514 



for many purposes for many years, and it is incorrect to assume that 

 we are not using the sea bottom. Any attempt to deal in a radical legal 

 way with the sea bottom would interfere with some national security 

 enterprise.'' 117 



Consequently, the factor of national security and the Navy's de- 

 mands were focal points in formulating the U.S. draft, treaty and 

 the final outcome. The technological gap between the United States 

 and the Soviet Union, the high costs of developing underwater sys- 

 tems, and the political developments on the international scene vis-a- 

 vis mainland China were among the other factors shaping the U.S. 

 and U.S.S.R. positions. 



Although the time lag between Soviet and U.S. marine capabili- 

 ties has been considerable in recent years, the gap has been closing at 

 a fast rate. In his annual report on the U.S. military posture. Melvin 

 Laird, Secretary of Defense, indicated that the overall (land, sea, and 

 air) technological challenge from the Soviet Union was so strong as to 

 obliterate any U.S. technology lead over the U.S.S.R. by the mid-to- 

 late 1970's. 118 



Recent developments at the United Nations and the shift, in U.S. 

 policy suggest that the People's Republic of China will not remain 

 long out of the U.N. membership, and that sooner or later it will be 

 a member of the community of nations. In anticipation of this even- 

 tuality, it is conceivable that both the United States and the Soviet 

 Union could have a strong incentive to form an international regime 

 and a legal framework for the oceans so that when the People's Repub- 

 of China joins the United Nations it would be faced with a fait ac- 

 compli, to comply with the world community. This prospect may also 

 contribute to the urgency and pressure to resolve issues of terriorial 

 limits, continental shelf boundaries, and seabed resources, as well as 

 the banning of nuclear weapons from the ocean floor. 



Scientists in the Diplomatic Process 



In the section on seabed resources it was indicated how progress in 

 obtaining scientific data and the increasing knowledge of the marine 

 environment produced technological developments that pushed man 

 into progressively deeper waters offshore. Scientific manpower has also 

 been essential in formulating U.S. positions on issues of ocean policy. 

 A number of scientists have participated in advising both the legis- 

 lative and executive branches of Government. Scientists from aca- 

 demic, industrial, and Government institutions were instrumental in 

 assisting and contributing to the formulation of U.S. policy on the 

 seabed. Some have participated in the actual deliberations and draft- 

 ing of resolutions such as the Draft U.N. Convention on the Inter- 

 national Seabed Area. 



ROLE OF THE MARINE COUNCIL STAFF 



Prior to 1966, the Federal effort, in marine affairs was distributed 

 among more than -10 agencies, and was for the most part uncoordi- 

 nated. In the Legislative Branch, the Library of Congress' Congres- 

 sional Research Service (then the Legislative Reference Service) es- 

 tablished in L964 the Science Policy Research Division, with Dr. Ed- 



,,T "The United Nations and the Issue of Deep Ocean Resources * * *," op. cit., p. 192. 

 118 Ocean Science News (March 1-. l '»? l ) . page 3. 



