614. Telegram 14287 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Peru1 2
SUBJECT:
- Situation on tuna grounds and planned Dept action
REF:
- Lima 0409
1. Statement of Talara port captain to consular agent, actions of Peruvian navy in Hornet and Cape Ann incidents, and subsequent absence of additional incidents despite undoubted presence of unlicensed US tunaboats in area all lend credibility to view that GOP is making definite effort to keep situation cool on tuna grounds. This, together with inaction of Ecuadorean navy to date, is most encouraging development since CEP agreement to engage in conference on fishery problem. Dept intends make maximum use of these evidences of conciliatory CEP attitude to quietly influence operators to exercise all possible [Page 2] discretion in fishing and in contacts with Peruvian and Ecuadorean officials. We believe more experienced and responsible operators will see advantages of cooperating in keeping lid on situation, though there is of course no way to guarantee against individual lapses like that of Cape Ann captain. We should not rpt not minimize difficulty of maintaining restraint on both sides, but to extent we can demonstrate that GOP and GOE are making sincere effort to avoid incidents, we will have improved chance of riding out industry and Congressional reactions in case one or two quiet seizures cannot be avoided. Tuna canning companies, which have influence in management of some boats, and American Tunaboat Association leadership appear willing to back Dept in efforts to keep situation cool.
2. Dept has invited CEP Ambassadors to call January 30 [Page 3] to receive our reaction to memorandum and draft agreement (previously pouched) which they gave us January 5. We intend stress appreciations of their effort to contribute to dialogue and state that although we find number of points in their draft which, if we interpret them correctly, would not be acceptable, we consider document could serve as basis for further useful discussions among experts at four-party working level meeting, which we will propose be held next month at Lima or other suitable location. We will express our gratification at lack of serious trouble so far this year and our intention to do all possible to keep situation quiet. We will also refer in general terms to efforts which Dept has been making to be forthcoming on fish product trade concessions and fishery development cooperation, which CEP stressed at Buenos Aires as important elements of settlement of fishery problem but which received no rpt no mention in their January 5 presentation.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 33–4 PERU–US. Confidential. Drafted by VanCampen; cleared by Stedman; and approved by McKernan. Repeated to Quito, Santiago, and Guayaquil; to Mexico City for the Regional Fishing Attaché; to Caracas for Meyer.↩
- In this telegram, the Department of State stated that the Peruvian Government was attempting to defuse the conflict over fishing rights. The Department intended to inform the CEP nations that the U.S. Government appreciated their restraint regarding the conflict over fishing.↩