general Commission of tlie Pcace, issued
by the Governor or Oiïicer administering the Governmeiit of Our Settle-
ments in the Falkland Islands and of their Dependencies, such Commis-
sion of the Peace being revocablc and renewable from time to time by
such Govcriior or Admiiiistrator of the Government, as he may fiiid
occasion ; arid such Lieutenant-Governor or such Justice of the Peace,
as may be, sliall execute al1and every the powers and authorities herein
grAnd We dohereby require and command ali Our Officersand Ministers,
civil and military, and al1other the inhabitants of Our said Settlements
in the Falkland Islands and their Dependeiicies, to be obedient, aidiiig
and assisting to such person as may be commissioned aiid appointed
by Us to be the Governor of Our said Settlements, or in the event of his
death or absence to such person as may, under the provisions of these
Our Letters Patent, assume and exercise the functions of such Governor. ANNEXES TO APPLICATIOS (XO. 1) 45
.4nd \Ve do hereby reserve to Us, Our Heirs and Successors, full
power and authority, from time to time, to revoke, alter, or amend
these Our Letters Patent, as to Us or Them shall seem meet.
In Witness, Prc.
(4) Commission issued to the Governor of the Falkland Islands in
November, 1847.Extract from Londoii Gazette, No. 20801, Novem-
ber 30, 1847. P. 4435.
Downing Street,
November 27, 1847.
...Her Majesty has further been pleased to appoint George Rennie,
Esq., to be Governor and Commander in Chiefin and over Her Majesty's
settlements in the Falkland Islands and their dependencies.
(5) Summary of the Whaling Laws in Force in the Falkland Islands
Dependencies in 1920. Annexure III to Appendix V of the Report
of the Interdepartmental Committee on Kesearch and Develop-
ment in the Dependencies of the Falkland Islands. (Cmd. 657,
April 1920, pp. 59-60.)
(A) LAW^
Ordinance No. 5 of 1908 (as amended by subsequent Ordinances No. 5
of 1912, No. 5 of 1915, and No. 9 of 1915) forbids the killing, taking, or
hunting of whales in Colonial waters without a licence. Subject to any
regulations made by the Governor in Councilthe Governor is empowered
to settle in regard to each licence :-
(a) The period ;
(b) The number and tonnage of vessels to be employed in the taking
of whales ;
(c) The limits of Colonial waters within which whales may be taken ;
(d) In which of the Dependencies the licensee may use the harbours
by virtue of his licence.
The Colonial Secretary, or such other officer as the Government may
appoint, is empowered to grant whaling licences and licences to utilise
whale carcasses by means of a floating factory. The feespayable are :
I For a whaling licence, 2100 ;
Il For a floating factory : not less than froo, and not more than
£zoo, as the Governor in Council may approve.
The penalty for taking whales without a licence is E300for each offence
in the case of the master or owner, and 2100in the case of other offenders.
The penalty payable hy an owner or master may be recovered by the
arrest and sale of the vessel.
The Ordinance also makes it an offence, subject to a penalty of EIOO,
(a) to have unlawful possession of whale oil or whalebone ;
(6) to employ, without authority, any vessel for manufacturing,
towing, or buoying whale carcasses within Colonial waters; .ASSEXES TO APPLICATION (No. 1)
46
(c) to employ any licensed vessel to tow, buoy, or manufacture in
Colonial waters wliale carcasses taken outside Colonial waters
by any unauthorised vessel.
The Governor in Council may make regulatioiis for :-
(a) Fixing the conditions of licences ;
(6) Regulating the numher of licences to be granted in any one year ;
(c) Defining the limits within which a licence-liolder may take
whales ;
(d) Regulating tlie numher of whales to he taken ;
(e) Regulating the disposai for forfeited whales, oil, &c. ; and
(1) Generally for carrying out the provisions of the Ordinance.
The owner or lessee of any land may take possession of a derelict whale
with permissioii of the Governor in Couiiciland on payment of a royalty.
Provision is made for taking whales for scientific purposes.
During the \Var Ordinances were passed requiring the products of
the whaling industry to be brought to,and sold in, the United Kingdom.
