SWAN ISLANDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000400200004-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 25, 2012
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: June 8, 1969
• Content Type: CABLE

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DEPARTMENT OF STAT
INFO: Amembassy $.UENOS AIRS
Amembassy MANAGUA
Amembassy TEGUCIGAL
SUBJECT : ~Vari I91anC~6
? Tegucigalpa A-52 /~o~
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3 -.5 yOND- N.c
DATE: Jae g, 1969
r1. The Argentine Ambassador, C
arloa Ferro, told me that he was preparing a ~
study of the legal bases of the Ewan Lslands case. This was relatively easy for
him in view of the work that he had done on the Malvinas (Falkland Islands) dispute
as there were at least certain similarities. The Argentine case, however, waa
much stronger than that of Honduras as it was based not only on discovery and
possibly merely sighting but actually on colonization by Spanish and direct control
exercised in Spanish times.
2. Ambassador Ferro said that while he understood our desire to reach as
accommodation with Honduras and while as a Latin he sympathized with Honduran
aspirations, at the same time he trusted that we would look into any arrangement
with our eyes open as to its long term effects. By this he meant not so much tbs
precedent in regard to other disputed territories as the side effects which would
take place if the Swan Islands became Ho~rtduran territory. The Islands, accord-
ing to him, -are surrounded by shoals sad other shallow water which,- according
to Article 5, paragraph 3 of the Honduran Constitution, would belong to Honduras
up to a depth of 200 meters. Thi$ area might be quite extensive and might affect
petroleum and other underwater rights. The .Ambassador said we should also
recognize that Honduras would probably sooner or later follrnv the example of
most other Latin American countries and declaace its jurLsdiction over an area
extending 200 miles from its coa.ats. The U, S, should also therefore keep in mind
the possible effects of extending Honduran jurisdiction over an area 200 miles : ,
around the Swan Islands.
AMB:JJJova.:ajh:6/6/69
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/11/29 :CIA-RDP08C01297R000400200004-4
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/11/29 :CIA-RDP08C01297R000400200004-4
CONFIDENTIAL Page 2, A-94
from Tegucigalpa
3. COMMENTS:
a. It was not clear whether Ambassador Ferro thought that Article 5, paragraph 3,
of the Honduran constitution relates only to the submarine platform when below water
of less than 200 meters depth (it does), or whether he assumed that it also implied
a claim to such superadjacent waters beyond the 12 mile limit (it does not).
Ambassador Ferro may have had in mind debates which took place within fie
Argentine Government in 1966 prior to Argentina's public claim to a 200 mile limit.
The Argentines had been considering claiming as territorial sea all waters above the
? continental shelf out to a depth of 200 meters, regardless of the number of nautical
miles this might extend from the shore.
b. We have had no recent indications that the Honduran Government is recon-
sidering its present territorial sea limit of 12 miles. A constitutional amendment
would be required to change the limit. However, if more Latin Americans climb
on the 200 mile limit bandwagon, especially if Nicaragua. or Guatemala. do so, there
would be considerable pressure on the Honduran Government to follow suit in order
to protect its interests in marine and subsoil resources along its common frontiers
with its neighbors. In this regaxd we understand oil was found recently off Quits
Suefio Cay (claimed by Nicaragua) and exploratory drilling is under way aff Cape
Gracias a Dios (refair).
CONFIDENTIAL
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/11/29 :CIA-RDP08C01297R000400200004-4