Engineering and Resources that the United States propose a new interna- 

 tional framework (principles, rules, procedures, and institutions) for 

 exploring and exploiting seabed mineral resources and for pursuing scientific 

 inquir)' in the oceans. 



Developing such a policy framework, particularly regarding jurisdiction 

 over the deep seabed, involves a number of considerations of national 

 interest — security, economic growth, incentive for private investment, bal- 

 ance of payments, scientific research, aid to developing nations and others. 

 These diverse interests find their advocacy in different departments of the 

 Federal Government. Conflicts in viewpoint are inevitable and understand- 

 able in view of legitimately difTering missions and responsibilities. To assist 

 in formulating consistent Government-wide policies of international interest 

 the Committee on International Policy in the Marine Environment con- 

 tinued to examine the major international ocean policies. The Com- 

 mittee assists the Secretary of State in advising the President and the Marine 

 Sciences Council. 



Preventing a Seabed Arms Race 



One of the Nation's principal international initiatives in the oceans during 

 1969 was that taken to assure that the seabed remains free from the nuclear 

 arms race. This objective was pursued within the forum of the Eighteen 

 Nation Disarmament Committee in Geneva, which grew to 26 nations and 

 was renamed the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament during 

 the year. In March, the U.S. delegation entered these discussions with 

 instructions from the President to work toward a seabed arms control agree- 

 ment. Discussions were subsequently held to consider United States and 

 Soviet draft treaties. In October the United States and Soviet delegations 

 agreed on a draft treaty Drooosal under which parties to the treatv would 

 undertake not to imolant or emnlace on the seabed and the ocean floor 

 and in the subsoil thereof bevond the maximum contiguous zone any objects 

 with nuclear weapons or any other types of weapons of mass destruction 

 as well as structures, launching installations or any other facilities specifi- 

 cally designed for storing, testing or using such weapons. 



In the fall the United States-Soviet draft was considered by the Con- 

 ference of the Committee on Disarmament, the U.N. Seabeds Committee, 

 and the U.N. General Assembly. This draft was discussed in detail ; suggested 

 changes proposed by many nations \vere considered ; and the General Assem- 

 bly referred the Draft Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of 

 Nuclear Weapons and other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Seabed 

 and the Ocean Floor and Subsoil thereof back to the Disarmament Con- 

 ference for further work and completion if possible.^ 



* The text of the U.N. resolution and the draft treaty are presented in app. D-2. 



183 



