TERRITORIAL WATERS: TRANSMITTING COPY OF ECUADORAN NOTE OF MARCH 22, 1952

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000700080017-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2012
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: March 24, 1952
• Content Type: CABLE

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I AwuvxJA.A.Na-m.ftkii. I
(Security Classification...), el 1 ti 4
FOREIGN SERVICE DESPATCHT"
FROM .AME ASSY, QUITO
749
PIRIOMTY
TO
REF
722 O22/3'2&52
ZR 822.,245
DESP. NO.
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON.
? March 24,
DATE
A
Department's Instructloo No, 104, May 310. 1951
habassyls Despatch No. by July 3, 1951
For Dept.
Use Only
stab
ACTION
ARA
1952
RECD
-MAR 28
DEPT.
REP DM OLI E L ontica
F OTHER
0
SUBJECT:
TERRITORIAL WATERS: TRANSMITTING COPY OF ECUADORM
NOTE OF MARCH 22, 1952
There are enclosed a copy and translation of a note
from the Minister of foreign Affairs, dated March 220
1952, in reply to the Embassy's note flo0 ?355 of June 7,
19510 in which the 'overnment of Ecuador reasserts its
.claim to jurisdictIon over waters adjacent to its con-
tinental and insular coasts, beyond the three-mile limit
recognized by the Government of the United States of
America.
. This controversial issue is of current importaxce in
Ecuador because of the energetic efforts by the Ecuadoran
Government to, protect the fisheries along the coast of
Ecuador and around the Galapagos Islande.
_au C. 'D
Enclosure:
L. Copy ofEcuador-an Note dated
March 220 1952,.
2, Than thereof
sk
? 'INFORMATION COPY
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End. No. 1
(Classification) Desp. NO 7119 3/24/52
-Fmm-144E*19.443-71,40140
Page 1
Desp. No.
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REPUBLICA DEL ECUADOR
MINIBTERIO DE RELACIWES EXTERIORES
No. 31 DDP
Quito, a 22 Mar 1952
? Berior Embajador:
Tengo a hOnra dar respuesta a is atenta nota ndmero 335a
de 7 de junio dltimos en is ques por instrucciones del Gobierno
de los Estados Unidos de Am6ricav Vuestra Excelencia se refiere
al Decreto Legislativo de 6 de noviembre de 1950 quo incorpora
la plataforma a zeocalo continental al territorio nacional y
fija la extensi6n del mar territorial.
2, El inters del Gobierno de Vuestra Excelencia se
concentra-en tres disposiciones principales del mencionado
Decreto Logislativo: 1) la quo implica extender la soberania
del Ecuador sabre una faja de aguas oceanic:as contiguas de
12 minas de ancho; 2) la -clue establece protecciOn y controls
? par parte del Ecuador sobre las riquezas pesqueras de las
? zonas de agua correspondientes a la plataforma continental; y
3) is quo considera al Archipinago de Col& como una masa
continua de tierra para los fines de aguas territorialess con
la faja marginal quo envuelve a todo el Archipielago.
30 En cuanto a is primers disposicic5n9 deploro no com-
partir is opiniOn de Vuestra Excelencias pues si numerosas
naciones maritimas se han adheridos krace much? tiempos al
? principio de quo la gaja de aguas territoriales se extiande
a tres millas marinas desde las costas, son tambitin en buen
ndmero las cfue se han opuesto a ese criterio de las tres
millas? Un Organo tan importante de is opinion erudita nor-
teamericana;la "Revista Ameridana de Derecho Internacional",
dice al respecto: "El fracas? genera de is Conferencia de
codificaci6n de La Hays on 1.930 para ponerse de acuerdo en
una convenciOn de.aguas territoriales es is prueba decisiva
de quo is tradicional doctrina anglo-americana (de las tree
minas) no constituye derecho internacional.....Entre otros
Estadoss Rusias Francias Italias Portugal y Noruegas han in-
sistido'continuamente en quo la jurisdiecian de un Estado
colstanero sobre sus zonas pesqueras deberia extenderse a mis
? de las tres millas de la playa".
Conviene anotar quo Estados Unidos mismo se ha
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Desp. No., RESTnIcTED rage or
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(C(assification) Desp. No. 74903/2)4.52
From AMEnbasSYPQ"it
apartado de su doctrina tradicional de las tres minas en varias
ocasiones, siendo una de ellas la ley de represi& del contrabando de 5 de agosto de 1.935, que autoriz6 al Presidente de
la Unians bajo eiertas condiciones, a delimitar zonas de alta
mar, ms all de las doce millas de la costa, en las cuales
el control aduanero podrla actuar contra los contrabandistas.
