96 



mR J 1994 



■•BSCTOR■s'orF^r:6 

 Dennis Austin 



Honoraoie Warren Chnstopher 

 Secreury of State 

 Department of State 

 :201 C Street N.W. 

 Washineton. D.C. 20520 



Dear Mr. Secretary: 



We are certain you share our frustration with the last-niinute decision of the Canadian 

 government not to send its representatives to the January 24-28 Pacific Salmon Commission 

 negotiations in Portland Oregon. Canada is dissatisfied with the pace of ongoing govemraent- 

 to-govcmmcnt negotiations :o develop a process for implementing one of the key principles 

 of the Treaty -- the equity pnncipie -- which provides thai each country should receive 

 "benefits equivalent to the production of salmon originating in its waters." Although we 

 believe the Canadian actions were countcrproducuvc, we also believe there is more you can 

 and should do to more strongly convey the commitment of the United States to move forward 

 on this issue. 



At a time when many U.S. government officials, including the President and the Vice 

 President, have been in the Pacific Northwest to develop and promote coordinattd and 

 •iu.stained action to prevent the need' for more salmon listings under the Endangered Spjccies 

 .Act. it is ironic that so little progress has been made to date on an issue under the negotiation 

 control of the State Department. 



We support the President's call to move forward on strategies to rebuild salmon stocks to 

 optimum production through better harvest management and coast-wide habitat protection and 

 restoration. The Treaty was intended to provide the vehicle for this progress. However, it 

 has been clear for several years that progress on the equity issue is critical to the success of 

 the Treaty. Absent such progress. Canada simply will not cooperate fully in rebuilding 

 depressed Pacific salmon stocks. 



We disagree strongly with many aspects of Cahada's position on equity. Nevertheless, we are 

 not convinced that the Sutc Dcpanmcnt has done all it can to explore reasonable options with 

 the Canadians that could break the impasse. Our reprcscntauves to the U.S. Section of the 

 Pacific Salmon Commission remain prepared to pursue such options. 



020194 SUUV) 



