408. Telegram From the Delegation to the Conference on the Law of the Sea to the Department of State1
1538. Law of Sea. At meeting with Hare and Fitzmaurice (UK) and Drew and Cadieux (Canada) this afternoon the following was agreed to:
- (1)
- Chairman of Committee of the Whole will announce all proposals for that committee must be filed by Friday noon and voting in committee will start Wednesday at 3:00 pm.
- (2)
- By Friday noon present US and present Canadian proposals will be withdrawn and simultaneously joint Canadian-US proposal will be filed providing for six miles territorial sea and six-mile outer fishing zone and termination of historical rights at end of ten years.
- (3)
- At later conference with above mentioned Correa (Ecuador) Chairman of the Committee of the Whole and undersigned, we outlined possibility of not tabling above proposal in Committee of the Whole but circulating it to conference before April 14 so delegates could cable its contents to respective departments over Easter weekend, then not tabling it until plenary. Raised with chairman question whether if we followed this procedure there was possibility of Soviets and Mexicans withdrawing their proposals in voting in Committee of the Whole and he believed there was grave possibility of this. If this occurred, there would then ensue jockeying as to whether Soviet or joint Canadian-US proposal would be filed first and unless twelve-milers comes up first and is clearly defeated, large number of delegations who are favorably disposed toward joint proposal could not vote for it until it has been demonstrated there is no possibility of twelve-mile proposal winning. Consequently are working on text joint proposal which we will cable Department so it can be sent all Embassies with request they attempt obtain support for it.
Plan tomorrow to pool work of UK, Canada and US liaison officers in support of proposed joint proposal.
Plan explain Western European group tomorrow we tried to get Canada accept 15-year termination and that we have made two concessions, namely, that there should be a termination limit for historical fishing rights and that the limit should be 10 rather than 15. Canada will join with US in statement that neither will accept any amendment attempting to lower 10-year period. Will attempt get Western Europeans to ask for instructions to vote in favor of proposed joint proposal [Page 777] when it comes up in Committee of the Whole. Correa (Ecuador) advised us redouble our efforts in Latin America as he advised others are working exceptionally hard. He believes Mexico, Panama, Peru, Venezuela, Guatemala, Philippines, Indonesia, nine Soviet votes and possibly at least nine Arab votes plus Iran will stay with twelve miles throughout. Consequently every affirmative vote is of the utmost importance.
Drew and undersigned2 plan to speak for joint proposal Friday afternoon.