raphy, that has been charged with recommending an improved oceanographic program in terms of scientific merit, effectiveness in technological application, and scientific and engineering leadership. In commenting upon the current status of oceanography to the President of the National Security Industrial Association, President Johnson recently stated his intent that the United States shall maintain leadership in ocean science and technology and their economic, military, and social applications, and noted that the oceanographic program is currently being reviewed in terms of national goals, opportunities, priorities, and means whereby industrial, academic, and Federal resources can be jointly and effectively employed in this program. I recognize the possibility that there might be a need for a commission on oceanography at a later time, to supplement and extend the current review. I have asked the Panel to report to the President's Science Advisory Committee on the results of their study, at which time a more informed and reliable judgment can be made on this point and on the composition and mission of any commission which might be established. Sincerely yours, DONALD F. HORNIG, Director. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, Washington, D.C., July 28, 1965. Hon. HERBERT C. BONNER, Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. BONNER: Thank you for your request of June 21, 1965, for the views of the Smithsonian Institution on H.R. 9064, a bill to establish a National Commission on Oceanography. This legislation would establish a National Oceanography Commission composed of 15 persons appointed by the President. Five representatives on this Commission shall be from the Government, five from industry, and five from universities and laboratories engaged in oceanographic pursuits. In order to recommend an adequate national oceanographic program, the Commission would be directed to make a comprehensive study of all aspects of oceanography, including certain specified aspects found in section 4 of H.R. 9064. Provisions is made for the submission by the Commission of an interim report within one year of approval of H.R. 9064 and a final report of its activities within 2 years of approval of this legislation. It is also provided that the Commission shall cease to exist 30 days after submission of its final report. The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution will be asked to consider this legislation at its next meeting. I shall be pleased to advise you of its views at that time. Sincerely yours, FRANK A. TAYLOR, GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE TREASURY, Washington, D.C., August 10, 1965. Hon. HERBERT C. BONNER, Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Reference is made to your request for the comments of this Department on H.R. 9064, to establish a National Commission on Oceanography. The bill would establish a National Commission on Oceanography composed of 15 members from Government, from industry, and from universities or laboratories engaged in oceanographic pursuits. The function of the Commission would be to study all aspects of oceanography in order to recommend an overall plan for a national oceanographic program that will meet present and future national needs. In addition, the Commission would be authorized to recommend an organizational plan and a budget for the purpose of accomplishing its recommendations. Finally, the Commission would be required to submit an interim report within a year from the date of enactment of the bill and a final report within 2 years. The Commission would cease to exist 30 days after submission of its final report. The review of existing national efforts in the oceanographic field and the development of a plan for their continuation would provide an excellent planning basis for the Federal agencies engaged in oceanographic research. However, the Department does not consider it necessary or desirable that a new body be created to form a national oceanographic plan and make recommendations to implement it. At the present time, coordination is achieved through the use of the Interagency Committee on Oceanography formed by the Federal Council for Science and Technology. This Committee continues to mature and exert a strong influence over individual agency plans and is capable of influencing the Federal effort to meet any reasonable national plan. It is the Department's opinion that the determination of the resource levels required to meet established national goals needs to be weighed by each agency head in planning his agency's program. In this manner, expected technological advances which would affect resource planning in the oceanographic field can be considered in determining the best method of meeting national goals. The Treasury Department has previously stated its support of H.R. 2218 as a constructive measure for assuring coordination of the efforts. of the various Government agencies in this field. The Department adheres to that view and opposes the enactment of H.R. 9064. The Department has been advised by the Bureau of the Budget that there is no objection from the standpoint of the administration's program to the submission of this report to your committee. Sincerely yours, FRED B. SMITH, Acting General Counsel. [H.R. 5175, 89th Cong., 1st sess.] A BILL Providing for a study of the legal problems of management, use, and control of the natural resources of the oceans and ocean beds Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the United States Coast Guard is au thorized and directed to conduct, by contract or otherwise, a study of the legal problems arising out of the management, use, and control of the natural resources of the oceans and ocean beds. SEC. 2. There is authorized to be appropriated $50,000 for the purposes of this Act. Hon. HERBERT C. BONNER, U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION, Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. BONNER: This is in reply to your request for the views of the Atomic Energy Commission on H.R. 5175, a bill providing for a study of the legal problems of management, use, and control of the natural resources of the oceans and ocean beds. The Atomic Energy Commission has been long interested in the management, use, and control of the marine resources of the United States. If it is decided that a study of the legal problems connected with our marine resources would be useful, the