Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, United Nations and General International Matters, Volume II

342. Message From Prime Minister Macmillan to President Eisenhower¹

London, March 12, 1958.

Dear Friend: As promised in my message of March 8² about the Law of the Sea, my colleagues and I have now reviewed the whole situation covered by both the strategic considerations and the fishery considerations which as you know are of such vital national importance to us. We have had the benefit of the latest advice from the leader of our delegation to the Conference.

The conclusion we have reached is that at this stage of the Conference’s proceedings it would be premature and even dangerous for any compromise to be put forward or discussed. We believe that there may be quite a measure of support for a three-mile limit for all purposes which we are agreed would be the ideal solution, and it would be a mistake to throw this away, as would undoubtedly happen if a compromise were suggested before the necessity really arose.

We also consider that mentioning a 12-mile (or any other) limit for fisheries would open the danger of getting this figure accepted for other purposes.

Our delegation is therefore being instructed not to put forward any compromise proposal for the time being and I hope you will agree that yours should do likewise. For the present I am sure that the best tactics are to press hard for the retention of a three-mile limit and to explore the possibility of adopting such fishery conservation measures as would take some steam out of the demand for wider fishery or territorial limits. I hope that both our delegations will keep in the closest touch with these objectives in view.³

As ever,

Harold⁴

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 399.731/3–1358. Confidential; Presidential Handling. Transmitted in telegram 6481 to London, March 13, 3:30 p.m., which is the source text. Repeated to Geneva as telegram 878 for Dean.
2. Document 339.
3. In telegram 5417 from London, March 13, the Embassy reported that it had been told the substance of this message and that the British Delegation believed that a 3-mile rule would command support of about one-third of the delegations. The Foreign Office felt strongly that it would be preferable for the conference to adopt no rule rather than agree to the Canadian proposal or a 12-mile rule. (Department of State, Central Files, 399.731/3–1458)
4. Telegram 6481 bears this typed signature.