47 



Oil and gas is a totally different story. It is estimated that 

 somewhere between 30 and 40 percent of all the world's oil and gas 

 reserves are within the continental margin under salt water. 



There is room for serious dispute over limits of coastal state 

 jurisdiction under the vague provisions of the existing Continental 

 Shelf Convention. 



It provides that the coastal state jurisdiction extends as far as 

 the existing technology permits the exploitation of the resources. 

 That means that the coastal state claims have been moving out 

 steadily as technology has evolved and are at the point of colliding 

 with the claims of the international community for the jurisdiction 

 of some international machinery over the common heritage of 

 mankind. 



This is why the broad-margin countries, including the United 

 States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Norway, Australia, New 

 Zealand, India, and Argentina, attach importance to the provisions 

 of this treaty defining — a very complicated definition to be sure — 

 defining the outer limits of coastal state jurisdiction. 



This is why the American oil companies unanimously favor the 

 treaties. Some of them have delivered testimony which addresses 

 the problem of hydrocarbon potential beyond this line, but I don't 

 know of a single responsible oil geologist who thinks there is any 

 oil or gas beyond the line brought within coastal state jurisdiction 

 by the treaty. 



So there again — one could go through the whole treaty whether 

 talking about protection of whales or any of the other things I have 

 already touched on, and a lot more, and point to the ways in which 

 it contributes to the prevention of disputes and the resolution of 

 conflict. 



Mr. Leach. Given the possibility that after review this adminis- 

 tration may refuse to sign the potential treaty after review, would 

 your assumption be that many others would sign in any regard? If 

 that occurred, would this put the United States of America in a 

 very awkward diplomatic position and would it also have ramifica- 

 tions in many other foreign policy dimensions? 



Mr. Richardson. It is impossible to give you a confident answer 

 to that question, but my best guess is that most countries would go 

 ahead and adopt the treaty anyway and that a very large number 

 of those would ratify it. 



That would create a very awkward situation for the United 

 States both legally and in terms of our diplomatic relations with 

 other countries. 



This would be more true if, as I said in answer to Congresswom- 

 an Fenwick's question, some of the countries belonging to the 

 advanced Western industrial group would decide their interests 

 were on balance better served by the treaty than without it. 



Mr. Leach. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



I would just like to comment in conclusion that, like everyone on 

 this committee, and in the Congress, I am very impressed and 

 appreciate the hard work you have put into the Law of the Sea. 

 Further, I think even more impressive than the work you have put 

 in has been the tenor of your position since you gave up your 

 position as chief negotiator. 



