8R 



3. It is, therefore, considered that the time has come to declare the 

 sea-bed and the ocean floor a common heritage of mankind and that 

 immediate steps should be taken to draft a treaty embodying, inter 

 alia^ the following principles : 



(a) The sea-bed and the ocean floor, underlying the seas beyond 

 the limits of present national jurisdiction, are not subject to national 

 appropriation in any manner whatsoever ; 



(b) The exploration of the sea-bed and of the ocean floor, under- 

 lying the seas beyond the limits of present national jurisdiction, shall 

 be undertaken in a manner consistent with the Principles and Pur- 

 poses of the Charter of the United Nations ; 



(c) The use of the sea-bed and of the ocean floor, underlying the 

 seas beyond the limits of present national jurisdiction, and their 

 economic exploitation shall be undertaken with the aim of safe- 

 guarding the interests of mankind. The net financial benefits derived 

 from the use and exploitation of the sea-bed and of the ocean floor 

 shall be used primarily to promote the development of poor countries ; 



(d) The sea-bed and the ocean floor, underlying the seas beyond the 

 limits of present national jurisdiction, shall be reserved exclusively 

 for peaceful purposes in perpetuity. 



4. It is believed that the proposed treaty should envisage the crea- 

 tion of an international agency (a) to assume jurisdiction, as a trustee 

 for all countries, over the sea-bed and the ocean floor, underlying the 

 seas beyond the limits of present national jurisdiction ; (b ) to regulate, 

 supervise and control all activities thereon; and (c) to ensure that the 

 activities undertaken conform to the principles and provisions of the 

 proposed treaty. 



The Eevised Item Placed on the Agenda of the 22nd General 



Assembly 



FIRST committee (POLITICAL COMMITTEE) 



Item 92. Examination of the question of the reservation exclusively 

 for peaceful purposes of the sea-bed and the ocean floor, and the sub- 

 soil thereof, underlying the high seas beyond the limits of present 

 national jurisdiction, and the use of the resources in the interests of 

 mankind. 



