75 



Mr. Fascell. We will hold the recoi'd open for such other state- 

 ments that may come to the subcommittee and we will adjourn this 

 hearing subject to the call of the Chair. I want to thank you very much 

 for your appearance and co-operation. 



(The following was subsequently received for inclusion in the record :) 



The American Legion, 

 Washington, B.C., October 10, 1967. 

 Hon. Dante B. Fascell, 



Chairman, Subcommittee on International Organizations and Moveynents, 

 House Committee on Foreign Affairs, 

 Washington, B.C. 



Dear Chairman Fascell: We have noted with mterest that your Subcom- 

 mittee is conducting hearings on H.J. Res. 816, and related bills, which oppose 

 vesting title to the ocean floor in the United Nations. The American Legion is 

 on record in opposition to providing the United Nations with any potential source 

 of independent revenue, including the resources of the ocean floor. A copy of the 

 resolution expressing this position is enclosed. This was adopted by our 1965 

 National Convention and is still current policy of The American Legion. 



I would greatly appreciate your making this letter and Resolution No. 414 

 a part of the official records of the hearings of your Subcommittee. 

 Sincerely yours, 



Herald E. Stringer, 



Director. 



Forty-seventh Annual National Convention of the American Legion, 

 Portland, Oreg., August 24-26, 1965 



resolution no. 414 



Committee: Foreign Relations. 



Subject: United Nations Independent Revenue Opposed. 



Whereas there have been advanced various proposals for raising direct revenue 

 for the United Nations, with a view to making that organization financially 

 independent; and 



Whereas these include suggestions that the UN be authorized to charge member 

 states for services, to tax individual citizens of member states, to place levies on 

 certain international activities (e.g., mail, shipping, travel), and to exploit natural 

 resources not belonging to any country or resources the claim to which is or might 

 be relinquished by the country or countries concerned (e.g., those of Antarctica, 

 the sea-beds, and outer space) ; and 



Whereas some have advocated that the UN issue a declaration of United Nations 

 title to any petroleum deposits in the Gulf of Mexico beyond U.S. and Mexican 

 territorial limits; and 



Whereas under international convention, any such deposits which are techni- 

 cally accessible would be a part of the natural resources of the American continental 

 shelf and belong, therefore, to either the U.S. or Mexico; and 



Whereas the United Nations Charter specifies (Article 17, paragraph 2) that: 

 "The expenses of the Organization shall be borne by the Members;" and 



Whereas to modify this fundamental principle along the lines of the above 

 mentioned proposals would be a step in the direction of converting the UN into a 

 superstate or "world government;" and 



Whereas a financially independent international organization might tend to 

 become less and less responsive to the needs and aspirations of its members, and 

 might be tempted to undertake activities quite unrelated to its basic ]3urposes and 

 perhaps inimical to the best interests of some or all of the nations it is intended to 

 serve: Now, therefore, be it 



Resolved by the American Legion in national convention assembled in Portland, 

 Oreg., August 2.'+~26, 1965, That The American Legion opposes 1) the giving to the 

 United Nations title to or revenue from any income producing property, icgardless 

 of location but especially the off'-shore oil deposits in the Gulf of Mexico ; and 2) 

 the authorizing of the United Nations to tax individual citizens of any nation, to 

 place levies upon any member st:ite for whatever services, to issue income-raising 

 stamps, or to charge anyone or any member state fees of any nature for any form 

 of international activity. 

 84-771 — 67 7 



