1087 
Mr. Lennon. You say we don’t recognize beyond the historic 3-mile 
limit ? 
Mr. Potrack. We do not recognize it. 
Mr. Lennon. We do not recognize it, but when one of our fishing 
vessels is seized 190 miles at sea off the coast of Ecuador or Chile or 
Peru, we immediately capituate—the gentleman is shaking his head— 
and pay the fines and forfeitures for the seizure of those vessels, even 
though they are frequently seized by vessels built in the United States 
and given free, in many instances, to these nat*ons. They are Navy 
vessels that have been turned over to Ecuador and Chile. 
Is that a fair statement ? 
Mr. Poriack. I don’t think I would put it that way, sir. 
Mr. Lennon. How would you put it ? 
Mr. Potiack. I wonder if you might permit me to put this question 
to someone who has followed this problem much more intimately than 
I have. 
Mr. Lennon. You are here representing the State Department. 
Mr. Potuack. Yes, Iam. 
Mr. Lennon. You say this Nation does not recognize the territorial 
sea of any nation beyond the 3-mile limit. Yet, when our fishing ves- 
sels were seized 190 miles off the shore of the three Latin American 
nations that I named, we immediately do what ? 
Do we withdraw diplomatic reCoe nition of those nations for the 
violation of the international waters, which you say we recognize, or 
do we pay the fines and forfeitures or penalties’ y 
Mr. Pottack. We have been confronted, as you know 
Mr. Lennon. I get real frustrated by this sort of a philosophy, that 
we do not recognize beyond the territorial limit of 3 miles, and yet 
our State Department, in the image of good relations with our Latin 
American neighbors, has to do these things. People don’t understand 
it. They don’t under stand why. 
Mr. Potzack. It is a frustrating problem, if I may say so, Mr. 
Chairman. 
Mr. Lennon. What is the answer to it? 
Mr. Potxack. I really, at this point, do not know. 
Mr. Lennon. I think somebody is giving you a suggestion as to how 
you could answer. 
Mr. Pouiack. I am aware of what I am being told to say here. 
Mr. Lennon. Go right ahead. 
Mr. Potiack. The question of what sanctions the United States is 
going to employ any time there is a violation of our rights anywhere, 
be it on the high seas or elsewhere, is a question, as you well under- 
stand, which requires very, very careful consideration of a whole host 
of factors that are pertinent. 
We have protested the action of the Latin American countries that 
have interfered with our fishing vessels. We have sought a means of 
accommodation on this. 
Mr. Lennon. At numerous conferences. 
Mr. Potrack. We have recessed the first session of our conference 
and we have all gone home to our respective capitals to consult on 
the statements and positions that have been put forward at that meet- 
ing, and we will continue this process until we work out a solution 
that is equitable and fair. 
