5. Address of Welcome

(from "Chairman's Report of the Twelfth Meeting")



Mr. Gilmour Leburn, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland in the United Kingdom Government, addressed the opening session of the Commission. He drew attention to the present world-wide recognition of the growing need for the conservation of marine resources. Two of the world's leading whaling nations - the Netherlands and Norway - had withdrawn from the International Whaling Commission as a result of failure outside the Convention to rationalise the fishing efforts of the countries participating in Antarctic pelagic whaling. Nevertheless discussions on the harmonisation of claims were continuing outside the Commission and their success was earnestly hoped for.

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