329. Memorandum From the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Murphy) to All Assistant Secretaries of State 1
SUBJECT
- Final Preparations for Geneva Conference on the Law of the Sea
The President in his State of the Union message the other day took time to point out that the United States “must maintain the freedom of the seas.”2
This means that for our national security we must do our utmost to secure approval of the United States position on the breadth of the territorial sea at this Conference which begins February 24, 1958.
It will not be enough to have new proposals rejected. We must recognize that Conference failure to produce generally acceptable documents will in itself affect the direction the law will take in the immediate future. Witness what has happened since a similar conference in 1930 at The Hague broke up without any agreement whatsoever. Failure again would encourage still further departures from the traditional principles.
This is not to say that the United States should at all costs seek agreement on the vital issues to be discussed. It does mean, however, that the United States must in the time remaining make an all out effort to convince other nations of the soundness of the United States positions on the crucial issues. This may be our last opportunity to get substantial agreement on the crucial issues.
Hence, in the few remaining weeks, all officers associated in any way with this subject should endeavor to come up with constructive ideas on how other nations can be induced to support the United States on those issues. Any such idea or other suggestions should be brought to the attention of Mr. William Sanders, the Coordinator (U/LS), who may be reached on extension 2325.
[Page 642]I urge you, therefore, to impress upon your respective staffs the importance of this Conference to the United States.