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sea. In fact, it is a tribute to the lasting creativity of our people and an 

 expression of our pioneering characteristics that we look with longing- 

 upon this new environment to conquer. The expectancy of promise is 

 demonstrated by the public in many ways — through the formation 

 of local groups such as the American Society for Oceanography, and 

 these are interested public citizens ; through the interest in ocean in- 

 vestments ; through the wide concern for pollution ; through the grow- 

 ing recreational use of the shore ; through the support of such educa- 

 tional programs as the sea grant program. 



And I might point out that in the last 3 days in Houston, Tex., at 

 the offshore technology symposium, industiy demonstrated their 

 awareness of this field. There were some 400 people registered and a 

 tremendous display of this Nation's capabilities and budding interest 

 in the whole field of ocean technology. 



The public is in fact waiting for a signal. They are waiting for 

 Congress to announce goals and provide the stimulus for action. Just 

 as our Nation looked to the West and waited upon national leadership 

 to open up the public lands for development, so today the public is 

 waiting for Congress to supply the leadership that will bring forth 

 the promise held by marine resources. 



There is another sense in which our Nation must lead the oceano- 

 graphic dialog. This is on the international scene. Our Nation has a 

 responsibility to know ; a responsibility to understand the ocean and 

 its potential, so that we can lead in the right direction and not be led 

 in the wrong direction. Only the strong can ever fulfill the responsibili- 

 ties of the need to know, and this Nation must carry this responsibility 

 for much of the need to know on the international scene so far as the 

 oceans are concerned. 



Eecently there was a book edited by Edmond A. Bullion called 

 "Uses of the Sea," prepared for the American assembly, and I might 

 say that the American assembly is another evidence of the interest 

 of the public in this field. These American assemblies have been held 

 all over the Nation. 



Let me quote what appears in the foreword : 



The future course of ocean science and technology is now relatively easy to- 

 foretell, but the economic, political and social implications of these projected 

 developments are infinitely complex. We have yet to learn the ultimate economic 

 potential of the sea bottom. We have yet to explore the ocean as a source of food 

 for hungry people. We have yet to learn how to halt the pollution of our coastal 

 waters. As we move down the continental slope and out along the deepest ocean 

 floor, a multitude of questions arise that cannot wait too long for an answer * * *. 

 Above all, how do we mobilize the resources of industry, of finance, and of 

 Government to take advantage rapidly and effectively of the vast promise of our 

 new technology? 



He asks a very cogent question. That is why we feel the deliberations 

 of this commitee are so important. 



It is time to move and we stand ready to help further in deliberating 

 the wisest course. 



I think perhaps one other thing I might say as chairman of the com- 

 mittee is to call to your attention that we have been engaged in a joint 

 activity with the National Academy of Engineering, Committee on 

 Ocean Engineering in preparing for the Marine Council an explora- 

 tory program for the international decade of ocean exploration. 



