MEETING OF THE SENIOR INTERAGENCY GROUP (SIG) ON OCEANS POLICY AND LAW OF THE SEA (LOS)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00049R000501160002-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 19, 2006
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: November 16, 1982
• Content Type: MEMO

MEMORANDUM FCR: Director of Central Intelligence
Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
VIA: Deputy Director for Intelligences
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Director o o Issues
SUBJECT: Meeting of the Senior Interagency Group (SIG) on
Oceans Policy and Law of the Sea (LOS)
1. Action Requested: Nine. This memorandum summarizes for your
information the results of the SIG-LOS meeting held on 15 November at the
Department of State, which was chaired by William Schneider, Jr., Under
Secretary of State for Security Assistance, Science, and Technology.
2. Background/Conclusions: The meeting was convened to advise SIG-LOS
principals of four current issues:
a. The initial results of the meetings of Presidential Emissary Donald
Rumsfeld in West Europe;
b. status of the negotiations on an alternative deep seabed mining
regime;
c. progress by the Interagency Group (IG) in preparing for a Presidential
Proclamation on an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ); and
d. preparations for the forthcaning "signing" session of the LOS
Conference in Jamaica. F----1
James Malone, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International
Environmental and Scientific Affairs, reported on Ambassador Rumsfeld's recent
meetings with highest level political leaders in London, Bonn, and Paris to
dissuade them from signing the LOS Treaty. At this time, the UK and the FRG
are undecided but. appear to lean towards not signing. France, because of its
strong commitment to the lesser developed countries, has announced it will
sign the Treaty. Additional meetings in the next few weeks are planned with
Japan, Belgium, Italy, and the President of the European Economic Community
(EEC). Success with the EEC would help sway London and Bonn. NSC staffer
Michael Guhin, who acccanpanied Rumsfeld on his trip, spoke favorabl of
employing high level contacts to emphasize important US goals. 25X1
CONFIDENTIAL
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SUBJECT: Meeting of the Senior Interagency Group (SIG) on Oceans Policy and
Law of the Sea (LCS)
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Assistant Secretary Malone indicated that discussions were currently
underway in regards to arranging an alternative deep seabed mining regime
outside the LOS Treaty. The main thrust of any big power arrangement would be
to protect the interests of "pioneer" mining countries, pending the
formulation of a final regime. The US considers the Treaty regime faulty, and
prefers a mining arrangement with its industrial allies outside the Treaty.
IAndon and Bonn are uncertain as to whether they will follow the US initiative
on this, and ultimately whether they will sign the Treaty or not. The French
are considering doing both-signing the Treaty and participating in deep sea
mining in an alternative regime outside the Treaty.
Malone indicated that considerable progress has been made by the
Interagency Group preparing for the establishment of a 200-mile EEZ by a.
Presidential Proclamation. The Group, chaired2jointly by State and I1' erior,
has a draft report circulating now and expects-to have it cleared for
Presidential approval by 26 Novembe~ Schneider urged timeliness to avoid the
White House's 1984 budget crunch.
Elizabeth Verville, State/Legal, reported that formal US interpretive
statements are currently being formulated by the various departments in
preparation for the "signing" and final session of the ICS Conference, which
starts on 6 December in Jamaica. Malone indicated that since the US is not
signing the Treaty, our participation will be limited to a small team. One
thorny point that has raised congressional ire is the fact that the US may be
obliged to help finance the Preparato Commission which will set up the
Treaty's deep seabed mining regime.
3. Follow-up Tasks: During this period of changing US oceans policy,
OGI oceans analysts wil continue to closely monitor and report on possible
foreign reactions to new initiatives.
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SUBJECT: Meeting of the Senior Interagency Group (SIG) on Oceans Policy and
Law of the Sea (LOS) II
OGI/GD
Distribution:
1 - DCI
1 - DDCI
1 - Executive Director
-1 - C/IAS/OPP
1 - Executive Registry
1 - Ch/NIC
1 - NIO-at-Large
1 - DDU/IAD/PE
1 -DDI
1 - ADDI
1 - DDI Registry
1 - D/OGI
1 - DD/OGI/S
1 - C/OGI/GD
I(16Nov82)
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