    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [September 15, 1997]
    [Page 1168]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Mexico-United States Convention
    for the Protection of Migratory Birds and Game Mammals With
    Documentation
    September 15, 1997

    To the Senate of the United States:
        With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to
    ratification, I transmit herewith the Protocol Between the Government of
    the United States of America and the Government of the United Mexican
    States Amending the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds and
    Game Mammals, signed at Mexico City on May 5, 1997 (``the Mexico
    Protocol''). I transmit also, for the information of the Senate, the
    report of the Department of State with respect to the Mexico Protocol.
        In concert with a similar Protocol between the Governments of the
    United States and Canada, the Mexico Protocol represents a considerable
    achievement for the United States in conserving migratory birds and
    balancing the interests of conservationists, sports hunters, and
    indigenous people. The Protocol should further enhance the management of
    and protection of this important resource for the benefit of all users.
        The Mexico Protocol is particularly important because it will permit
    the full implementation of the Protocol Amending the 1916 Convention for
    the Protection of Migratory Birds in Canada and the United States (``the
    Canada Protocol'') that is pending before the Senate at this time. The
    Canada Protocol is an important agreement that addresses the management
    of a spring/summer subsistence hunt of waterfowl in communities in
    Alaska and northern Canada. The Mexico Protocol conforms the Canadian
    and Mexican migratory bird conventions in a manner that will permit a
    legal and regulated spring/summer subsistence hunt in Canada and the
    United States.
        I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration
    to the Protocol and give its advice and consent to ratification.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    September 15, 1997.