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Sixth, we want to assure that all seabed mineral re- 
source development will be compatible with sound environ- 
mental practices. 
The adoption of the Conference Resolution indicates 
that we should distinguish between two different time 
periods. The first is the period between the present time 
and the conclusion of the Conference in 1974 or at the 
latest 1975. The second is the period between the end of 
the Conference and the entry into force of a treaty. 
With respect to the second time period, we believe it 
may be desirable for the Law of the Sea Conference to pro- 
vide at its conclusion for immediate provisional entry 
into force of some aspects of the international seabed 
regime. There is an excellent precedent for this in the 
Chicago Civil Aviation Convention of 1944, which is one 
of the most widely ratified treaties in the world. This 
approach can accommodate the fears of many states that 
the establishment of an interim regime might still not 
lead to the establishment of a permanent regime, since in 
fact what we would be doing would be to bring certain parts 
of the permanent regime and machinery into operation ear- 
lier on a provisional basis. It is our intention to make 
clear in the international negotiations the advantages of, 
and the need for, the entry into force of a viable pro- 
visional international regulatory system for the deep sea- 
beds as part of the general Law of the Sea treaty settlement 
in a way that ensures that the provisional system will be 
part of, and not a substitute for, the permanent system. 
We will spare no efforts to ensure that a successful 
Law of the Sea Conference can be concluded on schedule. 
However, this does not mean that we intend to focus our 
efforts exclusively on the Law of the Sea negotiations. 
Prudence dictates that we also begin at once to formu- 
late a legislative approach on a contingency basis for 
two reasons. First, it could conceivably become clear 
during the negotiations that we have no reasonable basis 
for expecting a timely and successful Law of the Sea Con- 
ference. Second, we can prepare for provisional entry 
into force of some aspects of the international seabed 
regime once it is signed. While the approach in H.R. 9 
does not appear to us to be satisfactory, we intend to 
continue the useful discussions we have been having with 
