BY BAG
FM F C O
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
SAVING TELEGRAM
in wolk b see
(198
TO BELMOPAN TELNO 23 SAVING OF 19 NOVEMBER 1974 AND SAVING TO
HAMILTON, HONAIRA, TORTOLA, GRAND CAYMAN, PORT STANLEY, GIBRALTAR, TARAWA, HONG KONG, MONTSERRAT, PITCAIRN, ST HELENA, SEYCHELLES,
GRAND TURK, ASCENSION ISLAND, TRISTAN DA CUNHA AND VILA.
WASHINGTON CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES
OF WILD FLORA AND FAUNA.
1. A DIPLOMATIC CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN WASHINGTON IN 1973 ON THE INITIATIVE OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE (IUCN) TO DRAW UP A CONVENTION TO REGULATE INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN
WILD ANIMAL AND PLANT SPECIES WHOSE SURVIVAL IS ENDANGERED. THE
SUBSTANTIVE PROVISIONS OF THIS CONVENTION ARE INTENDED, BY MEANS
OF TRADE CONTROLS, TO REDUCE AS FAR AS POSSIBLE THE THREAT TO ENDANGERED
SPECIES AND TO HELP COUNTRIES WHERE SUCH SPECIES ARE FOUND TO ENFORCE
THEIR OWN DOMESTIC WILD LIFE PROTECTION LAWS AND REGULATIONS. THE
UNITED KINGDOM SIGNED THE CONVENTION AT THE CLOSE OF THE DIPLOMATIC
CONFERENCE ON 3 MARCH 1973. A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF COUNTRIES HAVE
NOW SIGNED THE CONVENTION AND SO FAR FIVE HAVE RATIFIED IT. A COPY
OF THE CONVENTION TEXT (CMND 5459) HAS BEEN SENT UNDER SEPARATE
COVER.
2. AS YOU WILL APPRECIATE, THE ISSUE OF NATURE CONSERVATION AND THE
PROTECTION OF THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES IS A MATTER OF
CONSIDERABLE CONCERN IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND WE ARE UNDER VERY
SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC AND POLITICAL PRESSURE TO PROCEDE RAPIDLY TO
RATIFICATION OF THE CONVENTION. THE EXISTING UNITED KINGDOM LEGIS-
LATION WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE US TO DO SO BUT THE EXISTING
POWERS ARE FRAGMENTED AND PARTLY BECAUSE OF PRESSURES FROM
CONSERVATIONISTS, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO INTRODUCE A BILL, WHICH WILL BE TAILORED TO MEET THE CONVENTION'S REQUIREMENTS,
EARLY IN THIS SESSION.
3. THERE WAS A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING AT THE TIME OF NEGOTIATION OF
THE CONVENTION THAT TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE IT SHOULD BE
EXTENDED TO APPLY IN ALL TERRITORIES FOR WHICH CONTRACTING PARTIES HAVE RESPONSIBILITY. UNFORTUNATELY, HOWEVER, THE CONFERENCE WAS
RESTRICTED
/NOT