(B) REGULATIONS
(a) South Gcorgin.-Thc rcgulations
(1) Prohibit leaseholders from kiliing or shooting any whale calf or
any female whale which is accompaiiied by a calf ;
(2) Reserve to the Crown any dead whale ahandoned or throwii up
on the seashore ;
(3) Prescribe penalties for breaches of t1ie.regulations.
(b) 0thu ~e~e~idencies.-The regul t' a ions
(1) Provide for the issue of annual licences (October to September) ;
(2) Prohihit licensed vessels from catcliing whales for a Company
other tlian that mentioned in the licence ;
(3) Authorise tlie use of (a) two floating factories, in conjunction
witli two whale catchers-fee Szoo; and (6) a third whale
catcher-fee £100 ;
(4) Require the provisiori of pressure boilerç for dealing witli the
residue of the carcass;
(5) Prescribe that separate licences shall be issued for.:-
''(a) The South Shetlands and Graham Land;
(6) The South Orkneys; .
(c) ïhe Falkland Islands ;
(d) The South Sandwich Islands ;
but that no further licence or lease for whaling purposes shall
be issued, with tlie exception of reuewals of cxisting annual
liceiices for,two floating factories and two whale catchers, or
of a third whale catcher, withotit the permission of the Governor
in Council ;
(6) Require every licensed vessel at the end of the season to proceed
direct ,to a port of entry and to report full particulars of the
catch, including the number of barre- of ail atid!the quantity
of baleen and guano .obtained ; . . ANNEXES TO APPLlCATlON (NO. 2) 47
(7) Prohibit licensees from killing or shooting an? whale calf or any
female whale which is accompanied by a calf ;
(8) Reserve to the Crown any dead whale abandoned or thrown up
on the seashore ;
(9) Prescribe penalties for breach of the regulations.
(c) In consequence of tlie War and the necessity for obtaining a
maximum output of oil, the Govemor was empowered by regul a t'ions
made on September 13, 1916, to authorise, during the continuance of
the. \Var, the departure from any or al1of tlie provisions of the above- .
mentioned regulations as to him may seem fit and expedient.
!' 2
(c) LEASES AND LICENCES
(a) Form of Leuse.-Some particulars of the whaling leases already
granted in South Georgia will be found in Annexure 1. In addition, the
lessees are prohibited from taking, removing, appropriating, killing, or
in anv,wav u.ine f-r their own benefit or for the benefit of anv other
pcrwn or pcrions. sny prodiict or ;inim:il wli:iisue\,cr ori tlie isltind of
South Gcurxi;ior aiiy is1:iiidadjaceiit ttiereto. .flic riglit to wi:iii<t:,ke
mincral oil is ri~scr\.edti~tlie Croivri.'llic Ic:isc:il.qosi)rciftcs tlie niinil~<.r
of vessels which may be employed, and, in the case'of the later leases,
requircs the utilisation, without waste, of tlie whole carcass of al1whales
taken. The lesseesare reauired la Jto kee~an accurate record of meteoro-
logicnl observations ;inrl'to lu~ni~iifui1;,;irticiii:irs of suc11oi>ser\,;itions
to tlte G,>vernurof tliç I;;ilkl:in<lIsl;<r~d;(b) to kecr) in stock a rcasoii-
able quantity of coal and provisions to besupplied it cost price to any
ship requiring coiil or provisions; (c) to establish and maintain and
exhibit two leading beacon lights as guides to sliipping; (d) to give
certain facilities of access to the shore on which the site leased is situate:
and (e) to furnish to the Govemor of tlie Falkland Islands an annual
report respecting their operations.
(b) Form of Licence.-The licencesissued urider the Ordinance provide
for the payment of the fee either at the Colonial Treasury or to the
Crown Agents. It specifies the names of tlie vessels to be employed in
taking whales ;the limits within which they may be taken (i.e., in the
territorial waters of a specified Depcndency) and the harbours to be
used ;and it requires the licensee to render an accurate account of the
number and description of the whales taken and the quantity of oil.
, bone, and guano obtained.
Annex II
MAP OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS DEPENDENCIES
[See end of volume]
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