325. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union1
272314. Subject: Discussions on Soviet Whaling.
1. After consulting with NOAA Administrator Dr. Anthony Calio concerning Soviet Embassy query on how the certification of the U.S.S.R. under the Pelly and Packwood-Magnuson amendments could be removed,2 on August 26 we told Soviet Fisheries Attache Chursin that we can de-certify the Soviets if they will withdraw their objection to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) moratorium on commercial whaling and end whaling now before the next whaling season (1987/88). We agreed with Commerce that if the Soviets find this unacceptable, the certification could also be removed if the Soviets withdraw the objection to the moratorium now to take effect after the 1987/88 season and whale for one more year (similar to US-Japan agreement). If the Soviets take any action, it is likely to be unilateral to avoid the perception that they are acting under duress from the U.S.
- Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D860658–0487. Confidential. Drafted and approved by Kendrew and cleared in EUR/SOV. Sent for information to Tokyo. Sent to Seoul, Reykjavik, and Oslo.↩
- No Soviet query on certification has been found. In an August 18 memorandum to Smith, Kendrew reported on August 13 consultations with Calio. (Department of State, Arctic, Antarctic, and Whaling, 1975–1987, Lot 92D228, IWC—U.S.S.R. 1987–87)↩