International co-operation for Antarctic development: the test for the Antarctic Treaty

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Author: Roberts, Brian
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1978
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Polar Record
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400001856; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400001856

It has been suggested to me that I should take this opportunity to initiate discussion about the Antarctic Treaty: in particular to review how far the Treaty is meeting our present practical needs. During the forty years or more during which I have been associated with Antarctic affairs, I have seen some degree of international order evolved out of chaos; harmony has replaced discord; many apparently insoluble problems have been resolved one after another. I have seen that good co-operation and compromise can be and have been achieved repeatedly without any significant sacrifice of national autonomy and to the common advantage of all concerned.