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Members of this committee already share the views that our nation 
has much to gain through a national interest in the oceans. 
It is also necessary that we join forces with the other peoples who 
share this planet with us to broaden our understanding of the oceans. 
The earth is sufficiently small that at some time in the future we must 
find ways to live together in peace and share the use of the 
oceans widely. 
Our participation in the International Decade of Ocean Explora- 
tion reflects the U.S. interest in understanding the ocean environment, 
improving our ability to forecast those hazards to life and property 
which are prominent in the oceans, and learning more about the nat- 
ural resource potential of the oceans. 
We know that many other nations are willing to commit some of 
their resources to this increased understanding of the oceans and the 
United States should join with them in specific scientific studies and 
in the sharing of data obtained. I recently returned from a trip to six 
European countries discussing scientific problems, and in every one 
of them the marine science problem was high on their list of priorities. 
These international cost-sharing programs should enhance both our 
efforts and theirs. 
Finally, we have placed Arctic environmental research high on the 
list of priorities. The oil discoveries in the Arctic have been much in 
the news in recent months. Also, after four centuries of vain hopes, a 
commercial ship has finally opened the Northwest Passage, not to 
transport the gold of the Indies, but to utilize the resources of the 
Arctic itself. 
It is too early to forecast the full extent of our stake in the Arctic 
environment but it is already known to be substantial. In comparison 
with other nations facing the Arctic the United States has been slow 
to acquire the basic scientific information upon which sensible devel- 
opment and preservation of the Arctic environment may proceed. 
Additional research efforts will therefore be focused on the polar 
icepack, the geology and earth resources of the Arctic, the balance of 
the environment and the ways in which it may be preserved. 
These, gentlemen, are the initial high priority activities which the 
administration has selected from the wealth of recommendations made 
by the Marine Science Commission, Federal agencies, the President’s 
Science Advisory Committee, the National Academies of Science and 
Engineering, and other interested groups and individuals. 
As most of you know, a task force has also been set up under the 
able chairmanship of Dr. James Wakelin to look further into the 
range of suggestions and programs available. We hope that, among 
other things, they will indicate to us what some of our next priorities 
should be, the ways in which we can get on with the substantive job 
of making progress in our understanding, use, and preservation of 
the marine environment. j 
In addition, the mangement structure for execution of these pro- 
grams will be strengthened. Under the general aegis of the Marine 
Science Council, lead agency assignments will be made for each of 
these programs such that the management capabilities of the oper- 
ating agencies may also be drawn into the leadership of our marine 
science programs. 
