Apr?:xi)Tx f) 



SxAlTiMENT OF AmBASSADOK AuVlD PaKDO, RePRESENTATIN'E OF MaLTA, 



IN Committee I, on the Question of the Reservation Exclusively 

 FOR THE Peaceful Purposes of the Seabed and the Ocean Floor, 

 November 1, 1967.^ 



May I first of all, Mr. Chairman, express my deep appreciation to you for 

 permitting me to introduce at such an early date the item submitted by my 

 delegation entitled "Examination of the question of the reservation exclusively 

 for peaceful purposes of the sea-bed and the ocean floor, and the sub-soil thereof, 

 underlying the high seas beyond the limits of present national jurisdiction, and 

 the use of their resources in the interests of mankind". 



I understand that the fact that Malta has raised the question of the sea-bed 

 and of the ocean floor in the United Nations Generaly Assembly has aroused 

 some astonishment, if not suspicion, in the minds of some delegations, and even 

 among legislators in some countries. A member of the House of Representatives 

 of the United States recently expressed the feelings of many in the following 

 words : 



"The United States as a Member — and I might add a paying Member — of the 

 United Nations is entitled to know : First, why did the Maltese Ambassador 

 Arvid Pardo, make this premature proposal? Second, who put the Maltese 

 Government up to the proposal? Are they perhaps the sounding board of the 

 British? Third and most of all, why the rush? 



"It is my conviction that there is no rush ; it is my conviction that the presently 

 agreed international law is reasonable and substantive. There is little reason 

 to set up additional unknowns and additional legal barriers which will impair 

 and deter investment and exploration in the depths of the sea even before 

 capabilities and resources are developed." {Congressional Record, 28 Septemher 

 1967, H 12681) 



We feel that we owe a brief explanation to those in this room who may share 

 the sentiments so frankly expressed by the Congressman. 



The Maltese islands are situated in the centre of the Mediterranean. "We 

 are naturally vitally interested in the sea which surrounds us and through which 

 we live and breathe. We have been following closely for some time developments 

 in the field of oceanography and deep sea capability and have been impressed 

 by the potential benefits both to our country and to mankind if technological 

 progress takes place in a peaceful atmosphere and within a just legal frame- 

 work and, on the other hand, by the truly incalculable dangers for mankind as 

 a whole were the sea-bed and ocean floor beyond present national jurisdiction 

 to be progressively and competitively appropriated, exploited and used for mili- 

 tary purposes by those who possess the required technology. Hence our request 

 for United Nations consideration of the question. Our proposal was formulated 

 entirely without the benefit of advice from other countries and I can cate- 

 gorically state that we are not a sounding board for any State and that nobody 

 "put the Maltese Government up to it". 



My Government decided to take action at this session of the General Assembly 

 because rapidly developing technology makes possible the exploration, occupa- 

 tion and exploitation of the world's sea-beds and much of its ocean floor. We are 

 convinced that in accordance with historical precedence this capability will lead, 

 indeed is already leading, to appropriation for national use of these areas, with 

 consequences for all our countries that may be incalculable. Appropriation for 

 national use of the sea-beds and ocean floor underlying the seas beyond the 

 limits of present national jurisdiction may be inevitable, l)nt wt' believe that 

 Governments might appreciate an opportunity to give careful consideration to 

 the issues involved and to examine whether it might not be wise to establish 

 some form of international jurisdiction and control over the sea-beds and ocean 



1 Source : UN General Assembly documents : Provisional A/C. 1/PV. 1515 and Pro- 

 visional A/C. 1/PV. 1516 of November 1, 1967, English ; provisional verbatim records of 

 1515th and 1516th meetings. 



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