126 MARINE SCIENCE 



Resolution Adopted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars op the United States 

 AT its 60th National Convention, Held in Los Angeles, Calif., August 30- 

 September 4, 1959. 



resolution no. 235 ENDORSING OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH 



Whereas the knowledge of the scientific phenomena related to the world's 

 oceans at present is extermely meager compared to their paramount importance ; 

 and 



Whereas the world's oceans cover three-fourths of the earth's surface and are 

 daily increasing in importance to the destiny of the free world ; and 



Whereas increased utilization of marine resources provide a promising food 

 potential in the face of the explosive increases of the world's population ; and 



Whereas the world's oceans provide a future source of atomic fuel, mineral 

 resources, and fresh water supply ; and 



Whereas there is an increased mutual interdependence of the nations of the 

 free world for nonindigenous strategic materials in view of expanding tech- 

 nological applications! ; and 



Whereas the United States and the free world depend for sea lift of 99 percent 

 of all materials exported ; and 



Whereas the United States depends largely upon utilization of the world's 

 oceans by its naval forces for its capability to cope with limited war and interna- 

 tional crises all over the world ; and 



Whereas the threat of enemy submarine launched missile attack against the 

 United States is now a reality ; and 



Whereas there is an urgent need to provide a comprehensive long-range pro- 

 gram for oceanographic research embodying an accelerated increase in oceano- 

 graphic research and survey ships, laboratories, schools, and scientific personnel : 

 Now, therefore, be it 



Resolved by the 60th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of 

 the United States, That we strongly and wholeheartedly support the overall 10- 

 year plan for oceanographic research as outlined in the Report of the Committee 

 of Oceanography of the National Acadmy of Sciences and the U.S. Navy's TENOC 

 (Ten Years of Oceanographic Progress, prepared by the OflSce of Naval Research 

 and the Chief of Naval Operations) ; and be it further 



Resolved, that the 60th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars 

 of the United States express approval of the interest and leadership manifested 

 by the President and Congress of the United States and the National Scientific 

 Committee in the urgency of this field of scientific study. 



Approved by the 60th National Convention, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 

 United States., Los Angeles, Calif., August, 30-September 4, 1959. 



Resolution Adopted by the District of Columbia Federation of Women's 

 Clubs, January 25, 1960 



increased marine research 



The sea has always mystified and amazed us. We have delighted in its chang- 

 ing moods, in the delicacies that it provides for our tables — succulent fish, shell- 

 fish, mollusks. We in the United States have basked in the protection provided 

 by great bodies of water on aU our borders. For some years now, however, we 

 have noticed that something unpleasant is happening to these waters — our 

 oceans, bays, estuaries, and our Great Lakes. Be it resolved. That — 



Whereas many of our table delicacies, our oysters in particular, but also other 

 sea life, are being killed or contaminated by various pests and diseases, thereby 

 endangering the livelihood of tens of thousands of U.S. citizens ; 



Whereas, due to lacli of funds to enforce our off-shore boundaries limits, foreign 

 vessels are frequently guilty of dumping oil waste and other forms of pollution 

 into our waters, making many of our beaches unpleasant to visit and in some 

 cases closing them ; and 



Whereas pollution from our own streams and rivers is also polluting some 

 areas, causing the death of fishes and other marine life ; and 



Whereas severe erosion is eating away our shorelines ; and 



Whereas it became apparent at the first Oceanographic Congress held at the 

 United Nations in the fall of 1959 that other nations have made great strides in 



