62 



Mr. Gross. We don't want this thing to slip up on us, Mr. Popper. 

 In my opinion, for whatever it is worth, this Congress would speedily 

 adopt one of these House Joint Resolutions, if it was indicated you 

 were going to proceed in the United Nations. 



Mr. Frelinghuysen. Didn't Mr. Hanna, Mr. Chairman, indicate 

 there were something like 102 countries that had coastal waters? 



Mr. Popper. I didn't hear him say that. Congressman. He was 

 speaking of 132 nations and so on and I may have missed it. 



Mr. Frelinghuysen. He called them "seaboard nations" according 

 to my notes. 



Mr. Fascell. Your seeking out that information for us would be 

 very helpful. We would like to be kept aware of any substantive 

 matters. I am sure our communications have been good and will 

 continue to be good. Of course, nobody wants to be presented with an 

 accomplished fact and this is a matter of great importance. 



How about taking me over the hurdles of politics here just a bit? 

 Malta was not a signatory to the 1958 convention. 



Mi. Popper. No, sir, Malta was not independent at that time. 



Mr. Fascell. But they could by protocol become part of the 

 convention as a signatory; is that correct? 



Mr. Popper. They could adhere; yes, sir. 



Mr. Fascell. But they haven't chosen to do that yet? 



Mr. Popper. I would like to cheek that out, just to be sure. 



(Subsequently Mr. Popper informed the subcommittee that Malta 

 acceded to the Convention on the Continental Shelf by notification,. 

 dat3d May 19, 1966, to the Secretary General of the United Nations 

 in which Malta stated that she considered herself to be bound by the 

 various conventions on the law of the sea to which the United Kingdom 

 had subscribed prior to Malta's independence on September 21, 1964.) 



Mr. Fascell. Malta is on an extensive continental shelf, is it not,, 

 and is an independent nation? 



Mr. Popper. I am not acquainted with the situation. 



Mr. Fascell. It is not on an extensive shelf? 



STATEMENT OF BURDICK H. BRITTIN, DEPUTY SPECIAL ASSIST- 

 ANT FOR FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE TO THE SECRETARY OF 

 STATE 



Mr. Brittin. To the east it has a fairly good sized shelf but to the 

 west and south not very extensive. 



Mr. Fascell. So it does not have a very extensive shelf? 



Mr. Brittin. In the Mediterranean to the east of Malta she has 

 a fairly good shelf. 



Mr. Fascell. That is toward the sea? 



Mr. Brittin. The treaty governs the Mediterranean because the 

 Mediterranean is considered to be the high seas. 



Mr. Fascell. To the east it has a continental shelf and to the 

 west it has none? 



Mr. Brittin. Comparatively little. 



Mr. Fascell. So Malta may not have any special reason to get 

 really excited about becoming protocol to the existing convention? 



Mr. Popper. To the extent they have a shelf, Mr. Chairman,, 

 they might have an interest. 



