URUGUAYAN TERRITORIAL WATERS PROBLEMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000800080008-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 23, 2012
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: August 18, 1967
• Content Type: REPORT

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NOTE: This document con(ains. In formation
affecting the national defense of the United
States within the meoning of the espionage
laws. Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 793 and 794.
The transmission or the revelation of its
contents in any manner to an unauthorized
person it prohibited by low. _
NO FORN DISSMM
1:74 $C ;.rr, ~ (
(Classification and Cor'h! )Wrkinds)
1. COUNTRY: URUGUAY qv ARQ+NTINA 8. REPORT NUMBER:
SUBJECT: (U) Uruguayan Territorial waters
problems
. DATE OF INFORMATION: 15 August 1967 - 12. ORIGINATOR:
5. PLACE ANO DATE OF ACQ: Montevideo,15 Aug. 196713. PREPARED BY:
6. EVALUATION: SOURCE B INFORMATION -
This report contains p?dcossed information.
15. SUMMARY: -
(C/NF) This report forwards a briefing of the current reaction to the
extension of Argentine waters claim of 200 miles. It further indicates the action
now being taken by Uruguay and the problems faced. A joint State-Defense message
was sent covering this material on 16 August 1967.
Uruguayan waters are contained in references (b) through (f).) On.14 August 1967
NO FOSEIt DISSM: This used to protect the Interests of the Uruguayan Navy in
TV-1 a.2 G6.-air .. ?? _
of the
1. (C/NF)(Background developments and problems with Soviet fishing ships in
then contacted the Chief of the Uruguayan Naval General-Staff
the problems being faced. Permission was granted for
offering assistance but indicating the necessity for all background material on
limits to 200 miles, a board was appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to
2. (C/NF) At first notice that Argentina intended to extend its territorial water
study the effect on Uruguay and to recommend necessary action. The board was
1, composed of the following: Dr. POLLERI (Currently Amb. to Panama), Drs Alvaro
AIEMB
USC INCS O
COMUSNAVSO
ALJJSNA BUENOS AIRES
GROUP'3
DOWNGRADED AT 12 YEAR INTERVALS .
NOT AUTOMATICALLY DECLASSIFIED
4 9nc1osons'e
(U)
Diagrams (1) through (d)
REQU.t t ENC F.RO M DIAAe-1OA
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CONTINUATION SHEET
ALVAE Z (Currently assigned in Bonn), Dr. Carlos Maria VELAZQUEZ (Currently Aznb.
to England), Dr. PRATT (Currently Amb; to Peru). Capitgn de Navio Jose Miguel
ALVAREZ (Retired), and Capitgn de Fragata Roman CROZCO Rodriguez. Before anything
could be determined'. four members of the board were given new assignments and
a new board t vas formed composed as follows: As Head of tote Board - Capitfin do
Navio Jose Miguel ALVAREZ (Retired) and members Dr, BRUME Dr. LESSA, Dr. Motta
AVE LLANAL and Capitfin de Sragata Roman CROZCO Rodriguez. Source indicates ALVAREZ
"is a nice old fellow looking for a position in the Foreign.Ministrf. BRUM, fE SS
and AVELLANAL are reported as knowing little of international law. BRUM is pushing
for extension of the limits. AVELLANAL is supporting the Uruguayan Navy stand(see
below) at the present time,
3,; (C/NF) With little knowledge of international lawn- with the exception of
OROZCO, the board is faced with some truly difficult questions caused by several
factors: the new Argentine 200 mile limit. biannual movement of fish off the
Uruguayan-A,rrgentine coast and continued working of the Soviet fishing fleets off
the Uruguayan coast.
(C/ta)
4, Prior to increase in the Argentine limit.-. agreements between Uruguay and
Argentine were as roughly indicated in diagram (1). Also shown on that diagram
is.the primary fishing area on the coastal shelf, During winter," the fish school
roughly is located in the area indicated, in the suztmer the fish move south off
the coast of Argentina. Withe Increase in the Argentine limit, two:problems have
developed, First, freedom of navigation into the Rio de la Plata is. restricted
from the 'south and second, the ability of Uruguay to fish the summer area is
restricted. (See diagram (2).)
5. (C/NF) Since the Argentine 200 mile claim went into effect, the Soviet fishing
fleets have concentrated in the area off Cabo Polonio on the Uruguayan coast, At
the rate the fish are being caught Uruguay fears the fish bead are, or will be,
endangered from overfishing. Additionally, some of the Soviet ships have been
sighted fishing within the Uruguayan 12-mile limit,
6,(C/NF) An additional problem remains, Bow does Argentina figure its boundary
with Uruguayan waters? If the boundary is to be decided (as was the centerline
of the Rio de la Plata) from points on each coast, then the result of the increase
of the Argentine limit and the curve of the Uruguayan coast. could project the
boundary line somewhat northward of the extension of the Rio de la Plata center
line. (See digram (3).) Actually this would mean little.
7. (C/NF) Due to lack of information concerning the Argentine claim (nothing has
been published, a fact established by contact with ALUSNA Buenos Aires) and the
manner it might effect the boundary with Uruguay, and with members of the current
board having little knowledge and background in international law, a fear has
arisen that Argentina might well claim as its waters all waters within 200 miles.'
of its coast,, leaving Uruguay with only its 12 miles offshore for fishing rights.
The fear is represented by diagram (4). A second fear is that Brazil might also
increase its limits to 200 miles thus cutting Uruguay off from free access.(See
diagram (4).) This;-in both cases is directly contrary to recognized law, however,
'due to lack of knowledge and a fear of what gl= happen, the board is pushing
for Uruguay to extend its limits.
8. (C/NF) The following possible actions were being contemplated according to
source;
a. Agreements with Argentina with respect to Uruguayan interests in transit
through waters claimed by Argerdna and with respects to reciprocal fishing
beyond 12 miles from coasts,
b, That Uruguay maintain the 6-mile territorial limit but extend the exclusive
fishing limit,
c. That Uruguay extend its waters to 200 miles in keeping with Argentina,
Chile, Peru and Ecuador.
d. That a conference be held of the Foreign Ministers of Argentina, Uruguay
and Brazil to reach an agreement on transit and fishing rights without the nec-
essity of Brazil or Uruguay _znodifvina exlstine limits
FO RM
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9, In order to combat this fear and lack of knowledge, it has been requested by
message (joint State-Defense of 16 August 1967) that recomnendationso references
and arguements be forwarded to back present Uruguayan Navy stand to maintain
the present Uruguayan territorial limits of 6 miles and 6 miles exclusive fishing
rights,
10.I that while talks had been
started between Brazil and Argentina concerning fishing rights, nothing firm has
been decided to the best to their knowledge. The fact that Argentina has published
nothing indicating the spirit of the decree as concerns the boundary with Uruguay,
has caused all types of expectations by members of the Board. Further discussions
by Embassy Officials with Uruguayan Foreign Ministry officials have indicated
a strong trend toward the 200 mile limit.
CANF.IDE~ITIAL?i',~
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