ウィキリークスが1月1日、在東京大使館発の公電３本を初めて公表した。テーマは捕鯨問題に対する日本政府の対応で、スペインのエルパイス紙が担当したようだ。
東京電は5000本以上あるが、最初がこの程度だと、日本人の関心が続くかどうか相当怪しい。
DCM URGES GOJ TO SHOW FLEXIBILITY IN WHALING TALKS
【2009-11-02】首席公使、日本政府に捕鯨問題で柔軟性を求める
1.赤松広隆農相から10月22日に提出された文書を受け、首席公使が11月2日に山田修路審議官と会見し、サンチアゴで合意された交渉を進展させ、国際捕鯨委員会の将来について交渉する合意を得ることに対する、アメリカのコミットメントを伝えた。会見には、森下丈二水産庁参事官と魚谷敏紀水産庁資源管理部遠洋課課長補佐も同席した。山田審議官は、サンチアゴの交渉進展は捕鯨委員会が前進する好機であり、この最後のチャンスにアメリカがリーダーシップを発揮するよう求めた。11月に国際捕鯨委員会（IWC）のモニカ・メディナ米政府代表と会談することを期待していると述べた。
2.山田審議官は、アメリカのNGO「シーシェパード」の税制上の地位に関する捜査について質問し、アメリカ政府に、洋上に危険な状況を生み出している当該組織に対して行動をとるよう、重ねて要請した。首席公使は、米政府が洋上の船舶の安全、人命に最高度の優先順位を置いていることを説明、アメリカ法違反が判明すれば、適切な法執行すると述べた。森下参事官は、アメリカ政府がシーシェパードに対して行動をとれば、日本がIWC交渉で前進することが容易になるだろうとさえ述べた。
JAPAN RECEPTIVE TO FURTHER ENGAGEMENT ON WHALING
【2009-11-09】日本は捕鯨問題関与に容認的
1.（要旨）国際捕鯨委員会（IWC）のモニカ・メディナ米政府代表は4日に日本の水産省幹部と、IWCプロセスの将来に関する交渉進展について会談した。水産庁長官は、サンチアゴでの交渉結果を「大きな一歩」と表現し、日本で政権交代があった後では政治家レベルの諮問が必要になると述べた。長官は、将来の捕獲数削減の基準を捕獲実績数ではなく割当数に置く、日本政府の提案を主張。調査捕鯨を段階的に廃止するオーストラリア提案は最初から乗れないと述べた。座頭鯨捕獲のグリーンランド提案と、シーシェパードに対するアメリカなど各国の行動が、IWC交渉に対する日本政府の姿勢によい影響を与えると述べた。メディナ代表は、米側は残る問題を解決することを期待し、日米首脳会談で両国のコミットメントを表明することがよいシグナルになるであろうと述べた。
2.（重複分省略）町田勝弘水産庁長官は、政治家レベルの諮問が必要となるとしながら、民主党政権の捕鯨に対する姿勢は、商業捕鯨の再開と調査捕鯨の継続という基本的な姿勢において、自民党政権は同じだと釘を刺した。捕鯨派と反捕鯨派は、来年のIWC総会で合意に到達することが難しくならないよう、交渉を急ぐべきではないと述べた。
3. (C/NF) Ms. Medina said the USG understands there is no fundamental change in the GOJ position on whaling, but that the USG is looking for creative solutions to move the IWC forward as opposed to fundamental change. She added that the U.S. is committed to finding a solution over the next two to three months.
She said she would advocate for including language on whaling in a summit statement following the meeting between the President and Prime Minister November 13.
The statement would express the desire of both countries to work out remaining differences on whaling. Once negotiators have narrowed the issues, both sides could seek a political solution, she added.
4. (C/NF) Machida described the progress at the Support Group meeting in Santiago as a major step forward. However, he said there remain two major issues that need to be addressed.
First, there is still no consensus on the proposals raised in Santiago even among the Support Group members, let alone the entire IWC. Second, the upper limit on catch quotas, especially a reduction in the limit for Japan's research whaling in the Southern Ocean, have yet to be negotiated. Regarding Japan's catch numbers, Machida said Australia's proposal to phase out research whaling is a non-starter for the GOJ. He added that the baseline for any reduction in Japan's research whaling should be the catch quota figures and not the actual number of whales caught.
5. (C/NF) Ms. Medina replied that the catch quotas is the most important outstanding issue. She said the Santiago proposal calls for an overall reduction in catch numbers from all whaling nations over a ten year period, which would help in securing approval from Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.
She said given the history of Japan's research whaling, and the increase in quota numbers in recent years, there is room for Japan to cut from the actual number of whales taken.
