environment, but there continued to be some opposition among states to accepting such obligations. Negotiations also continued on control of vessel-source pollution, but no final agreement was reached.

No agreement was reached in 1975 on marine scientific research within the economic zone. Negotiations focused mostly on the legal status of scientific installations and on state liability for damage caused by research. Alternatives narrowed somewhat from those supported in 1974, but there were still three different approaches, all of which were taken into account in the informal single negotiating text. The first of these approaches, advocated by some developing countries, provides that all scientific research in areas under coastal state jurisdiction should be conducted only with the explicit consent of the coastal state. The second, advocated by a group of landlocked and geographically disadvantaged states, including a number of Western European countries, provides that marine scientific research can be conducted by any state if a list of internationally agreed obligations are fulfilled, subject to dispute settlement procedures. The third, advocated by some Eastern European, Latin American, and other states, requires consent of the coastal state for research concerning resources, but does not require consent for other research provided it is carried out in compliance with internationally agreed obligations.

WORKING GROUP ON DISPUTE SETTLEMENT

There was general support for special dispute settlement machinery for the deep seabed. A majority of the more than 60 states that took part in the working group also favored the adoption of binding procedures in the economic zone, at least for some important aspects, such as navigation. However, the relationship between the exercise of coastal state jurisdiction over resources and the acceptance of dispute settlement procedures remained a particularly important and delicate problem. By the end of the session no agreement had been reached on whether there would be a comprehensive dispute settlement mechanism or whether each issue would be dealt with separately. It also remained unclear whether the mechanism would be the International Court of Justice, an arbitral body, a new Law of the Sea Tribunal, or a combination of these.

GENERAL POLITICAL PROBLEMS

MEMBERSHIP

Six newly independent states were admitted to the United Nations in 1975, bringing the total number of members to 144. The new members are the former Portuguese territories of Cape Verde, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe; the former French territory of Comoros; Papua New Guinea, a UN Trust Territory formerly administered by Australia; and the former Netherlands territory of Surinam. Three other states, the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam, the Republic of South VietNam, and the Republic of Korea, applied for membership but were not recommended by the Security Council.

Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Mozambique

The People's Republic of Mozambique, on the African mainland, became independent on June 25, 1975, and applied for UN membership in a July 31 letter to the UN Secretary General. The Republic of Cape Verde, an island group off the west coast of Africa, became independent 10 days later on July 5 and applied for UN membership on July 21. The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, two islands in the Gulf of Guinea, became independent on July 12 and applied for UN membership on August 13.

The Security Council met on the morning of August 18 to consider all three applications and, pursuant to rule 59 of its provisional rules of procedure, referred the applications to its Committee on the Admission of New Members (a committee of the whole). The committee met almost immediately and unanimously recommended the adoption of three resolutions recommending to the General Assembly the admission of the applicants. afternoon the Security Council met again and unanimously adopted the proposed resolutions.

That

The U.S. Representative, Ambassador Bennett, welcomed the prospect of the three new African members. He said that the United States was particularly pleased to support the Cape Verde application "because of the very long ties of friendship between our two countries." Continuing, he observed:

These ties go back to the early days of our own national independence. The first American consulate in Cape Verde was established in 1816. Over these many decades a large number of Cape Verdeans have emigrated to the United States.

Leaders of the Cape Verdean community estimate
that between 200,000 and 300,000 American citizens
are of Cape Verdean descent. They have added their
language, their culture, and their fine traits of
energy and self-reliance to the American scene."

Noting that São Tomé and Príncipe has "a long historical tradition and a rich cultural heritage," the U.S. Representative said:

We are sympathetic to the aspirations of the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe for progress. To assist in the islands' economic development, the United States has made available scholarships in this country to help develop

skilled resources for the islands. We look forward
to cooperating closely with the representatives
of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and
Príncipe in pursuing the lofty goals of the United
Nations to which we are dedicated."

He concluded by stating:

Mozambique, the Republic of Cape Verde, and the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, all of whom this Council has just recommended be admitted, constitute an important addition of African states to the United Nations. Their admission is another step toward the development of a worldwide organization in which we hope all those nations that desire membership and are willing and able to carry out their obligations will be represented."