Commission would be pleased to cooperate with whatever agency makes the study to the maximum extent consistent with the Commission's responsibilities under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objection to the presentation of this report from the standpoint of the administration's program. Sincerely yours, JOHN V. VINCIGUERRA (For General Manager). GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE HON. HERBERT C. BONNER, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This letter is in further reply to your request for the views of this Department with respect to H.R. 5175, a bill providing for a study of the legal problems of management, use, and control of the natural resources of the oceans and ocean beds. The bill would authorize and direct the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct a study, by contract or otherwise, of the legal problems arising out of the management, use and control of the natural resources of the oceans and ocean beds, and would authorize the appropriation of $50,000 for the study. We oppose the bill in its present form. We do not believe that the Coast Guard is the appropriate agency for conducting the study contemplated by H.R. 5175. The legal problems that arise from management, use and control of ocean and ocean bed resources will generally fall within the missions of the Departments of State and Interior. The Department of the Interior is the agency charged with managing the resources of our outer Continental Shelf (Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953). International law problems arising from our use of the ocean and ocean beds should be treated by the Department of State. Legal problems in the use of ocean and ocean bed resources may become more complex as activities in the field of oceanography increase. However, we defer to the views of the Departments of State and Interior on the extent to which these problems require special attention. We have been advised by the Bureau of the Budget that there would be no objection to the submission of our report from the standpoint of the administration's program. Sincerely, DEAN B. LEWIS (For Robert E. Giles). DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Hon. HERBERT C. BONNER, Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Your request for comment on H.R. 5175, a bill "Providing for a study of the legal problems of management, use, and control of the natural resources of the oceans and ocean beds," has been assigned to this Department by the Secretary of Defense for the preparation of a report thereon expressing the views of the Department of Defense. This bill would authorize the United States Coast Guard to conduct a study of the legal problems arising out of the management, use, and control of the natural resources of the ocean beds, by contract or otherwise, and would appropriate $50,000 for this purpose. H.R. 5175 is identical to H.R. 11419, 88th Congress. It is similar to H.R. 11232, 88th Congress, which would have authorized the same study and appropriation, but would have empowered the National Science Foundation to conduct the study. The Department of the Navy, on behalf of the Department of Defense, supports the purposes of H.R. 5175, but defers as to which agency is best qualified to conduct the study. This report has been coordinated within the Department of Defense in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. The Bureau of the Budget advises that, from the standpoint of the Administration's program, there is no objection to the presentation of this report for the consideration of the committee. Sincerely yours, C. R. KEAR, Jr., Captain, U.S. Navy, Deputy Chief DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE, Hon. HERBERT C. BONNER, April 6, 1965. Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This letter is in response to your request of February 23, 1965, for a report on H.R. 5175, a bill providing for a study of the legal problems of management, use, and control of the natural resources of the oceans and ocean beds. This legislation does not appear to affect the programs of this Department, and we defer to the views of those agencies concerned with this matter. Sincerely, WILBUR J. COHEN, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Hon. HERBERT C. BONNER, Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, DEAR MR. BONNER: Your committee has requested our views and recommendations on H.R. 5175, a bill providing for a study of the legal problems of management, use, and control of the natural resources of the oceans and ocean beds. The bill directs the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct a study of the legal problems relating to the management, use, and control of the natural resources of the oceans and ocean beds. A study of this kind would directly involve the interests of this Department because of its responsibilities with respect to petroleum, fisheries, and the resources of the outer Continental Shelf (43 U.S.C. sec. 1331 et seq.) (the act of May 20, 1964, 78 Stat. 194). Under these and other authorities the Department has substantial resource management functions. The matters to which this legislation is addressed were the subject of intensive study, extending over a period of several years, by the International Law Commission, a group formed under the sponsorship of the General Assembly of the United Nations. As a result of the findings and recommendations of the Commission, a United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea was held at Geneva from February 24 to April 27, 1958. The 1958 Geneva Conference on the Law of the Sea led to the formulation of five international agreements which are set forth and described in summary in Senate Executives J to N, inclusive, 86th Congress, 1st session. These international agreements are identified as follows: (1) Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone. (2) Convention on the High Seas. (Entered into force on September 30, 1962.) (3) Convention on Fishing and Resources of the High Seas. Conservation of the Living (4) Convention on the Continental Shelf. (Entered into force on June 10, 1964.) (5) Optional Protocol of Signature Concerning the Compulsory Settlement of Disputes. (Entered into force on September 30, 1962; not in force for the United States.) These agreements and the work of the International Law Commission which preceded their formulation indicate the depth to which the |