ABSTRACT
The purpose of the Consultative Meetings is, of course, to facilitate in implementation of the terms of the Treaty. The Consultative Powers make Recommendations that have the force of executive agreements in order to aid in the execution of the Treaty. International law is composed of state custom, i.e., the practice of states as evidence of a code of conduct by nations, and contractual law. In the case of the Antarctic, it is clear that only contractual law is of concern. Although such concepts of customary law as uti possidetis juris influence the issue of territorial sovereignty, the Treaty itself is a pact between governments and therefore, it and its supporting arrangements are contractual in nature. The Belgian intent was obviously to overcome the problem of acceding states. However, it opened up a far greater threat to the Treaty by the manner in which it tried to solve the problem.
