667 
These considerations include: 
1. There is widespread misunderstanding or lack of knowledge of the 
extent and distribution of ocean resources and of the conditions re- 
quired for their productive use; 
2. There is resultant inability to identify anticipated legal and political 
problems with useful precision; 
3. Many, if not all, states are unable presently to determine their na- 
tional interests in the development of ocean mineral resources and 
associated issues; 
4. Provision of an adequate jurisdictional and regulatory framework 
for management of ocean mineral resources is dependent upon a 
major international effort at research and exploration in the oceans; 
5. Satisfactory accomplishment of a comprehensive program in scien- 
tific research and exploration requires an intensive effort on the 
part of many states over a period of many years. 
In sum, these factors strongly urge that states refrain from any imme- 
diate action toward convening a new law of the sea conference or toward 
revision of the Geneva Conventions. It is, however, conceivable that the 
required majority of states does not or will not similarly weigh these 
factors and that an international conference on the law of the sea will 
again be convened in the near future. The Ad Hoc Committee of the 
United Nations may or may not recommend such a course. It is also 
quite conceivable that means other than formal treaty revision may ap- 
pear desirable for clarifying certain problems, particularly concerning 
the continental shelf. 
In either event, it is incumbent upon those concerned with the pro- 
tection of the common interests of the states to offer their views on the 
legal areas which will best provide for those common interests. 
Accordingly, the remainder of this Report is devoted to the system of 
law which, in our view, does or should govern the exploration, develop- 
ment, and production of the mineral resources underlying the high seas 
(for this discussion, the term “high seas” refers to the oceans beyond 
the territorial sea). 
The choice of a legal regime involves two groups of problems: 
1. What geographical restrictions, if any, ought to be imposed on the 
exclusive jurisdiction which the Continental Shelf Convention rec- 
26-563 O - 70 - pt.2 - 11 