On September 16 the 30th General Assembly unanimously adopted three resolutions, each cosponsored by Portugal and 53 other states, that admitted Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Mozambique to UN membership.

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea, occupying the eastern portion of the island of New Guinea and associated archipelagoes north of Australia, became independent on September 16 and the same day applied for UN membership. The Security Council met on September 22 to consider this application and immediately referred it to the Committee on the Admission of New Members. The committee, without objection, adopted a report that included a draft resolution in which the Council would recommend the admission of Papua New Guinea to the General Assembly. The Council met again within the hour to adopt the recommended resolution unanimously.

After the vote, the U.S. Representative, Ambassador Bennett, said that his delegation "concurred

Re

wholeheartedly" in the membership committee's recommendation and supported "with particular satisfaction" Papua New Guinea's application for UN membership. ferring to his leadership of a UN visiting mission that had gone to Papua New Guinea to observe the 1972 elections for the House of Assembly, he observed that the 4-week electoral process had been "carried off with smooth efficiency by the administering power and with the reasoned exercise of their free will by the people of Papua New Guinea," and had led "directly through a series of steps in the constitutional process" to Papua New Guinea's independence. "Great credit," he said, "is due both to the people of Papua New Guinea and to Australia . . . for this orderly process of self-determination."

With reference to the new state he said:

"Papua New Guinea begins its life as a new nation with excellent prospects. Its functioning representative democracy and Constitution fully debated by the people's representatives, as well as the admirable respect which the Papua New Guineans have shown for human rights and due process of law, bode well for the future. Papua New Guinea has cordial relations with its neighbors and enjoys rich natural resources and the elements of a sound and expanding economy.

"In contrast to many new members of the United Nations, Papua New Guinea already has a wealth of firsthand experience in this organization through its participation in the deliberations of the Trusteeship Council and the Fourth Committee.

"Mr. President, the United States believes that Papua New Guinea will be a valuable and productive new member in the community of nations, and we warmly have supported its application for membership in the United Nations."

On October 10 the General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution, cosponsored by 85 states including Australia, most of the other members of the British Commonwealth, and the United States, that admitted Papua New Guinea to UN membership.

Comoros

The Comoros, an island group off the east coast of Africa, issued a unilateral declaration of independence on July 6. The French were unable to accept the declaration because a constitutional problem had arisen

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between the islands and France.

In a referendum held on December 22, 1974, an overwhelming majority of the people of the Comoros voted in favor of independence. However, on one of the islands, Mayotte, two-thirds of the inhabitants had voted otherwise, and a July 3, 1975, French law called for island-by-island approval of a new constitution before agreement on independence for the Comoros.

On September 29, with the constitutional problem still unresolved, the Comoros applied for UN membership. The Security Council met on October 17 and referred the application to its Committee on the Admission of New Members. The committee met immediately thereafter and, without discussion, adopted a report recommending the admission of the Comoros. The Security Council considered the report that afternoon and by a vote of 14 to 0 accepted the committee's recommendation.

At the beginning of the afternoon meeting the French Representative had announced that in light of the still unresolved constitutional problem, "we do not feel that we can participate in either the discussion or the voting on this item on the agenda." He went on to say, however, that "France would voice the hope that the Comoros and the international community will construe that attitude as proof of its desire to assist, as soon as possible, in the adoption of a final solution acceptable to all the parties concerned."

Speaking after the vote, Ambassador Moynihan said:

The U.S. Government has followed closely the evolution of self-determination in the Comoros. In that connection, we recognize the important role which has been played in that process by France. We hope that the reasons for France's inability to sponsor Comorean membership will soon be overcome and that the two will enjoy good relations.

"The United States was pleased to vote for the admission to the United Nations of the Comoros .

On November 12 the General Assembly considered the recommendation of the Security Council. The French Representative, after recalling the French statement in the Council, declared that France "is always willing to grant independence to peoples that desire it, but it cannot oppose the self-determination of peoples." further stated that in light of these considerations, "the French delegation, to its great regret, cannot participate in a consensus on the text by which the Comoros will be admitted to our organization."

He