405. Preliminary Notes on the Operations Coordinating Board Meeting, Washington, March 30, 19601
1. Briefing on the Conference on the Law of the Sea
Mr. Gordon Arneson, Deputy Special Assistant for Law of the Sea to the Under Secretary, spoke to the OCB on developments at the Second UN Conference on the Law of the Sea. The Chairman, Mr. Gray, emphasized that, not only had the Board expressed an interest in various elements with which the Conference was concerned, but he wished to be sure that all interested US agencies were “on the same wave length” with regard to the position taken by the US delegation at Geneva.
In his presentation, Mr. Arneson said the Conference was a crucial meeting. Its main purpose was to define the breadth of the territorial seas and delimit fishing rights. The US faces three major difficulties: 1) Prevent the extension of territorial seas to twelve miles; 2) keep the Conference from failing, since failure would undoubtedly result in the eventual unilateral adoption of the twelve-mile limit; and 3) resolve “family fights” with such nations as Canada and Iceland. Mr. Arneson described the proposals thus far tabled at the Conference and the problems they pose for the US. He closed by saying he was professionally hopeful that the US position would garner the required two-thirds majority. He answered various questions from members of the Board and noted some additional problems ahead such as those posed by the “archipelago theory” advanced by Indonesia and the Philippines.
Mr. Gray cited the interest of the OCB in assuring that the US position was properly coordinated. Mr. Arneson noted that our delegation had received useful suggestions from other agencies. Mr. Gray said there was agreement that it was not necessary for the OCB to undertake coordinating actions in support of the US position. He thanked Mr. Arneson and offered the Board’s cooperation if required. Mr. Merchant said the Department would be happy to make periodic reports to the Board on the progress of the Conference.
[Here follows discussion of Poland, the Philippines, and Pioneer V.]
- Source: Department of State, OCB Files: Lot 62 D 430. Confidential. No drafting information appears on the source text.↩