38 



If the Malta resolution were in effect, it would handicap industry and dampen its 

 enthusiasm and indeed hinder our national defense. For when we develop the 

 technology to go beyond the continental shelf, we would find oursevles facing with 

 a wall of international ownership. 



I further believe that the proposed Malta resohition would change the law as 

 established in the 1958 Geneva Convention which restrains a nation's seaward 

 boundaries to the continental shelf only if that nation can exploit no farther. 



During the convention, this definition of the continental shelf was formulated: 



"the sea-bed and the subsoil of the submarine areas adjacent to the coast but 

 outside the area of the territorial sea, to a depth of 200 meters or," and I repeat for 

 emphasis, "or beyond that limit, to where the depth of the superjacent waters 

 admits of the exploitation of the natural resources of the said area." 



It is my sincere hope that the committee will endorse the many resolutions 

 introduced in the House to instruct our Ambassador to the United Nations to 

 oppose the Malta resolution and any other which would give away the ocean 

 bottoms. 



Mr. Rogers. I realize you have probably gone into most of the 

 details so I will try not to use up too much of your time. 



First of all, I want to say I am delighted that you are holding hear- 

 ings. I think it is necessary to quickly formulate strong feelings on 

 this which may be expressed by our representative in the United 

 Nations. 



Mr. Fascell. I think you heard Mr. Fountain express himself 

 rather strongly. 



Mr. Rogers. Yes. I hope he \\ill talk to Ambassador Goldberg. 



Mr. Fountain. I might say I will so express myself there. wSo far, I 

 do not think there is any difference of o])inion am(jng the delegates. 



Mr. Rogers. That is encouraging and we are delighted you are 

 there to make those views known. It seems to me that the present law 

 permits us to go beyond the continental shelf now. The Geneva 

 Convention, and I presume you have gone into that ^\'ith the other 

 witnesses, so provides. It says you can go beyond the 200-meter limit 

 to where the depth of the superjacent waters admits of the exploita- 

 tion of the natural resources of the said area. So present law now 

 permits us to go beyond the continental shelf from the 200-meter 

 area. 



Mr. Fascell. Was that the exact language that you read? 



Mr. Rogers. Yes. 



I cannot understand why we should support anything tliat changes 

 present international la"v. This has alveady been recogni/.ed. Why 

 get into tliis? We ought to say the law is there. This is the law aul we 

 ought to uphold it and the present international agreements. 



Mr. Fountain. If you will yield. 



Mr. Rogers. Yes. 



Mr. Fountain. You are referring to article 1 of the Law of the 

 Sea Convention on the Continental Shelf, I assume, are you not? 



jNIr. Rogers. Yes. 



Mr. Fountain. And other pertinent articles. 



Mr. Rogers. Yes. 



It is very significant to us as we reach the thresiiold of the develop- 

 ment. 1 think, and I am sure you know, American industry has already 

 formulated plans that will take us to the mid-Atlantic range. This 

 includes occupation below the waters on the bottom of the sea to a 

 position where we could occupy it and defend it. To allow any resolu- 

 tions, such as the Malta resolution, t(» con.e in at this time simply 



