Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-09
AN EXPLOSIVE ISSUE
How Far Out to Sea
Does Sovereignty Go?

november electlonS. IN all prob
ability it will be the first order of
business on the agenda of the
sixth committee.
The sixth committee may or may
not recommend adoption by the
Assembly Of the commissions sug-
geStion that the dispute be settled
by special international commits
sion. No doubt, a good deal of
world politics is bound up in this
point, and what the United States
position may be on 1t is not pres
entity clear.
United Stotes in Minority?
Meanwhile, the indications are
very strong indeed that the United
States will be among the minority
when the sixth committee takes up
the question Of shelving the s.
mile limit.
just this week the United States
Naval Institute at Annapolis pub
lished a book which contains
significant information in regard
to the American position on the
extent Of territorial waters. The
book, international Law for Sea-
going Officers" is authored by
Commander Burdick A. Brittin,
USN, who served as special advisor
on the law of the sea to the United
States delegation at the recent
Geneva conference.
1t indicates that only about 20
to-25 of the worlds SO littoral ma
tons are sticking with the 3-mile
limit. The exact number is uncer-
tain because the picture has been
changing rapidly in recent months.
So far, Britain and France have
been backing the United States in
efforts to retain the Smile
limit. Just the other day, however,
reports from Ottawa told of
Canada's plan to jump the 81
mile reservation by claiming the
entire Gulf of st. Lawrence and
extending Canadian territorial
limits to IL miles. Since Mexico
already claims nine miles and most
Of the Latin American countries
even further, this leaves the United
States virtually alone among the
nations of the North American
continent in its views.
Our own position. however, is
not without difficulty.
For example. we set of a con-
siderable international repercus-
sion in 1945 when President Tru-
man issued two proclamationS
strengthening American interests
in the continental shelf. One of
these declared the natural resources
of the shelf sea-bed to appertain
to the United States and become
subject to It's Jurisdiction and con-
troll. The other asserted our right
to establish fishing conservation
zones IN sea areas adjoining the
coastline.
The continental shelf is fixed by
the so-called "100-fathom curve"
and may extend anywhere from
five to l20 miles offshore.
Texos Towers q Problem
Another apparent inconsistency
In our stand involves the Texas
towers which the Air Force is build
ing and maintaining for radar
warning purposes. These towers
have been. or will be, erected at
various places along the American
coastline-some Of them more than
100 miles at sea.
The United States Government
does not, Of course, view either the
continental shelf proclamations or
the Texas towers as an assertion
OF territorial sovereignty in the sea.
They are classified. rather, as asser-
lions only Of special purpose con-
troll" That is, they are directed
toward 8 single. specific purpose
and do not amount to q blanket
claim Of Jurisdiction. Hence they
do not affect our recognition Of the
extent Of territorial waters, which
continues to be three miles. Other
countries may take a somewhat di-
vergent view of our rationale.
In any case, it now appears that
the critical point in the territorial
sea struggle may be reached during
U. N. proceedings in November.
Some United States officials, in
fact, say that this may be our last
chance" to solidify world opinion
to accord with the American view.
While United Nations decision
may not be legally binding, it is
obvious that a U. N. determination
of territorial rights would have
much effect on international law
and where the high seas are con-
cerned. international law means a
lot.