689 
A somewhat similar proposal by Panama was rejected by the Fourth 
Committee, no doubt for the same reason and also because the Panama 
proposal would not have automatically vested Convention rights to 
the 200-meter water depth contour (Report of Fourth Comm., 
pp. 32-33, 127). 
Within the Fourth Committee the United Kingdom proposed an 
amendment to the definition to confer sovereign rights in the coastal 
nation for exploring and exploiting the natural resources “over the 
submarine areas adjacent to its coast but outside the territorial sea, 
up to a depth of 550 metres” (Report of Fourth Comm., p. 132). It 
was stated that “the continental slope ended in most places at that 
depth [550 meters]” (id., at 36). The reasons underlying the 
rejection of this proposal are not specified, but it would appear that the 
delegates did not want to restrict the Convention’s exploitability 
coverage to the specified depth limit. 
2. Subsequent action by nations 
Since the Convention went into effect in 1964, the United States 
by action taken by the Interior Department, has clearly evidenced its 
construction that the definition extends far beyond the 200 meter water- 
depth line. In 1961, the Associate Solicitor of the United States 
Department of Interior issued a memorandum concluding that the 
Secretary’s leasing power under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands 
Act, read in light of the Convention on the Continental Shelf, extends 
to an area lying about 40 miles off of California in water-depths 
ranging up to 4,020 feet with the greater part being in excess of 
600 feet. The Secretary has also issued oil and gas leases in water- 
depths up to 1,500 feet. 
Moreover, the Secretary of Interior announced, in June 1965, that 
he had authorized approval of plans of a company to conduct a core 
drilling project on the Continental Slope in the Gulf of Mexico off the 
coasts of Texas, Louisiana and Florida in waters ranging in depth from 
600 to 3,500 feet. This “permit” or authorization is not to be confused 
with the grant of an oil and gas or other mineral lease. It appears 
that this permit was issued pursuant to § 11 of the Outer Shelf Act 
and the Secretary made clear in the permit that “No rights to any 
mineral leases will be obtained from these core drilling programs.” 
Also, on May 26, 1967, the U.S. Geological Survey announced 
approval of plans for another company or group of companies to 
conduct a core drilling program on the Continental Slope beyond the 
