799 
This restrictive provision was adopted, despite strong representations from the 
scientific community, and the urging of some states, with the full support of the 
United States. I believe this was a great mistake, and the sooner we rectify it the 
better both for the sake of our own welfare, and that of mankind in general. I will 
not attempt here a review of the problem, because it is covered rather well, al- 
though briefly, in the Commission’s report. I have also provided for the back- 
ground information of your Committee two more detailed studies of the problem 
that I have recently prepared. I would, however, like to call special attention to 
the activities of a Working Group of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Com- 
mission (IOC) on Legal Questions Related to Scientific Investigations of the 
Ocean that, with the full support, and leadership, of the United States, has rec- 
ommended to the IOC that it adopt a resolution that could provide one means of 
resolving many problems of freedom of access in all, or nearly all, parts of the 
‘sea required for scientific research and exploration. It would establish a system 
whereby the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission would assist in rapidly 
facilitating the consent of its States members for scientific research in ocean 
areas over which they exercise jurisdiction. 
Under this system permission would be granted for conducting research subject 
‘to the following provisions: 
(1) Notice of the research program should be given at least sixty days in 
advance. 
(2) The coastal State should have an opportunity to participate in the 
research program by at least one representative aboard the research vessel. 
(83) Data from the research program will, upon request, be made available 
as soon as practicable to the coastal State, and any data or samples not feasi- 
ble to duplicate will, upon request, be made accessible to the coastal State. 
(4) The results of the research program will be published in a timely 
fashion in open scientific publications. 
It may be noted that these provisions are rather similar to those embodied in 
the Marine Commission’s recommendation for a new Convention on Freedom of 
Scientific Research, that the United States is urged to take the initiative in 
proposing. 
The Marine Commission has recognized, quite correctly, that the adoption 
of a new international convention is a time consuming process, and is not likely 
to be accomplished in the near future. In consequence, the Marine Commission 
has recommended that the United States seek to enter into bilateral and regional 
agreements embodying the recommended provisions for the new Convention, and 
take other initiatives to encourage freedom of scientific research and inter- 
national scientific cooperation. I most strongly support this position, and urge 
both the Executive and Legislative Branches of our Government to take vigorous 
action in this regard. In addition to making bilateral and regional agreements, it 
will, in my opinion, be extremely useful and effective if we also act unilaterally 
in this matter. The Commission has recommended, for example, that: 
The United States might announce unilaterally that, upon proper notice, 
it will consent to the conduct in its territorial waters and exclusive fisheries 
zones of scientific research (including the limited taking of fish specimens) 
which is a part of an international cooperative project sponsored or en- 
dorsed by the IOC, provided that it may participate or be represented in 
the research and that the scientists involved agree to publish the results 
of the research and to make available upon request the basic data acquired. 
I strongly endorse this. I go even further, to urge the United States to an- 
mounce, unilaterally, that it is prepared to permit the research vessels of any 
nation, upon certification by that sovereign, to undertake scientific and explora- 
tory activities in the waters, and on the seabed, under the jurisdiction of the 
United States, subject only to the conditions respecting advance notice, partici- 
pation in the activities (including free access to all equipment, compartments, 
devices, and records on the ship); access to and copies of all data obtained ; 
and subsequent access to specimens collected. I am confident that under these 
circumstances we would have nothing to fear from the activities of vessels 
carrying on scientific research, and even resources exploration, in our waters, 
because to the extent other nations carried on such activities with our partici- 
pation we would be getting for free a lot of information that we would have to 
pay for if we did it ourselves. At the same time, it would be an excellent demon- 
stration that this is the best policy for all nations, including the underdeveloped 
nations that are so fearful of the great powers stealing their marine resources, 
because it is an excellent way to obain the information about the environment 
and resources that they require for their own welfare. 
