-12 these objectives as inconsistent with the desire of other countries for equitable participation in deep seabed exploitation and its benefits." Mr. Chairman, for some time our experts have been engaged in a study of the economic implications of deep seabed mining legislation such as last session's S.2801 and the current session's H.R. 9. They are examining issues of resource management and development, as well as questions of political economy such as the design of arrangements to ensure efficient exploitation of ocean resources. Implications for tax, customs and development finance policies are also under review. The technology of ocean bed mining is likely to develop rapidly, and new information continually challenges old hypotheses. It is therefore impossible to be definitive. Nevertheless, at this time we are prepared to give you a comprehensive but as yet still incomplete report of the Administrations' views on certain technical aspects of H.R. 9, particularly those related to resource management and development. Thus, Mr. Chairman, in reporting to you that the Administration is opposed to the enactment of H.R. 9, I wish to make clear that this does not mean we are unalterably opposed to legislation of any sort, or that we intend to disregard the problem of interim mining. Any of a number of events could occur that would lead us to conclude that legislation was necessary, and we intend to prepare as quickly as possible for that contingency. Moreover, I wish to repeat that we con tinue to adhere to the President's statement that it is neither -13 necessary nor desirable to try to halt exploration and exploitation of the seabeds beyond a depth of 200 meters during the negotiating process, provided that such activities are subject to the international regime to be agreed upon, which should include due protection of the integrity of investment made in the interim period. Our opposition to H.R. 9 in no way alters this. We are deeply conscious of the fact that no decision we could have reached on this issue at this time could have been universally popular. Some who support the moratorium may not agree with the policy we have set forth. Some who support the approach in H.R. 9 may be equally disappointed. For the present, we think the middle course we have outlined is best. We hope the Committee will agree. However, we fully understand that the Committee, like the Administration, may wish to pay close and continuing attention to developments that could alter this assessment. We pleged our full cooperation with the Committee in those efforts. Mr. Chairman, we will now proceed with the more detailed comments to which I referred, after which we will be pleased to answer any questions the Committee may have. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 97-898 O 73-6 3029 (XXVII). Reservation guclusively for peaceful purposes of the sen-bed and the ocean floor, and the subsoil thereof, underlying the high seas beyond the 15 ts of weesens national jurisdiction and use O: their resources in the interests of mankind, and convening of a conference on the law of the sea A The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2467 (XXIII) of 21 December 1968, 2750 (XXV) of 17 December 1970 and 2881 (XXVI) of 21 December 1971, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction on the work of its sessions in 1972, 1/ Noting with satisfaction the further progress made towards the preparations for a comprehensive international conference of plenipotentiaries on the law of the sea, including in particular acceptance of a list of subjects and issues relating to the law of the sea, Reaffirming that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole, Recalling its decision, in resolution 2750 C (XXV), to convene a conference on the law of the sea in 1973, Expressing the expectation that the conference may be concluded in 1974 and, if necessary, as may be decided by the conference with the approval of the General Assembly, at a subsequent session or subsequent sessions no later than 1975, 1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 21 (A/8721 and Corr.1). 73-01816 /... A/RES/3029 (XXVII) 1. Reaffirms the mandate of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the SeaBed and the Ocean Floor beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction set forth in General Assembly resolutions 2467 (XXIII) and 2750 (XXV), as supplemented by the present resolution; 2. Requests the Committee, in the discharge of its mandate in accordance with resolution 2750 C (XXV), to hold two further sessions in 1973, one of five weeks in New York, beginning in early March, and the other of eight weeks at Geneva, beginning in early July, with a view to completing its preparatory work, and to submit a report with recommendations to the General Assembly at its twenty-eighth session and, in the light of the decision taken under paragraph 5 below, to the conference; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the first session of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea in New York for a period of approximately two weeks in November and December 1973, for the purpose of dealing with organizational matters, including the election of officers, the adoption of the agenda and the rules of procedure of the Conference, the establishment of subsidiary organs and the allocation of work to these organs Decides to convene the second session of the Conference, for the purpose of dealing with substantive work, at Santiago, Chile, for a period of eight weeks in April and May 1974 and such subsequent sessions, if necessary, as may be decided by the Conference and approved by the General Assembly, bearing in mind that the Government of Austria has offered Vienna as a site for the Conference for the succeeding year: 5. Further decides to review at its twenty-eighth session the progress of the preparatory work of the Committee and, if necessary, to take measures to facilitate completion of the substantive work for the Conference and any other action it may deem appropriate; 6. Authorizes the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee, to make such arrangements as may be necessary for the efficient organization and administration of the Conference and the Committee, utilizing to the fullest extent possible the resources of staff at his disposal, to render to the Conference and the Committee all the assistance they may require in legal, economic, technical and scientific matters and to provide them with all relevant documentation of the United Nations, the specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency; 7. Decides to consider as a matter of priority at its twenty-eighth session any further matters requiring decision in connexion with the Conference, including the participation of States in the Conference, and to include in the provisional agenda of that session the item entitled "Reservation exclusively for peaceful purposes of the sea-bed and the ocean floor, and the subsoil thereof, underlying the high seas beyond the limits of present national jurisdiction and use of their resources in the interests of mankind, and convening of a conference on the law of the sea"; /... A/RES/3029 (XXVII) 8. Invites the specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency and other intergovernmental organizations to co-operate fully with the SecretaryGeneral in the preparations for the Conference and to send observers to the Conference; 9. Requests the Secretary General, subject to approval by the Conference, to invite interested non-governmental organizations having consultative status with the Economic and Social Council to send observers to the Conference; 10. Decides that the Conference and its main committees shall have summary records of their proceedings. The General Assembly, B 2114th plenary meeting 18 December 1972 Recalling its resolution 2749 (XXV) of 17 December 1970, containing the Declaration of Principles Governing the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor, and the Subsoil Thereof, beyond the Dimits of avional Jurisdiction, Noting that, in the said Declaration, the General Assembly, inter alia, declared that the exploration of the area of the sea bed and the ocean floor, and the subsoil thereof, beyond the limits of national jurisdiction (hereinafter referred to as the area) and the exploitation of its resources should be carried out for the benefit of mankind as a whole, and that an international régime applying to the area and its resources and including appropriate international machinery should be established, Realizing that the economic significance of the area would depend on its final delimitation, as stated in the reports of the Secretary-General 2/ Considering that there is a close relationship between any decision concerning the activities and functions of the international machinery and any decision concerning limits, Convinced that information and data on the economic implications and significance for the area of the various proposals for limits would be helpful to the participants at the forthcoming United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, particularly to developing States, many of which are not members of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Sca-Bed and the Ocean Floor beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction, 2/ A/AC.138/36, A/AC.138/73. /... |