15 



Mr. Fascell. I think we should claiii'y the record at this point. 



As I understand it, what Malta has submitted, is a request to the 

 Secretary General for an item to be placed on the agenda. The actual 

 resolution itself has not been presented yet. 



Mr. Popper. An explanatory memorandum was presented. 



Mr. Hanna. I think that is correct. It is in the nature of a request. 

 The request carried the explanatory memorandum. 



Mr. Fascell. At this point without objection, Mr. Ilanna, we shall 

 place the request of Malta with the explanatory memorandum in the 

 record. 



(The information is as follows:) 



Request for the Inclusion of a Supplementary Item in the Agenda of the 

 Twenty-second Session, August ly, 1967 ' 



declaration and treaty concerning the reservation exclusively for 

 peaceful purposes of the sea-bed and of the ocean floor, underlying 



the SEAS BEYOND THE LIMITS OF PRESENT NATIONAL JURISDICTION, AND THE 

 USE OF THEIR RESOURCES IN THE INTERESTS OF MANKIND 



Note verbale dated 17 August 1067 from the Permanent Mission of Malta to the 

 United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General: 



The Permanent Mission of Malta to the United Nations presents its compli- 

 ments to the Secretary- General of the United Nation^ and has the honour to 

 propose nnder rule 14 of the ru es of procedure of the General Assembly the 

 inclusion of the following item in the agenda of the twenty-second session of the 

 General Assembly: "Declaration and treaty concerning the reservation exclusively 

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

 beyond the limits of present nationa. jurisdiction, and the use of their resources 

 in the interests of mankind". 



An explanatory memorandum is attached in accordance with rule 20 of the 

 rules of procedure. 



MEMORANDUM 



1. The sea-bed and the ocean floor are estimated to constitute approximately 

 five-sevenths of the world's area. The sea-bed and ocean floor, underlying the seas 

 outside present territorial waters and/or the continental shelves, are the only 

 areas of our planet which have not yet been appropriated for national use, because 

 they have been re atively inaccessib.e and their use for defence purposes or the 

 economic exploitation of their resources was not technologically feasible. 



2. In view of rapid progress in the development of new techniques by tech- 

 nologically advanced countries, it is feared that the situation will change and 

 that the sea-bed and the ocean floor, underlying the seas beyond present national 

 jurisdiction, will become progressively and competitively subject to national appro- 

 priation and use. This is likely to result in the militarization of the accessible ocean 

 floor through the establishment of fixed military installations and in the exploita- 

 tion and depletion of resources of immense potential benefit to the world, for the 

 national advantage of technologically developed countries. 



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 o, 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, underlying the 

 seas beyond the limits of present national jurisdiction, shall be undertaken 

 in a manner consistent with the Principles and Purposes of the Charter of 

 the United Nations; 



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

 yond the limits of present national jurisdiction, and their economic exploita- 

 tion shall be undertaken with the aim of safeguarding the interests of man- 

 kind. The net financial benefits derived from the use and exploitation of the 



' United Nations General Assembly. 22d session, Doeiiinent A/6695. 



