581 
If I may add one personal comment, Mr. Chairman, I wish to say 
that this is not a case of a simple line dividing the views of the Marine 
Science Commission on the one hand from those of the National Petro- 
leum Council on the other. 
Those who believe that the exclusive sovereign rights of the United 
States encompass the continental landmass down to the deep ocean sea- 
bed include committees of the American Bar Association and of the 
International Law Association. They are entitled to respect for their 
opinions. I know those lawyers and they are not motivated by selfish 
interests. They are motivated by the interests of our country. 
I say here, as I have said on other occasions, that perhaps there is 
something to the argument that oil companies or mining companies 
would be better off if they operated under a lenient international re- 
gime off the coast of foreign nations than under licenses granted by 
that particular country. 
But that argument, in my opinion, is irrelevant. What we are con- 
cerned with is not the good of individual oil companies or mining 
companies. What we are concerned with is the welfare of our country. 
I believe that it is not in the interest of the United States that any 
portion of the American mineral] estate, the exclusive right to explore 
and exploit the whole submerged continental landmass adjacent to our 
coasts, should be surrendered or put on the bargaining table for any 
reason whatsoever, and particularly not merely to obtain advantages 
for American companies operating overseas. 
In saying that, again I repeat, I am voicing the opinion of the com- 
mittees that have considered this matter and of myself and I am not 
purporting to represent to you that such a resolution is adopted by the 
house of delegates. But you are entitled to a comprehensive view and 
I have attempted to give it to you. 
If your record permits I should like to incorporate the interim re- 
port of the American branch of the International Law Association, 
which reached the same result as the American Bar Association sec- 
tions. That committee is made up not only of practicing lawyers, but 
some of the most eminent academic figures in the United States. 
Mr. Chairman, I thank you. 
Mr. Lennon. Thank you for a very fine statement, and without ob- 
jection the request made to insert in the record the documents referred 
to by the gentleman will be acknowledged and they will be inserted in 
the record. : 
(The documents may be found at the, conclusion of Mr. Ely’s 
testimony. ) : 
Mr. Lennon. The gentleman from Washington. 
Mr. Petry. Mr. Chairman, I would like to say for myself that I 
greatly appreciate the testimony that we have had. I think it is going 
to be a valuable contribution and I wonder, Mr. Ely, whether you 
would comment on the question I raised with Senator Pell; namely, 
under the Constitution, to give away or yield any of the property or 
rights or sovereignty of the United States, would it require an act of 
both the Senate and the House, or do you think it could be done by 
Executive agreement or a treaty ? 
Mr. Ety. I can give only my personal opinion. I believe article IV, 
section 3, of the constitution controls. It says: 
