SENIOR INTERDEPARTMENTAL GROUP (SIG) MEETING ON THE LAW OF THE SEA (LOS)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83B00140R000100080008-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 5, 2009
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: November 25, 1981
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2009/05/05: CIA-RDP83B00140R000100080008-9
0 %Y-L'11661 0
NSC Review Completed.
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
VIA:
SUBJECT: /
Director, National Foreign Assessment Center
Director of Global Issues
Chief, Geography Division, OGI
Senior Interdepartmental Group (SIG) Meeting on
the Law of the Sea (LOS) 25X1
1. Action Requested: None. This memorandum summarizes
for your information the results of the.SIG meeting chaired by
James L. Buckley, Under secretary of State for Security
Assistance, Science and Technology, on 24 November at the
Department of State.
2. Background: The meeting was convened to review proposed
changes to the LOS Memorandum for the President, which was
prepared by an Interdepartmental Group on Law of the Sea. The
Memorandum presents the conclusions of an Interagency LOS Policy
Review and policy options for future US negotiations at the Third
United Nations Conference on LOS, which reconvenes in March
1982.
3. Results of the SIG Meeting: In regards to the Interior
Department's proposed wording changes to the Memorandum,
Mr. Perry Pendley stated that his Department thinks that the
Memorandum too optimistically presents the US's ability to
improve the deepsea mining provisions of the LOS draft
convention. He suggested more realistic wording and specific
negotiating objectives in order to bring to an end "continual
talking, but no results." Ambassador James L. Malone, Special
Representative of the President to the LOS Conference, defended
the Memorandum, citing the delicate negotiating situation and the
need for cautious diplomacy if we are to achieve our
objectives. He emphasized that an initial policy decision as to
what should be the general US direction in these negotiations is
essential at this time. If Option 2 (to continue the
negotiations) is chosen, operational language with new provisions
and tactics will then be formulated. There was little support
for Interior's overall position and only some limited wording
changes were agreed to.
Approved For Release 2009/05/05: CIA-RDP83B00140R000100080008-9
erpn;T
 Approved For Release 2009/05/05: CIA-RDP83B00140R000100080008-9
SUBJECT: Senior Interdepartmental Group (SIG) Meeting on the
Law of the Sea (LOS)
Treasury Department's proposal to expand the
interdepartmental process for reviewing future US LOS positions
and treaty amendments was rejected. Accepted instead was a
proposal to handle these matters in the NSC-SIG structure only,
and to set a 1 February 1982 deadline for sending proposed
negotiating instructions to the President. This would permit
adequate time for intersessional meetings and the development of
a new negotiating strategy for the March session of the LOS
Conference.
2
Approved For Release 2009/05/05: CIA-RDP83B00140R000100080008-9
 Approved For Release 2009/05/05: CIA-RDP83B00140R000100080008-9
?
SUBJECT: Senior Interdepartmental Group (SIG) Meeting on the
Law of the Sea (LOS) F--]
OGI/GD
Di
stribut
ion:
Orig -
Addressee
1 -
DDCI
1 -
ER
1 -
C/IAS/OPP
1 -
Chmn/NIC
1 -
DDO
1
D/NFAC
1 -
DD/NFAC
1 -
AS/NFAC
1 - NFAC Registry
1 -
NIO-at-Large
2 -
D/GI
1 -
Ch/RD
1 -
Ch/RD/MR
1 -
Ch/GD
25Nov81) 25X1
Approved For Release 2009/05/05: CIA-RDP83B00140R000100080008-9
 Approved For Release 2009/05/05: CIA-RDP83BOO14OR000100080008-9
23 November 1981
ES/MI # 65
MEMORANDUM FOR: See Distribution
SUBJECT
19EING INFORMATION
Meetings
Type of Meeting
Date
Time
Place
Chaired By
Principal Only?
Subject/Agenda
Tuesday, 24 November
3:00-4:30
Room 1107, Department of State
Under Secretary James Buckley
Principals plus one
; Law of the Sea
When to Expect Paper.s:Rec'd 1000 23 November 1981
Time Info Received :Rec'd 1005 23 November 1981 from Sheila Lopez
Distribution:
0/DCI (Doris)
O/DDCI (Eleanor)
D/NFAC (Sherry)
Ch/NIC
DDO (Marge)
D/OPP (Lu)
OPP/IAS
OCO/SO0
ES
D/ ES
Approved For Release 2009/05/05: CIA-RDP83BOO14OR000100080008-9