July 13 1951

Statement of the Japanese Government on High Seas Fisheries
In order that there shall be no misunderstanding the Japanese Government confirms that Japan's voluntary declaration in respect of fishing conservation contained in the Prime Minister's letter of the 7th February 1951 to Mr. John Foster Dulles, the special representative of the President of the United States, was intended to embrace fishery conservation arrangements in all parts of the world. The Government of Japan will in accordance with the above mentioned letter be prepared, as soon as practicable after restoration to it of full sovereignty, to enter into negotiations with other countries with a view to establishing equitable arrangements for thedevelopment and conservation of fisheries which are accessible to the nationals of Japan and such other countries. The Government of Japan reaffirms that in the meantime it will, as a voluntary act, implying no waiver of its International Rights, prohibit Japanese Nationals and Japanese registered vessels from carrying on all waters, where arrangements have already been made either by International or Domestic Act, to protect the fisheries from over-harvesting and in which fisheries Japanese Nationals or Japanese registered vessels were not in the year 1940 conducting operations.