711.008 North Pacific/520
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Leo D. Sturgeon, Assistant to the Counselor of the Department of State
| Participants: | The Canadian Minister24 |
| Mr. Moore | |
| Mr. Hickerson | |
| Mr. Sturgeon |
The Canadian Minister called at 12:00 noon at Mr. Moore’s request.
Mr. Moore stated that we desired to discuss with the Minister the proposal made in April to the Canadian Government relative to a study of the problem of ensuring protection to certain North Pacific fisheries, especially the halibut and salmon fisheries, and then briefly reviewed the proposal made to and accepted by the Canadian Government for the informal study and handling of matters related to the subject under reference. The Minister said that he recalled very well the procedure which had been agreed upon by the two Governments and that on the Canadian side they had got so far as to designate two persons to do the work, one a member of the Department of Fisheries and the other himself. He said that recently, however, the Department of Fisheries had been handicapped in its work through retirements of senior personnel, and mentioned that his appointment as Minister to Washington had also intervened. He said that he now presumed that his Government would designate someone in the Department of External Affairs at Ottawa (he thought Mr. Keenleyside) to replace himself in the proposed work.
Mr. Hickerson stated that it had been our hope here that the Minister would be able to work with us as originally arranged. The Minister said he feared that would not be practicable for the reasons that he would probably not have the necessary time for the purpose and that a more effective collaboration with his Government would probably result if the assignment were passed on to someone at Ottawa.mr. Sturgeon mentioned his acquaintance with Mr. Keenleyside and commented that if the latter should receive the assignment—as the Minister thought likely—we would be fortunate in having the opportunity to work with him. Mr. Moore indicated that we would await further word on this from the Minister; that our idea at the moment was that the officers designated by the two Governments should meet as soon as possible to decide upon the various subjects to be studied and the procedure to be followed with respect to the study; that he also wished to emphasize that we regard conservation of the fisheries in [Page 347] question, as well as others of common interest to Canada and the United States, as of the greatest importance. The Minister concurred in this view. He said he was on the point of leaving for Ottawa and would on arrival take up the matters discussed with his Government.25