4R 



d. What About the Ongoing National and Intemxitional Marine 

 Acti/vitiesf 



In December of 1966, the General Assembly of the United Nations 

 ordered a comprehensive survey of activities in marine science and 

 technology undertaken in the United Nations or by member states 

 and private bodies. 



A report of this survey may not be ready until the convening of 

 the 23d General Assembly, in the fall of 1968. 



In 1966, the Congress of the United States created the National 

 Council on Marine Resources and Engineering Development and the 

 Commission on Marine Science, Engineering and Resources to review 

 the marine activities of the United States, to coordinate Federal 

 programs in this field, and to recommend the framework of a national 

 marine policy. 



Neither of these organizations will be ready to submit a report of 

 its findings and recommendations for some time. 



Testimony presented before our subcommittee further indicates 

 that numerous specialized agencies of the United Nations and other 

 intergovernmental bodies are currently conducting a variety of marine 

 research and exploration programs. Still other international organiza- 

 tions are promulgating and attempting to police various rules regard- 

 ing the use of the seas for navigation, fishing, exploitation of economic 

 resources, and other activities. 



No one seems to know how the new international agency, envisioned 

 in the Maltese proposals, would affect these activities. 



Neither have we been able to ascertain thus far the possible ultimate 

 impact of these proposals on national security undertakings conducted 

 within the marine environment. 



D. FiXDINGS AND ReCOMMEXDATIONS 



On the basis of the hearings conducted between September 22 and 

 October 31, 1967, the subcommittee finds — ■ 



1. That at the present time, the oceans and their potential 

 for sustaining and enriching human life are still largely unknown ; 



2. That numerous private, national, and international under- 

 takings are currently in progress, aimed at enlarging our knowl- 

 edge of the oceans and of their resources; 



3. That many uncertainties, unresolved questions, and possible 

 conflicts exist in the field of international law and usage relating 

 to the use of the seas and exploitation of ocean resources; and 



4. That the proposal to internationalize the seabed and the 

 ocean floor cuts across a broad spectrum of scientific, economic, 

 political, and security considerations, and could profoundly 

 affect the entire structure of private, national, and international 

 marine undertakings. 



In view of these facts, the subcommittee believes that it would be 

 precipitate, unwise, and possibly injurious to the objectives which 

 both the United States and the United Nations have in common, to 

 reach a decision at this time regarding a matter which so vitall}' 

 affects the welfare of future generations. 



