3. Address of Welcome
(from "Chairman's Report of the Twentieth Meeting")
At the opening session an address was given by His Excellency Mr. Naomi
Nishimura, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Government of Japan.
In extending a hearty welcome to Commissioners, Delegates and Observers,
Mr. Nishimura said that in the twenty-year period since the International
Convention for the Regulation of Whaling came into effect the Commission had
made remarkable contributions towards the protection of whale stocks and the
orderly development of the whaling industry.
The fishing industry including whaling had an important role to play in the
Japanese economy and in the life of the Japanese people.
Japan therefore had been making every effort possible for the sound
development of the whaling industry working in close co-operation with other
countries in the field of investigation and research; and in taking
conservation measures based on the precise scientific data available.
At its meeting the Commission had to deal with a number of important matters,
including the question of the pelagic catch limit of baleen whales in the
Antarctic, which were of particular importance to Japan where whaling was one
of the major industries.
The Minister expressed the hope that the discussions in the Conference would
be made in the spirit of mutual understanding and co-operation and that its
conclusions would contribute towards the protection of whale stocks as well
as the orderly development of the industry.
_