662 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. Subject Matter of this Report 
Heightened interest in and concern over the availability of new sources 
of ocean minerals, both fuel and non-fuel, are common around the globe. 
It is clear that a serious, and probably prolonged, process of interna- 
tional debate and decision is now in its initial stages and that states are 
moving to clarify their common interests in ocean resources develop- 
ment. The purpose of this Report of the American Branch Committee 
on Deep Sea Mineral Resources is to discuss considerations relating to 
the exploration for, and the exploitation of, mineral resources beneath 
the world oceans, and to make recommendations concerning the legal 
framework for such exploration and exploitation. 
2. I.L.A. Action at Helsinki (1966) 
The International Law Association is indebted to the foresight of the 
Executive of the Netherlands Branch in taking the initiative of establish- 
ing a committee to study the legal regime of deep sea mining, whose 
report at the Helsinki Conference brought to the attention of all the 
looming importance of this subject. Thereafter, the Executive Council 
on 12 November 1966 set up a working group on “Deep Sea Mining,” 
with the late Rear Admiral M. W. Mouton (Netherlands) as Chairman, 
for the study of this subject.* The American Branch Committee pre- 
sents this Report in furtherance of that inquiry. 
3. Current Activities 
(1) United Nations 
On the international level marine science affairs engage the attention 
of at least 100 different public and private organizations, but most public 
attention is devoted currently to the events taking place in the United 
Nations itself, including especially the General Assembly and the Eco- 
nomic and Social Council. The latter in 1966 adopted Resolution 1112 
(XL) which requested the Secretary-General: 
(a) to make a survey of the present state of knowledge of these 
resources of the sea, beyond the continental shelf and of the tech- 
niques for exploiting these resources. . . ; 
(b) as a part of that survey, to attempt to identify those re- 
sources now considered to be capable of economic exploitation, 
especially for the benefit of developing countries; 
* Admiral Mouton was succeeded by Prof. D. H. N. Johnson, of Great Britain. 
