FEC.189. JAPANESE WHALING.

F.E.C. met today. In introducing Whaling Paper [1], Chairman
stated that since Diplomatic exchanges were still going on, the
item would continue on Agenda. Mr. Makin stated that what
possibilities there might have been in this direction had been
explored and he was not sure that the position at the moment could
be advanced much further by Diplomatic negotiations. He said he
could not feel happy at this item being deferred indefinitely and
then ultimately having to be removed from the Agenda because time
had passed when action could be taken. He expected Commission to
at least register decision and hoped that if Members were not in a
position to do so today, a decision could be finalised at an early
date.

McCoy, who had not been briefed by his Delegation to expect vote
today was at a loss to handle problem. He lost his temper and
behaved in a manner reminiscent of early days of F.E.C. He chose
to interpret Mr. Makin's remarks as an insinuation that the United
States was deliberately postponing action on this matter, and went
on to say that he resented suggestion that there were any ulterior
motives on the part of United States.

Mr. Makin stated that no such insinuation had been intended and
was forced to protest strongly at interpretation which McCoy had
placed on his remarks. McCoy said that in due time, when
diplomatic negotiations with other countries had been concluded,
he would state position of United States Government. He concluded
by stating that Mr. Makin should refer to the newspaper article
containing Mr. Chifley's recent speech. [2] 'Your Prime Minister',
he said, 'at least has an understanding of the action of my
Government which does not seem to be expressed here.' McCoy then
ruled that item remain on Agenda.

We have been informed informally that State Department as well as
McCoy has interpreted the Prime Minister's recent speech as a
weakening of the official Australian position on whaling. [3]