THE CONVOCATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL WHALING
  CONFERENCE. AT WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 20-DE-
  CEMBER 2, 1946; THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTER-
  NATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION
                        Editorial Note

  On October 1, 1946 the United States issued invitations for an In-
ternational Whaling Conference to be held in Washington on Novem-
ber 20, 1946. A draft agenda and draft rules of procedure were sent
in a circular instruction on October 24, 1946 to U.S. missions accredited
to the invited countries. The principal objectives of the conference were
to develop a code of regulations for the 1947-48 and subsequent whal-
ing seasons, and to establish an international whaling commission. The
delegates drafted an International Convention for the Regulation of
Whaling, which was signed by the United States and other nations on
December 2, 1946. This provided for the establishment of an Inter-
national Whaling Commission.
  The Convention, the Final Act of the Conference, and the Report of
the United States Delegation may be found accompanying President
Truman's Message of April 7, 1947 (Senate Executive L, 80th Con-
gress, 1st Session). The Convention was brought into force on Novem-
ber 10, 1948 (62 Stat. (pt. 2) 1716; TIAS 1849).
  In addition, a Protocol for the Regulation of Whaling, signed in
London on November 26, 1945, was, at the Washington Conference,
extended for the 1947-48 whaling season, and entered into force on
February 5, 1948. The text of the Protocol may be found printed in
Senate Executive K, 80th Congress, 1st Session (TIAS 1708).
  Additional documentation, including a complete set of conference
documents, may be found in the Department's indexed central files
under No. 562.8 Washington.
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