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The reluctant hosts: Soviet Antarctic expedition ships visit Australia and New Zealand in 1956

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 22:37 authored by Gan, I
Russian and Australian primary sources were examined in an attempt to reconstruct the voyage of the first composite Soviet Antarctic expedition to Antarctica and from thence to Leningrad [St Petersburg]. This expedition had the aim of constructing a base for the Soviet International Geophysical Year (IGY) commitment. In a time of cold war tension and unresolved Antarctic claims, the Australian and New Zealand governments were wary of Soviet intentions and barely tolerated visits by Soviet expeditions. However, in their interactions with Australians and New Zealanders, the Soviets were careful to underline the friendly nature of their visits and avoided any sensitive political questions. The two governments’ apparent lack of enthusiasm for Ob and Lena entering their ports after fulfilling their task in Antarctica is contrasted with the generally more enthusiastic attitude of the Australian and New Zealand scientists and expedition members, with whom the Soviet personnel came into contact, some of whom developed lasting scientific relationships with the visitors.

History

Publication title

Polar Record

Volume

45

Issue

232

Pagination

37-50

ISSN

0032-2474

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Cambridge Univ Press

Place of publication

NY, USA

Rights statement

Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

International relations not elsewhere classified

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