ENVIRO MINISTER GARRETT UNHAPPY ABOUT U.S. WHALING

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000976

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/OA BALTON, PHELPS, COMMERCE FOR NOAA, WHITE
HOUSE FOR CEQ

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2019
TAGS: SENV PREL OPDC AS
SUBJECT: ENVIRO MINISTER GARRETT UNHAPPY ABOUT U.S. WHALING
MOVES

REF: A. SECSTATE 108957

B. CANBERRA 951

Classified By: Deputy Economic Counselor Ramon Negron, Reasons 1.4(b)(d
).


1. (C/NF) Summary: Environment Minister Garrett, who led the
Australian delegation to the Santiago Support Group (SG) IWC
meetings, has been undermined by the U.S. decision to launch
a new initiative without coordinating with Australia prior to
those meetings. Garrett also sees the subsequent letter to
FM Smith from the Secretary as an attempt to influence their
internal deliberations. Australia is approaching a decision
point on how to deal with Japan on whaling, and the proposal
at the SG, if it goes forward, would greatly curtail their
options. End Summary.


2. (C/NF) David Williams, Chief of Staff to Environment
Minister Peter Garrett, told Econoff October 28 that Garrett
was dismayed by the U.S. proposal (ref A) at the recent
Santiago Support Group meetings. Williams expressed surprise
that the proposal was previewed with "others" (which we take
to mean Japan) but not Australia, particularly considering
the effort Garrett and FM Smith have made to work with the
USG on this issue. Williams said that a discussion of this
proposal before the meetings could have brought Australia
into the mix in a positive way, if the goals and methods were
clear and consistent with Australia's own.


3. (C/NF) Williams complained that the Secretary's October 22
letter could only be read as an attempt to influence
Australia's internal deliberations on whaling policy. The
wording of the letter was such that it called into question
whether the U.S. and Australia have the same goals on whale
conservation, Williams argued. Noting the reference in the
letter to the trilateral relationship between the U.S.,
Australia, and Japan, Williams said that "we are all in this
(whaling negotiations) together, and need to work together to
get progress." With the Japanese whaling fleet preparing to
set sail for Southern waters, Williams said the GOA will be
setting out a unified position on how to respond over the
next few weeks.

A CONVERSATION AMONG FRIENDS
--------------


4. (C/NF) Williams, who was friendly and frank throughout,
took pains to note that this is a conversation between
friends who should be able to resolve these kinds of
differences reasonably. He suggested exploring the details
in a discussion at the experts level. Department of
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Assistant Secretary
Zena Armstrong told us October 29 that Australia is very
interested in talking in more detail with NOAA, especially to
discuss the annexes on international observers, vessel
monitoring and DNA registries in the proposal.


5. (C/NF) Comment: Both Williams and Armstrong said the
strong tone and link to strategic priorities in the
Secretary's letter pose a challenge. This contrasts sharply
with the response we got from FM Smith's staff (ref B).
Garrett's concern will be that the Santiago proposal and the
follow-up will limit his options in debating with Smith and
others what to do next. We were told that legal action
against Japan is still on the table, notwithstanding the
letter. A perception that unilateral action could, or
already has, hurt cooperation with the United States will put
Qalready has, hurt cooperation with the United States will put
greater focus on reaching consensus in upcoming cabinet
meetings on the way forward. This will help weaken those who
are arguing for the most aggressive range of responses, and
could push Australia into working with the proposed SG
option.

CLUNE