484 



exploitation, if the financial benefits are to go to others. Nor is there 

 yet broad agreement on the general legal principles which ought to 

 govern activities on the deep ocean floor. We are far from ready to 

 establish a new international organization to preside over this amalgam 

 of uncertainties. 



Our own position, as set forth by Ambassador Goldberg on Novem- 

 ber 8, stressed the importance of comprehensive and responsible study, 

 the need for international cooperation in exploration of the ocean floor, 

 and the requirement to develop general principles to guide activities 

 undertaken in this field. 



He pointed out that the deep ocean floor should not become a 

 stage for competing national sovereignties, but, rather, should be 

 open to exploration and use by all states, without discrimination. 

 Recognizing that the principal issue before the Assembly was 

 how to organize itself to deal competently and knowledgeably 

 with these issues, he recommended the establishment of a com- 

 mittee on the oceans which could advise the General Assembly in 

 considering all marine questions brought before the Assembly. 

 We conceived that such a committee would assist the General 

 Assembly in promoting long-term international cooperation in the 

 marine sciences and, in particular, assist the Assembly on ques- 

 tions of law, crime control, and problems of pollution. 



He emphasized the complexity of these issues and noted the 

 considerable body of existing international law and treaty rights 

 and obligations which bear on the subject. He affirmed the will- 

 ingness of the United States to participate fully in whatever 

 studies are necessary in determining the future legal regime of the 

 deep ocean floor. 

 I have reviewed in some detail the position taken by the United 

 States in the General Assembly because it remains essentially our 

 position today. 



Some four dozen countries have spoken in the debate on this subject 

 in the Political Committee of the General Assembly, representing a 

 wide range of attitudes and uncertainties. Their views run all the 

 way from an apparent willingness by some to act now to adopt several 

 of the principles suggested by Ambassador Pardo to a reluctance, on 

 the part of others, to have the General Assembly involve itself in these 

 issues or to create a special committee to consider them seriously. 



Many countries are worried as to how the involvement of the 

 Assembly, or the work of such a committee, would relate to the 

 responsibilities of the several specialized agencies which are 

 already heavily engaged in this field. 



Others feel that many of these matters should best be left to 

 direct negotiations among the countries specifically involved. 



There is as 5'^et no clear understanding of what is meant by 

 reserving the deep ocean floor exclusively for peaceful purposes, 

 or how this might be accomplished, or even what basic terminology 

 should be used. 



There is no comjnon view as to the limits of national jurisdic- 

 tion over coastal waters or the adjacent ocean floor. Some advocate, 

 nonetheless, a freeze on the extension of sovereignty or sovereign 

 riffhts. 



