of the sea's resources. The atmosphere, wliich 

 is so influenced by the oceans, knows no na- 

 tional boundaries; the nations of the world 

 share a common interest in its monitoring 

 and prediction and in its modification. 



The Marine Resources and Engineering 

 Development Act of 1966 recognized that the 

 national interest in marine programs is inter- 

 twined witli the interests of the peoples of tlie 

 whole world. The United States has sought to 

 carry out the policy stated in the Act by ad- 

 vancing a proposal to tlie nations of the 

 world for an International Decade of Ocean 

 Exploration. Through the President and the 

 Congress, tlie Ignited States also has given its 

 support to the World Weather Progi'am in 

 whicli all nations of the world are seeking to 

 explore and monitor global atmospheric 

 I)rocesses. 



The Commission shares the conviction that 

 marine scientific inquiry and resource devel- 

 opment, as well as meteorological prediction, 

 offer many real opportunities to emphasize 

 the common interests of all nations and to 

 benefit mankind. The gap between the living 

 standards of the rich and poor nations is ever 

 widening. The world cannot l)e stable if a 

 liandful of nations enjoy most of the planet's 

 riches while the majority exists at or below 

 subsistence levels, and many of tlie efTorts to 

 aid tlie less fortunate nations will involve 

 uses of the sea. 



Because instabilities in the world situation 

 cannot be remedied quickly, military power 

 will continue to be a central factor in world 

 affairs. As naval technology increases, the 

 depth and variety of undersea operations re- 

 quire detection systems of ever increasing 

 jiower and complexity. Today's advances in 

 military undersea technology forecast an in- 

 creasingly important role for U.S. defense 

 and deterrence capabilities in the global sea. 

 As the uses of the sea multiply, the Navy's 

 defense mission will be complicated by the 



The United Stutca requires a Navy 

 raiHible of currying out its national 

 defense missions anywhere in the 

 oceans, at any desired depth, at any 

 time. Here tlie Polaris submarine 

 Daniel Boone cruises on. :iie surface. 



presence of structures, vehicles, and men. The 

 resulting problems can be resolved only by 

 the closest cooperation between civil and 

 military users of the sea. Furthermore, mili- 

 tary and civil science and technology for 

 undersea operations can and should be mu- 

 tually supporting, emphasizing the need 

 for cooperative action. 



The Commission believes strongly that the 

 Nation's stake in the uses of the sea requires 

 a U.S. Navy capable of carrying out its 

 national defense missions anywhere in the 

 oceans, at any desired depth, at any time. 



However, the oceans must not provide a 

 new dimension for the nuclear arms race. 

 The official position of the United States de- 

 clares that the seabed and deep ocean floor 

 should be used exclusively for peaceful pur- 

 poses, with the understanding that the test 

 of whether an activity is "peaceful" is 

 whether it is consistent with the United Na- 

 tions Charter and other obligations of inter- 

 national law. Further, the United States has 

 requested the U.N. Disarmament Committee 

 to take up the question of arms limitation 



