198 



Mr. Gross. Admiral Hearn, the title to this House joint resolution 

 is, "exri^ressing opposition to vestino; title to the ocean floor in the 

 United Nations." In your statement on page 4 and I am quoting only 

 in part, you say, "What I am suggesting is that actual oceanographic 

 activities will not force us to make a final decision for awhile. In the 

 meantime we are giving careful consideration to all the options." 



Are you saying in effect — and I don't want to put words in your 

 mouth — that you support this resolution which would be the sense of 

 Congress that we not vest title in the ocean floor in the United Nations 

 or any other international organization at this time but particularly 

 this resolution? 



Admiral Hearn. The point I intended to convey. Congressman 

 Gross, is the fact that we feel at this time it is not appropriate to take 

 any steps which would finalize the regime of the deep oceans. As to 

 the question whether the sense of Congress should be expressed in 

 this regard, it is the opinion of the State Department as I understand 

 the prior testimony that they are opposed to vesting the deep oceans 

 in the United Nations at this time, l3ut they would prefer not to have 

 a resolution. We support the State Department's view because they 

 are the ones that have to deal with the United Nations. I think that 

 the State Department's view is the same as ours with respect to the 

 substance of the resolution. 



Mr. Gross. Why would you be opposed to asking, if I am correct 

 in interpreting what you have said, to asking for more time? T^Tiy 

 would you oppose this resolution? Some of us are pretty well con- 

 vinced the move is on to vest too much of this matter in the hands 

 of the United Nations. Why would you be opposed in asking for 

 more time? I am interested because you are a part of the operating 

 U.S. Navy. I would like to hear in a closed session some of the infor- 

 mation which apparently is going to be denied us in an open session 

 today. Why would you be opposed to an amendment of this kind? 



Admirer Hearn. 'Because at this time, Congressman Gross, we 

 don't feel there is enough known about the future of the deep oceans 

 not only with respect to their exploration but their exploitation. We 

 feel all the options should remain open until such time as we can 

 make an educated estimate 



Mr. Gross. That is precisely the purpose, one of the purposes of 

 the resolution. Admiral. "Wliereas strong efforts are being exerted by 

 certain groups and individuals to immediately place the United Na- 

 tions in control of the resources of the bed of the deep sea and ocean," 

 and so on and so forth. 



Admiral Hearn. My response to that, sir, is that we agree fully 

 with the substance of the resolution but it is the position of the State 

 Department that they would prefer that the resolution not be passed 

 notwithstanding that they agree with the position that the resolu- 

 tion supports. 



We support the State Department. It retains the flexibility that 

 we feel essential until such time as we are able to make an educated 

 estimate of what the future interests are. 



Mr. Frosch. I think it is not a question whether we oppose the reso- 

 lution. We simply are questioning the necessity for the resohition in- 

 asmuch as the statement of the resolution agrees with the position of 



