339. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Iceland1
285028. Subject: US-Iceland Discussions on Scientific Whaling; Ottawa, September 9. Ref: A) Tosec 140298 (Notal),2 B) State 279248 (Notal).3
1. Confidential entire text.
2. Following the receipt of a second letter to President Reagan from Prime Minister Palsson on scientific whaling (Sept 6),4 discussions were agreed for Ottawa on September 9. Ottawa was selected as the site due to the travel there of Foreign Minister Hermannsson on other business.
3. The US delegation was headed by IWC Commissioner Calio, with participation from the Departments of Commerce, State and Justice. On the Icelandic side the talks were conducted by the GOI Ambassador to the US and Canada, Ingvi Ingvarsson; other GOI representation was from the Foreign and Fisheries Ministries. Foreign Minister Hermannsson was present at the site but did not directly participate.
4. The talks began on Wednesday5 morning and were concluded the same day. The two sides agreed to present to their respective governments a three part understanding which was to be put into a written document (ad ref text of the understanding follows at para [9] below). Ambassador Ingvarsson agreed to present this understanding to the Foreign Ministry for consideration at the GOI Cabinet’s regular Thursday morning meeting on September 10. On a personal basis, he opined that the understanding could prove acceptable.
6. [5.] Both sides agreed that the text should not be made public nor should the press be informed of the contents of the Ottawa talks at this time. Dr. Calio noted that the agreement was also ad ref for the US and would need to be approved by the Acting Secretary of Commerce and senior officials at Justice and State. In the meantime, he [Page 973] urged that Iceland continue its pause in the taking of whales. Dr. Calio reiterated that the position of the Secretary of Commerce had not changed—Iceland’s taking of whales after the IWC recommendation not to do so had created a basis for certification. Should Iceland take any further whales prior to agreeing to bring its research program into line with the IWC resolution on scientific whaling, the Acting Secretary intended to certify.
7. [6.] Dr. Calio made clear that this ad referendum understanding was beyond the limit of his negotiating mandate. Iceland must agree in unambigious and public terms to abide by the IWC’s scientific advice. Also, should the U.S. and Iceland fail in their efforts to reform the Scientific Committee’s process for the review of research permits, Iceland must still abide by the views of that committee. Dr. Calio stated that he was prepared to begin efforts to reform the committee on an expedited basis and was prepared to contact key commissioners immediately after the ad ref understanding was confirmed by both sides. He added that there was no reason other than cost why the reform process could not be considered at an inter-sessional meeting in order to try to have the 1988 review of special permits by the Scientific Committee conducted under revised procedures. He indicated that he would consult with the IWC Chairman when appropriate.
8. [7.] Ingvarsson stated that he believed this proposed understanding provided a good basis for settling the issue and he thought his government would be able to respond quickly. Should there be a need for further discussion of the proposed text, he expected it could be carried out in Washington through the Embassy.
9. [8.] Begin text of ad ref agreement:
1) For 1988 and thereafter, the Government of Iceland would submit its research program for review by the IWC Scientific Committee and would carry out the recommendations of that committee.
2) The United States would not certify the Government of Iceland for the 80 fin whales and the 20 sei whales taken in 1987.
3) The United States will work with Iceland and other IWC Commissioners to review and make recommendations regarding the structure of the IWC Scientific Committee process for the review of research permits, so as to build confidence in that process.
End text.
- Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D870751–0945. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Perlow; cleared in OES/O, EUR/NE, L/OES, S/S, and NOAA; and approved by Wilkinson. Sent Immediate for information to the White House. Sent for information to the Department of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, Tokyo, the Department of Justice, and USCINCLANT Norfolk.↩
- In telegram 279237 (Tosec 140298) to Reykjavik, September 6, the Department directed the Embassy to pursue further discussions with Iceland regarding whaling. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D870732–0530)↩
- See Document 338.↩
- Not found.↩
- September 9.↩