20 
STATEMENT OF HON. JOSEPH SISCO, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF 
STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AFFAIRS; ACCOM- 
PANIED BY MR. LEONARD MEEKER, LEGAL ADVISER, DEPART- 
MENT OF STATE; AND MR. HERMAN POLLACK, DIRECTOR, IN- 
TERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL AFFAIRS, 
DEPARTMENT OF STATE 
Mr. Stsco. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 
I have a very brief statement which I would like to present to the 
committee as quickly as I can, if I may. 
I am happy to appear before this committee to discuss some recent 
international developments concerning the ocean and ocean floor and, 
in that light, the joint resolutions being considered by this committee. 
Leonard Meeker, the Department’s legal adviser, and Herman Pol- 
lack, the Department’s Director of International Scientific and Tech- 
nological Affairs, are accompanying me to provide any information 
you may desire within their fields of activity. 
INCREASING INTEREST IN MARINE PROBLEMS 
In recent years, we have seen an upsurge of interest, both here and 
abroad, in marine problems, especially those having to do with the 
ocean depths and the seabed and subsoil of the outer oceans. In the 
United States, the Congress passed the Marine Resources and En- 
gineering Development Act, which became law on June 17, 1966. 
The Marine Council and the Marine Commission established pursu- 
ant to that act, are engaging in an active program of planning, study, 
and coordination, looking toward the adoption of sound national 
policy for the exploration and exploitation of the oceans in years to 
come. 
Internationally, a similar interest in marine affairs has been ap- 
parent. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, an orga- 
nization of UNESCO, has carried on invaluable scientific activities 
in oceanography; the Food and Agriculture Organization is closely 
concerned with fisheries; the World Meteorological Organization is 
concerned with the effect of the oceans on climate; the International 
Maritime Consultative Organization is interested in shipping prob- 
lems and safety of lives at sea; and the International Telecommunica- 
tions Union is concerned with communications over the ocean. 
In this sense a large number of international organizations are 
exploring marine problems as seen from their own particular points 
of view. We run the risk of confusion and duplication unless some- 
thing is done to relate all these activities more purposefully. 
Under strong U.S. leadership, the Economic and Social Council of 
the United Nations asked the U.N. Secretary General in mid-1966 
to begin a study of what might briefly be described as “who does 
what” in international marine activities, excluding fisheries. Spe- 
cifically, the Council’s resolution called for a study of the current 
state of knowledge of marine resources and techniques for their 
exploitation. 
Building on this foundation, the U.N. General Assembly a year 
ago asked the Secretary General in effect to broaden this study, so 
