By SMF, NARA, Date 9/4/00
Secret
Memorandum for Mr. William P. Clark
The White House
Subject: Suggested Letter to Prime Minister Thatcher
Prime Minister Thatcher has written the President in regard to the current Law of the Sea negotiations. She notes that the UK will make clear to leaders of the Law of the Sea Conference that the UK would have great difficulty in participating in a Convention in which the US did not take part. Mrs. Thatcher also argued that signature of a Reciprocating States Agreement in the week before the resumption of the Conference would make it more difficult to achieve US concerns. We delayed replying to this letter until the UK and the FRG had responded to our request to sign the Agreement as early as possible. The UK and the FRG have decided they will not sign the Agreement before May. The letter to Prime Minister Thatcher urges that, in light of that decision, it is imperative that the UK and the UK work closely together in the Law of the Sea negotiations.
L. Paul Bremer, III
Executive Secretary