[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 5, 1996)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 8843-8844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5306]
[[Page 8841]]
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Part X
The President
_______________________________________________________________________
Proclamation 6867--Declaration of a National Emergency and Invocation
of Emergency Authority Relating to the Regulation of the Anchorage and
Movement of Vessels
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 44 / Tuesday, March 5, 1996 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 8843]]
Proclamation 6867 of March 1, 1996
Declaration of a National Emergency and
Invocation of Emergency Authority Relating to the
Regulation of the
Anchorage and Movement of Vessels
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
WHEREAS, on February 24, 1996, Cuban military aircraft
intercepted and destroyed two unarmed U.S.-registered
civilian aircraft in international airspace north of
Cuba;
WHEREAS the Government of Cuba has demonstrated a ready
and reckless willingness to use excessive force,
including deadly force, in the ostensible enforcement
of its sovereignty;
WHEREAS, on July 13, 1995, persons in U.S.-registered
vessels who entered into Cuban territorial waters
suffered injury as a result of the reckless use of
force against them by the Cuban military; and
WHEREAS the entry of U.S.-registered vessels into Cuban
territorial waters could again result in injury to, or
loss of life of, persons engaged in that conduct, due
to the potential use of excessive force, including
deadly force, against them by the Cuban military, and
could threaten a disturbance in international
relations;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, by the authority vested in me
by the Constitution and the laws of the United States
of America, including section 1 of title II of Public
Law 65-24, ch. 30, June 15, 1917, as amended (50 U.S.C.
191), sections 201 and 301 of the National Emergencies
Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title
3, United States Code, find and do hereby proclaim that
a national emergency does exist by reason of a
disturbance or threatened disturbance of international
relations. In order to address this national emergency
and to secure the observance of the rights and
obligations of the United States, I hereby authorize
and direct the Secretary of Transportation (the
``Secretary'') to make and issue such rules and
regulations as the Secretary may find appropriate to
regulate the anchorage and movement of vessels, and
delegate to the Secretary my authority to approve such
rules and regulations, as authorized by the Act of June
15, 1917.
Section 1. The Secretary may make rules and regulations
governing the anchorage and movement of any vessel,
foreign or domestic, in the territorial waters of the
United States, which may be used, or is susceptible of
being used, for voyage into Cuban territorial waters
and that may create unsafe conditions and threaten a
disturbance of international relations. Any rule or
regulation issued pursuant to this proclamation may be
effective immediately upon issuance as such rule or
regulation shall involve a foreign affairs function of
the United States.
Sec. 2. The Secretary is authorized to inspect any
vessel, foreign or domestic, in the territorial waters
of the United States, at any time; to place guards on
any such vessel; and, with my consent expressly hereby
granted, take full possession and control of any such
vessel and remove the officers and crew, and all other
persons not specifically authorized by the Secretary to
go or remain on board the vessel when necessary to
secure the rights and obligations of the United States.
[[Page 8844]]
Sec. 3. The Secretary may request assistance from such
departments, agencies, officers, or instrumentalities
of the United States as the Secretary deems necessary
to carry out the purposes of this proclamation. Such
departments, agencies, officers, or instrumentalities
shall, consistent with other provisions of law and to
the extent practicable, provide requested assistance.
Sec. 4. The Secretary may seek assistance from State
and local authorities in carrying out the purposes of
this proclamation. Because State and local assistance
may be essential for an effective response to this
emergency, I urge all State and local officials to
cooperate with Federal authorities and to take all
actions within their lawful authority necessary to
prevent the unauthorized departure of vessels intending
to enter Cuban territorial waters.
Sec. 5. All powers and authorities delegated by this
proclamation to the Secretary may be delegated by the
Secretary to other officers and agents of the United
States Government unless otherwise prohibited by law.
Sec. 6. This proclamation shall be immediately
transmitted to the Congress and published in the
Federal Register.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
first day of March, in the year of our Lord nineteen
hundred and ninety-six, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and twentieth.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 96-5306
Filed 3-4-96; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P