5. Expresame tambi& Vuestra Exceleneia la preocupaci&
de an Gobieno respect? del articulo 10 del mencionado Decreto
Lagislativo 6 de noviembre de 1.950 en cuanto "implica un
grade, ilimitado de protecel& y control por parte del Ecuador
sobre las riquezas pesqueras de las zonas de agua correspon-
dientes a la plataforma continental, en la forma como se
define en el articulo 20.
6. Sieato no estar de acuerdo con razones que me
express Vuestra Excelencia; puess si objeto primordial de la
declaraci& de la plataforma o a6calo continental como parte
del territorio nacional es el control y la protecciOn de las
zonas pesqueras y =is riquezas que se encuentran en la mismas
el ancho de la plataforma ecuatoriana se ha limitado a las
zonas sumergidas que se encuentran cubiertas hasta por doscientos
metros de aguas como mAximo. Esta anchura es muy inferior a
la que han seidalado otros Estados americanos. Los Estados Unidos
no ha fijado la extensi& del z6calo; pero ha ordenado que los
recursos del subsuelo y del lecho marino del zocalo continental
debajo de la alta mar, pero contiguos a las costas de los Estados
Unidoss son pertenecientes a los Estados Unidos y sujetos a su
jurisdiccian y control, y estLin reservados y puestos bajo la
jurisdicci& y control del Secretario de lo Interior para fines
?administrativos.
7. El objeto primordial de proteger y controlar las
zonas pesqueras y otras riquezas, quo persigue el Gobierno del
Ecuador con la declaraci& de la plataforma continental ecuato-
riana y la extensi& del mar territorial, puede verse en el
Decreto-Ley de emergencia sobre pesca y caceria cuyos articulos
10 y 20 dicen: nEl Estado ejerce su soberania sobre las aguas
territoriales (de los mares, insular y continental, de los
lagos, lagunas y sistemas fluviales) y sus recursos. Para los
efectos de la peseta y caceria maritima, en generals se con-
siderarl como mar territorial de la RepSblica, el actualmente
eomprendido dentro de las doce minas nauticas medidas desde
la linea de is mils baja mareas en los puntoa mis salientes de
las islas extremas quefotman el contorno del Archipi6lago de
Col6n, y el compren , "ontro de las doce minas nAuticas
medidas desde la lpade,3 ms baja mares, en las puntas m4s
I 1/ ,*
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From (Classification) Desp. No. 74993124152
From ___AmEmba.s.s-y-p1441- t
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salientes de la costa ecuatoriana e isles adyacentes, sin p-erjuicio de quo dicha extensi& pueda ser modificada, por
quiera posterior determinaei& de lo quo ha de entenderse por
mar territorial de la Reptiblican.
8. La tereera disposici& quo ha merecido la observaci&
del Gobierno de los Estado s Unidos es la quo cons idera el Arcii-
piSlago de Col& como una masa continua de tierra pare los
fines de agues territoriales* eon la faja marginal quo envuelve a
todo el Arehipiglago.
9. A este respect?, debo manifestar a Vuestra Exeelencia
quo la Reblica del Ecuador* pare controlar y proteger su
riqueza pesquera en el Archipiftago de Col& tiene quo considerar-
lo come una masa territorial vigilada por el Estado. Esto
resulta imprescindible y por ell? no puedo ester de acuerdo con
la objeci& de la note de Vuestra Excelencia.
10. Al formular sus reserves, el Gobierno de Vuestra
Exeelencia supone quo* con Is. vigencia del Decreto Legislativo
de 6 de noviembre de 1.950* pueden ser afectados los intereses
del Gobierno Americano y los de sus nacionales y naves. A este
respect? tango a honra expresar a Vuestra Excelencia quo en
nada se erecter& Is.. navegaci6n par las agues contiguas a las
costes ecuatorianas,; y si alguaa vez se produce un hecho de
los que supone el Gobierno de Vuestra Excelencia, puede tenor
la seguridad de quo seri tratado con el mismo espiritu alto
y equitativo con quo lo Berle por el Gobierno American? un
case semejante quo se produjera en sus agues territoriales
en su z6calo continental.
Vilgone de la oportunidad para renovar a Vuestra Excelencia
las seguridades de mi mAs alta y distinguida consideraci6n0
N. L. Ponce
Al Exeelentisimo Senor Paul C. Daniels,
Embajador Extraordinario y Plenipotenciario de los Estados
Unidos de AmArica.
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Proin_ ? - (Classification) Desp. No 7) 1.9 3/24/52
Fmm_ling4WNMSFAU140
REPUBLIC OF ECUADOR
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN RELATIONS
No. 31 DDP
Quito, March 22, 1952
Mi. Ambassador:
I have the honor to reply to your note No. 335 (sic) of
June 70 1951, in which, acting upon instructions of the
Government of the United States of America, Your Excellency
refers to the Legislative Decree of Nov, 6, 1950 which in-
corporates the continental shelf In the national territory
and fixes the limits of its territorial waters.
