Ill 



servation of operations and enforcement of regulations, especially 

 with regard to the use of observers of the Contracting Parties 

 with each others' sealing expeditions. Opposition to stronger pro- 

 visions has chiefly arisen not from commercial but from juridical 

 interests. 



"Nevertheless, the Convention is a new and valuable Interna- 

 tional Agreement, achieved in advance of the development of com- 

 mercial sealing in the Antarctic, that contains many provisions 

 important to the conservation of seals and their protection against 

 over-exploitation. We understand exploratory commercial sealing 

 ventures may be imminent. 



"In order not to diminish the progress achieved by this Con- 

 ference in international cooperation for effective conservation in 

 the Antarctic, the delegation of the United States of America has 

 decided to sign the Final Act and will submit the Convention for 

 its Government's consideration. 



