818.628/10–2347
The Chargé in Costa Rica ( Carrigan ) to the Secretary of State
No. 312
Subject: Suspension of Costa Rican Fisheries Decree of September 24, 1947.
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the series of correspondence regarding the Costa Rican fisheries decree which recently was issued and subsequently suspended.…
It will be recalled from prior reports that the fisheries regulation, based on the work of the American scientist, Dr. John L. Kask, was promulgated in the Official Gazette of September 27. (The full text was submitted with despatch 246 of October 1.)46
Immediately following the promulgation of this decree, a press campaign was instituted against it.…
. . . . . . .
Meanwhile it had been intimated in the press on October 17 that the fisheries decree would be revoked. On that same morning the Acting Foreign Minister, who is also the Finance Minister, requested that a member of the Embassy staff call upon him. It appears that at a meeting on the preceding evening it had been decided to suspend the decree and it developed that he wished to propose that the Embassy seek an interview with the Minister of Agriculture and Industries. [Page 602] Since it appeared that the Acting Foreign Minister, who was known to favor the decree, might have had the idea in mind of using the Embassy to bring pressure upon the Minister of Agriculture and Industries, great care was taken not to become entangled in the domestic aspects since in the existing state of mind of those opposed to the decree a cry of interventionism could easily have arisen.…
The Minister’s decision to do that may have resulted from the fact that President Picado signed on October 18 Decree No. 5, promulgated on the following day, which suspends the fisheries decree until such time as a General Fisheries Department may be established.…
. . . . . . .
The fisheries question in Costa Rica now returns to the status quo ante. Precise definition of that status is difficult since the Government itself has left it rather ambiguous.…
It is evident that the recently concluded campaign against the fisheries decree has found its origin in commercial and financial motives and was not primairly a gear fight.
It is quite possible that entry of American purse seine boats into Costa Rican ports or their activity in proximity to Costa Rica might again cause the controversy to be renewed in the future. The Embassy, upon instruction from the Department, previously set forth certain basic views in the aide-mémoire left at the Foreign Office in June 18, 194747 (embodied in Enclosure No. 1 to despatch 69 of August 1447a). The Embassy is quite prepared in event that American vessels should again encounter difficulties to address any communication to the Foreign Office which the Department may instruct.
Respectfully yours,
Second Secretary of Embassy