2, The interest of Your Excellencyts Government is
concentrated in three principal provisions of the afore-
mentioned Legislative Decree: 1) the one which involves the
sovereignty, of Ecuador over a 12..mi1e belt of adjacent
ocean waters; 2) the one which establishes Ecuadoran pro-
tection and control with regard to fishing in the waters
corresponding to the continental Shelf; and 3) the one which
considers the Col& Archipelago as one continuous mass of
? earth, for territorial water purposes, with a narginal belt
which encircles the entire Archipelago.
3. As to the first provision, I deplore not to be
able to share the opinion of Your Excellency, for if
numerous maritime nations for many years back have subscribed
to the principle that the belt of territorial waters extends
three nautical miles from the coast, there are also a good
number that have opposed this three-mile standard. An organ
as important as the "Revista Americana de Derecho Internacional"
reflecting the erudite Horthmerican opinion, says in this
regard: The general failure of tae Geneva Conference for
codification in 1930, to agree upon a definition of territorial
waters, is decisive proof that the traditional AngloAmerican
doctrine (three miles) does not constitute international law....
Among other countries, Rus is, France, Italy, Portugal and
Norway, have continually insisted that the jurisdiction of
a coastal State over its fishing waters Should extend more
than three miles from the beach."
4, It is prop*O:point out that the United States
itself has on variouS- oasions'not adhered to its traditional
doctrine of three mil one of them being the law of August
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ciassipcahon) Desp. No .71190/21w'52
FromAxanka4mqNrQu-i-te-
5, 1935 to fight against contraband, which authorized the
President of the Union, in$certain circumstances, to delimit
the zones of the high seas at more thah 12 miles from the
coast, in which zones customs control might be made effective
against the smugglers.
5. Your Excellency also mentions the preoccupation of
your Government with respect to Article 1 of the afore-
mentioned Legislative Decree of November 6,19500 as far as
"it involves an unlimited degree of protection and control
on the part of Ecuador over fishing in the waters corresponding
to the continental shelf, as defined In Article 2."
6. I regret not to be in agreement with the reasons
given by Your Excellency; for if the prime object of the
declaration of the continental shelf as part of the national
territory is the control and the protection of the fishing
zones and other resources found there, the width of the
Ecuadoran shelf has been limited to the submerged zones which
are covered up to a maximum of 200 meters. This width is much
less than that indicated by other American States. The
United States has not fixed the extent of its shelf; but has
decreed that the resources of the subsoil and the ocean bed
pf the continental shelf below the high seas but continguous
to, the coasts of the United States, belong to the United
States and are Inbject to its jurisdiction and control, and
are assigned to and put under the jurisdiction and control
of the Secretary of the Interior for administrative purposes.
7,. The prime object of protecting and controlling the
fishing zdhes and other resources, assumed by the Government
of Ecuador in defining its continental shelf aad the extension
of the territorial waters, may be seen in the emergency Decree
(Deereto kit) covering fishing and hunting, Articles 1 and 2
reading as follows; The State exercises sovereignty over
territorial waters (of the seas, insular and continental, of
the lakes and river systems) and their resources. For fishing
and maritime hunting purposes, in general the territorial sea
of the Republic shall be considered that actually comprised
within 12 nautical miles, measured from the point of the lowest
tide on the most salient points of the outer islands which
form the contours of the Col& Arthipelago and included
within 12 nautical miles measured from the lowest tide line
on the most salient ppints of the Ecuadoran coast and adjacent
islands; without prejudice to the fact that said limits may
be changed by any later definition of what shall be understood
as territorial waters of the Republic."
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Desp.tNo
Frorn_4__
86 The third provision which has merited the comment
of the Government of the United States is that which com6
siders the Coln Archipelago as one continuous mass of earth,.
for the purpose of defining territorial waters, With A
marginal belt encircling the entire Archipelago.
9. In this regard, I must inform Your Excellency that
the Republic of Ecuador, in order to control and protect
its fishing resources In the Coln Archipelago must consider
them as one territorial-whole, watched over by the State.
This cannot be prescinded and therefore I am not able to
agree with the objection contained in Your Excellency's note.
10. In formulating its reservations, Your Excellency's .
Government sup303e8 that in the enforcement of the Legislative
DeCree of November 601950?the interests of the American
Government, its nationals and ships may be affected. In
this regard I have the honor to state to Your Excellency that
in no respect shall navigation through waters adjacent to
the coasts of Ecuador be affected; and if at any time an
incident such as is supposed by Your Excellency's Government
should occur, you may be assured that it will be dealt with .
in the same elevated and equitable spirit with Which a similar
case would be treated by the American Government, were it to
take place in its territorial waters or on its continental
shelf.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your
Excellency the assurances of my highest and most distinguidhed.
consideration.
TRANSLATION
N. L, Ponce
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