FRONTIERS IN OCEANIC RESEARCH 57 



Mr. Wolf. If we go beyond that, we are engaging — we would be 

 raising the possibility of international conflict. 



Mr. Miller. It is open sea, belonging to everyone. 



The Chairman. We lost it by one vote, the limit to 6 miles, and 12 

 miles for fishing rights. One vote more would have established an 

 international rule which would have recognized all nations out 6 miles 

 as against our position which has been 3 miles. 



Mr. Fulton. It should be commented on, it takes two-thirds. 



The Chairman. That it right. It takes two-thirds to establish 

 international law. 



Mr. Wolf. On that same point, but off the subject of oceanography, 

 last Monday at Cape Canaveral they made a point of the fact they 

 would like to have the shelf extended a little for security reasons, for 

 some of the work they are doing there. 



The Chairman. My own State of Louisiana would like to have it 

 extended further out for several reasons. 



Mr. Wolf. I am aware of that. 



Mr. Miller. But the thing that comes up now, suppose Mexico, who 

 stood out very strongly and led the fight for a 12-mile limit, a 12-mile 

 territorial limit, announces to the world that she now recognizes and 

 is claiming 12 miles out. This would destroy part of the fisheries of 

 Louisiana and Texas for the men who have to fish in these waters. We 

 didn't want the 12-mile limit. We reluctantly accepted the 6 and 6 

 because even with the 6 and 6 the Pacific Northwest fisheries are going 

 to be greatly embarrassed. The great salmon fishing area will prac- 

 tically be an inland Canadian lake. We can't go into that. 



The Chairman. I don't want to go into that too far, but I would 

 like to ask the Secretary an easy question: What would happen in 

 the event Russia proceeded to demolish some of our oil and gas wells 

 out beyond say the 12-mile limit, or suppose Russia came in and put 

 in its own oil and gas wells ? 



Mr. Miller. I think the Secretary of State would be involved. 



The Chairman. Maybe he has an idea on it, but at least it presents 

 a problem of a hostile nation invading our own territories, and ap- 

 proaching our coastline to destroy property beyond the limits of this 

 country as accepted by international law at this time. 



Dr. Wakelin. I think if there were an interplay between what 

 happened in the international region and something which was terri- 

 torial to us, this would present a completely new problem. 



The Chairman. Are there any further questions here? We don't 

 want the Secretary to get out too deep here. 



Mr. Wolf. May I suggest, Mr. Chairman, I would be grateful for 

 whatever information you can make available to the committee in this 

 subject. 



Dr. Wakelin. Yes, sir. 



(The information requested is printed on p. 56.) 



The Chairman. Mr. Karth. 



Mr. Karth. Mr. Secretary, I am sure you are aware of the fact 

 that the Congress is economy minded and I appreciate the fact 

 you are too, sir. With that, I would like to address myself to several 

 questions relating to your testimony on page 4. 



The last sentence of the first paragraph, you say, "I feel that this 

 program provides for growth at a reasonable rate and that it satisfies 



