603 
the legal shelf. We believe it both preferable and proper to achieve 
this aim through parallel declarations by interested states announcing 
a uniform interpretation of the criteria embodied in the 1958 Conven- 
tion. 
"(3) We reaffirm our opinion that the United States should as- 
sert to the full the rights over adjacent submarine areas now vested 
in it by the Shelf Convention and by general international law. 
"(4) We reaffirm our opinion that claims to rights in excess 
of those recognized in the Shelf Convention (such as rights over the 
superjacent waters, non-sedentary fisheries, or airspace) are in- 
valid extensions of the continental shelf doctrine, and should be so 
regarded by the United States. 
"The position stated in these comments necessarily leads us 
to disagree with the Commission's recommendation* . . . that the 
United States should take the initiative to secure international agree- 
ment on a seaward limit for the legal shelf at the 200-meter line (or 
50 miles offshore, whichever is greater). Both these limits have 
now been exceeded in practice, and they must be regarded as ob- 
solete. We also disagree with the proposed initiative to seek inter- 
national agreement if this means the convocation of a formal con- 
ference for that purpose." ; 
*Report of the Commission on Marine Science, Engineering and Re- 
sources, ''Our Nation and the Sea,'' U.S. Govt. Printing Office, January 
1969. : 
In the next part of this statement we refer to the Commission's recom- 
mendations with respect to a deep sea regime, seaward of national jurisdic- 
tion. As to other recommendations of the Commission our 1969 Draft Joint 
Report says: 
"Other parts of the Commission's Report contain proposals 
of significant legal interest which are not discussed here. In par- 
ticular, the Commission's elaborate proposals for the adminis- 
trative reorganization of oceanographic activities within the Federal 
Government have not been dealt with. The omission of any of these 
matters from the present Joint Report should not be taken as indi- 
cating either approval, disapproval, or lack of concern with respect 
thereto on the part of any of the sections or committees participating 
herein, "' 
26-563 O - 70 - pt.2-7 
