Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XLI, Global Issues II

176. National Security Decision Directive 58¹

Washington, September 30, 1982

UNITED STATES OCEANS POLICY AND LAW OF THE SEA (U)

Having reviewed the Interagency Group’s proposed actions, as forwarded by the Secretary of State’s memorandum of August 10,² for United States near-term efforts to have key allies not sign or ratify the Law of the Sea (LOS) Convention adopted by the UN Conference and to continue to lay the groundwork for an alternative deep seabed mining arrangement outside that Convention, I have decided that:

• the United States will promptly send a special Presidential emissary to key allied capitals for high level discussions;

• Donald Rumsfeld will be that emissary; and

• pending his visit, the Secretary of State will advise key allies as early as possible and urge them not to make any premature commitments to sign or ratify the LOS Convention. (C)

I have also decided that the Senior Interagency Group on LOS will now be the Senior Interagency Group on Oceans Policy and LOS. The SIG will continue to be comprised of the Secretary of State (Chairman); the Secretaries of the Treasury, Defense, the Interior, Commerce, Labor, Transportation, and Energy; the Attorney General; the Director of Central Intelligence; the United States Representative to the United Nations; the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff; the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; the Director of the National Science Foundation; the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; the Assistant to the President for Policy Development; the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers; and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Representatives from other departments and agencies with responsibilities for specific matters to be considered will attend on invitation by the Chairman. (U)

The SIG will be responsible for all oceans policy matters and LOS or LOS-related international issues, except for purely domestic matters involving activities within the existing U.S. territorial sea and contiguous zone and activities related to resource development on the continental shelf as defined by law. The SIG will:

• develop, review, and prepare alternatives and recommendations on US oceans policy and LOS issues, including prompt consideration of an Exclusive Economic Zone and other possible initiatives;

• complete preparations for the emissary’s visit promptly, including proposed letters from me to other Heads of State to be carried by the emissary;

• proceed with work on longer-terms actions as called for by NSDD 43;³

• coordinate efforts for other high-level U.S. contacts with key foreign governments on these matters; and

• establish subordinate interagency groups as necessary for the execution of its mandate.⁴ (C)

Ronald Reagan

1. Source: Reagan Library, Guhin, Michael A.: Files, LOS (Law of the Sea) SIG (Senior Interagency Group)/Ocean Policy. Confidential.
2. See Document 171.
3. See Document 168.
4. In a November 30 memorandum to Meese, Clark wrote that Watt’s Cabinet Council working group had continued its review of oceans policy in spite of the NSDD and asked Meese to contact Watt directly. (Reagan Library, Guhin, Michael A.: Files, 11/25/1982–11/30/1982)