Chapter IV 



INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE NATIONAL 



INTEREST 



U.S. Policy and International Cooperation 



Intensified use of the sea, now projected worldwide, could very 

 well stimulate national rivalries and conflicts that could arrest the 

 development of marine resources and defeat the very purpose of 

 our national policy. We thus emphasize international collaboration 

 in the exploration and use of the seas and their resources and the 

 opportunity to utilize the seas to advance world peace, understanding, 

 and economic development at home and abroad. Such steps antici- 

 pate strengthening communications and institutions at all levels, 

 intergovernmental, scientific, and industrial. 



The Marine Resources and Engineering Development Act declares 

 that our marine science program should contribute to cooperation 

 "with other nations and groups of nations and international organiza- 

 tions * * * when such cooperation is in the national interest." The 

 Act also directs the Council, under foreign policy guidance of the 

 President, to coordinate a program of international cooperation. 



The President clearly stated his support for international participa- 

 tion in marine science activities at the commissioning of the Oceanog- 

 rapher on July 13, 1966, when he said : "Truly great accomplishments 

 in oceanography will require the cooperation of all the maritime na- 

 tions of the world. Today, I send our voice out from this pla4:form 

 calling for such cooperation, requesting it, and urging it. * * * The 

 sea — in the words of Longfellow, 'divides and yet unites mankind.' " 



The Council has given high priority to determining how the seas 

 can serve as a medium for increased international cooperation, and is 

 supporting, for example, the following activities : 



(1) A U.S. initiative at the 1966 United Nations General Assembly 

 calling for an examination of international marine science activities : 



(2) A pilot U.S. program to assist the less developed nations to use 

 food from the sea ; 



(3) A survey of marine science activities of other nations and of op- 

 portunities for cooperation ; 



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