[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 76 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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               UNITED STATES-CANADA PACIFIC SALMON TREATY

 Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, last night I introduced a 
resolution protesting the $1,100 fee recently imposed by Canada on 
United States fishermen traveling the Inside Passage on their way to 
fishing grounds in Alaska.
  This fee imposed by Canada was a unilateral action that violates 
international law. It was done, say the Canadians, to gain concessions 
from the United States in negotiating the Pacific Salmon Treaty. The 
action of Canada was wrong--illegal--and the United States Government 
must make clear, now, in no uncertain terms, that this action will not 
be tolerated.
  Some have responded to the Canadian action by saying ``let cooler 
heads prevail.'' In the end I hope that cool heads negotiate a treaty 
that is fair to both sides, but if the immediate reaction of the U.S. 
Government to the imposition of this fee is to be cool we are sending a 
message that indicates we will tolerate illegal actions--actions which, 
by the way, imperil the lives of our citizens.
  My approach is different. I have introduced a resolution for the 
purpose of giving the President a strong hand in responding to this 
action. I want him to have a wide range of options, even including the 
extreme measure of allowing our Coast Guard to escort U.S. fishing 
boats through international waters. In fact, it is not my hope that we 
reach the state when such a step is taken, but I want the Canadians to 
know that we take their action so seriously that we will, if needed, 
resort even to this harsh measure.
  After the Canadians have withdrawn the fee, then it is time for the 
cool-headed negotiators to hammer out a treaty, and here the Canadians 
have a legitimate complaint. Neither the Bush nor the Clinton 
administration has given this treaty appropriate attention. That must 
change. The Canadian concerns must be heard as well as those of the 
United States.
  That is the way to resolve this issue and to resume our friendly 
relations with our best friends to the north.

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