[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 19 (Tuesday, February 13, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H1238-H1239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REPORT ON ACTIVITIES OF JAPAN'S DIMINISHING EFFECTIVENESS OF THE 
INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION CONSERVATION PROGRAM--MESSAGE FROM THE 
          PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (H. DOC. NO. 104-174)

  The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following message 
from the President of the United States; which was read and, without 
objection, referred to the Committee on International Relations and the 
Committee on Resources and ordered to be printed:

To the Congress of the United States:
  On December 11, 1995, Secretary of Commerce Ronald Brown certified 
under section 8 of the Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967, as amended 
(the ``Pelly Amendment'') (22 U.S.C. 1978), that Japan has conducted 
research whaling activities that diminish the effectiveness of the 
International Whaling Commission (IWC) conservation program. This 
message constitutes my report to the Congress pursuant to subsection 
(b) of the Pelly Amendment.
  The certification of the Secretary of Commerce was based on Japanese 
research whaling activities in both the 

[[Page H1239]]
North Pacific and the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. In 1994, Japan 
expanded its research whaling activities into the North Pacific by 
permitting the taking of 100 minke whales, 21 of which were taken. The 
IWC found that this North Pacific whaling failed to satisfy applicable 
criteria for lethal research and was therefore inconsistent with the 
IWC's conservation program. Nevertheless, Japan continued its whaling 
activities in the North Pacific, taking 100 minke whales in 1995. In 
addition, during 1995, Japan increased the number of minke whales to be 
harvested in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary by 33 percent, despite 
a 1994 finding by the IWC that this lethal research program did not 
meet all applicable criteria.
  In his letter to me of December 11, 1995, Secretary Brown conveyed 
his concerns not only over the whales that have been killed in this 
program to date but also over any further expansion of lethal research. 
While noting that the Japanese have informed us they have no plans for 
a further expansion of lethal research in the Southern Ocean Whale 
Sanctuary, he expressed particular concern over whaling activity in 
that area. I share these concerns.
  At this stage, I do not believe that the use of trade sanctions is 
the most constructive approach to resolving our differences over 
research whaling activities with the Government of Japan. However, I 
have instructed the Department of State to convey my very strong 
concerns to the Government of Japan. We will also vigorously pursue 
high-level efforts to persuade Japan to reduce the number of whales 
killed in its research program and act consistently with the IWC 
conservation program. We hope to achieve significant progress on these 
issues by the beginning of the next Antarctic whaling season and will 
keep these issues under review. I have instructed the Department of 
Commerce to continue to monitor closely Japan's research whaling and to 
report promptly on any further inconsistencies between Japanese whaling 
activities and the guidelines of the IWC conservation program.

                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, February 9, 1996.

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