A symbolic action by Japan, such as agreeing not to take fin whales this year, would be a good indicator to the rest of the IWC of Japan's commitment to reaching a solution. The USG would then work hard to make sure the EU and Australia do not block a compromise.
6. (C/NF) Machida said there are two factors outside the current Future of the IWC negotiations that influence Japan's negotiating position.
First, a negative outcome in the vote at next year's IWC intersessional meeting on Greenland's proposal to catch ten humpback whales could derail the work of the Support Group. Greenland's proposal has the backing of the IWC's Scientific Committee and another rejection at the IWC plenary meeting could make the overall compromise being discussed impossible.
Second, the violent protests by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) could limit the GOJ's flexibility in the negotiations. He said the Netherlands should have primary responsibly for taking action against the SSCS, but he appreciates the USG initiative to address the group's tax exempt status. He said action on the SSCS would be a major element for Japan in the success of the overall negotiations. Ms. Medina replied that she hopes to
work out differences with the EU on Greenland's proposal on humpback whales prior to the March 2010 IWC intersessional meeting and include the issue in the overall agreement.
Regarding the SSCS, she said she believes the USG can demonstrate the group does not deserve tax exempt status
based on their aggressive and harmful actions.
GOJ NONCOMMITAL ON ENCOURAGING ICELAND TO
【2010-01-27】アイスランドの割当削減について、日本は不関与
1. （要旨）マーク・ウォール経済担当公使が、福山哲郎外務副大臣と山田修路水産庁審議官に、全体の交渉を進展させるため、アイスランドの捕鯨割当量を削減する圧力をかけるよう求めた。両氏は、日本政府はそのような行動を取りたくないと述べた。福山副大臣は、捕鯨問題を政治レベルに上げる欲求がないといい、山下審議官は、フィンランドからの鯨肉輸入を止める為に貿易政策を使うことはできないと述べた。ウォール公使は、合意は間近で、日本がアイスランドに交渉のテーブルにつくよう助言するべきだと主張した。山下審議官は、シーシェパードが日本の捕鯨船に対して妨害行為をすることで、交渉で妥協することに対する国内の支持が限られてしまうと懸念を述べた。
2. (SBU) EMIN met MOFA State Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama January 25 and Fisheries Agency of Japan Deputy Director
General Jun Yamashita January 26 to press the case for Japan's help in reaching out to Iceland for cooperation in the current round of negotiations in the International Whaling Commission (IWC). In his meeting with Fukuyama, EMIN thanked Fukuyama for Japan's constructive engagement in the talks and asked for Japan's help to encourage Iceland to reduce its proposed quota for whaling in the North Atlantic.
Fukuyama said he understands that Iceland has taken a tough stance in the negotiations, but implied that his options are limited.
3. (C/NF) Fukuyama said the whaling issue has not been a political issue in Japan, a situation he would like to avoid.
If the GOJ moves forward on the issue too quickly, he added, it will create a domestic political problem for the ruling Democratic Party of Japan. He sees the situation as a Catch 22: it may not be possible to resolve the whaling issue without taking it to a political level, but doing so could create an adverse reaction for the DPJ.
4. (SBU) EMIN replied that Iceland's proposed take of fin whales is predicated on exporting to Japan, and its catch quota is far in excess of what the Japanese market could absorb.
If Japan and the U.S. work to encourage both sides in the whaling debate to take reasonable approaches there
will be an opportunity for a breakthrough. Fukuyama said that while his sense is that it will be difficult for Japan to approach Iceland, he will examine Iceland's position and the market for imported whale meat.
5. (SBU) In his meeting with Fisheries Agency Deputy Director General Yamashita, EMIN again made the case for a
GOJ intervention with Iceland. Yamashita argued that trade measures against Iceland are not appropriate since trade in whale meat between the two countries is not prohibited under either CITES or IWC rules. (Note: EMIN did not recommend Japan take any measures to restrict trade.
End note) EMIN countered that the issue at hand is concluding an agreement. A message from Japan to Iceland that its proposed catch far exceeds what the Japanese market can absorb could bring them around. Yamashita said the U.S. and Japan need to come up with other measures beside trade to influence Iceland, but that he has no ideas at the moment. Yamashita was glad to hear of U.S. "support" for Japan's proposal to reduce its catch. EMIN said rather Japan's offer is something we can work with, and we would like to see the same out of Iceland.
6. (C/NF) Turning to harassment of the Japanese whaling fleet by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS),
Yamashita said the NGO's actions have kept the fleet from reaching its quota the last few years. Yamashita said the GOJ would come under pressure domestically if SSCS harassment continues to keep Japanese whalers from filling their quota after an agreement on reduced numbers is reached within the IWC. EMIN said the USG is concerned about the safety of life at sea and is looking at the activity of the SSCS.
