Office of the Historian

151. Evening Reading for President Reagan1

Washington, undated

LAW OF THE SEA

The LOS Conference President announced today all amendments must be submitted by Tuesday, April 13. He stressed that the application of the Rules of Procedure should not present an obstacle to further [Page 443] negotiations, nor should it prevent adoption of the Convention by consensus. We faced an emerging French-British initiative to submit separate national amendments or amendments sponsored by the CG–5 minus the U.S. Such amendments would fall far below the U.S. bottom-line and would place any negotiating effort with the G–77 in serious jeopardy. We have temporarily dissuaded French and British on the grounds that such a course could terminate prospects for U.S. participation in the Convention. It is clear, however, that each of our Allies will make a judgment next week when the window for formal amendments closes, and if they do not feel that promising negotiations are likely, they may publicly split with the U.S. Agreement has been reached that negotiations will begin on Thursday2 afternoon on preparatory investment protection. Following conclusion of those negotiations, there will be a pause for the G–77 to consider how to proceed. The G–77 have not agreed to negotiation with the U.S. on any other issues, and indeed, have not been able to achieve a consensus on which issues can be negotiated. There are indications that there may be a two-thirds vote in favor of prior notification and authorization for warships. This news greatly concerned USSR (Kozyrev, Deputy Foreign Minister). U.S. suggested adoption of the Convention by consensus which could be done if the Soviets drop their objections to U.S. proposals. Kozyrev replied that, if U.S. can agree to a resolution of council composition and decisionmaking which does not disadvantage Soviets, they will assist or not object to improvements U.S. is seeking in all other areas.

  1. Source: Department of State, Marine Law and Policy Division, Subject and Country Files, Law of the Sea, 1982–1983, Lot 85D105, Law of the Sea—4. Secret. Drafted by the U.S. Law of the Sea Delegation on April 7, cleared by Eskin and Salmon, and approved by Malone. There is no indication Reagan saw this report.↩
  2. April 8.↩