The Convention for the Protection of Fur Seals was first concluded in 1911 between Japan, the United States, Great Britain and Russia. In 1925, upon the expiration of its term of 15 years the Japanese Government, proposing the revision of the same, conducted negotiations with the other signatory Powers, but their efforts failed to bring about any concrete results and the Convention, unrevised, has continued in force for 14 years more up to the present.
In the meantime fur seals in the north Pacific have greatly multiplied, with the direct and indirect damages inflicted upon the fishing industry growing also with the years to such an extent that Japan with her important fishery industry can no longer tolerate the continuance of the said Convention which aims solely at the protection of the seals and provides nothing for safeguarding fishery interests. Accordingly the Japanese Government, acting under the stipulations of Article XVI of the Convention, have notified the three other Powers concerned today (October 23, 1940) of their abrogation of the Convention to be effective one year hence, submitting at the same time a proposal for the conclusion of a new convention concerning the protection of fur seals.