“WATERFRONT NEWS – U.S. Protests *PERU* Detention Of Tunaboats – (Washington D.C.) The United States has made ‘strong representations’ to Peru over detention of four California tunaboats in recent days. The U.S. State Department said the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru has been instructed to protest the action on grounds that it ‘involved interference with U.S. vessels on the high seas.’ A spokesman said that one vessel, the ‘CLIPPERTON’, was fined $7,128 (equivalent to $66,000 today – ed.) before being permitted to leave the Peruvian port of Chimbote.
RIGHTS DISPUTED
The vessels were detained in a 200-mile coastal zone in which Peru claims both territorial and fishing rights. The United States does not recognize the claim. According to the spokesman, the U.S. Tunaboat Association (A.T.A.? – ed.) reported that the ‘Clipperton’ and the ‘SUN JASON’ entered Peruvian ports for medical attention and to repair gear. Two other tunaboats, the ‘SAN JUAN’ and the ‘HORNET’, were also later arrested at sea and escorted into Peruvian ports on charges of fishing without a Peruvian license. Both were released without fines after purchasing the necessary licenses, the spokesman said. A U.S. Embassy official was sent to Chimbote on Monday from Lima to represent the fishermen.
AID CUT VOTED ON
In response to the Peruvian action, the U.S. Senate on Monday voted to CUT OFF FOREIGN AID to ANY NATION which interferes with U.S. fishing on the high seas. The amendment by Senator THOMAS H. KUCHEL (R-Calif.), passed on a 59-24 call vote. A nearly identical proposal, also by Kuchel, was approved two years ago by the Senate, but later was dropped in a HOUSE-SENATE conference.”
(*Source: San Diego UNION & Daily Bee newspaper – Thursday, June 17, 1965 – Pg. 32)