nesslike basis that could be a model for how relations between our two countries can be conducted. Although relations with Cuba are seriously strained at the present time, both governments see advantage in concluding a permanent understanding as to our maritime boundary. Ratification of this Treaty will remove a potential problem in U.S. relations with Cuba and will, therefore, contribute to the maintenance of peace and security in the area. Venezuela

The Maritime Boundary Treaty Between the United States of America and the Republic of Venezuela, signed at Caracas on March 28, 1978, establishes the maritime boundary off the coasts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea. This line is based on the same general principles as the agreements with Mexico and Cuba and follows the line published by the United States when the U.S. fishery conservation zone was established in 1977. The Caribbean Regional Fishery Management Council and the authorities in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico were consulted prior to the establishment of the U.S. boundary position in this area and concurred in this line.

The three treaties I have discussed this morning all follow a similar format. Each contains the geographic coordinates of the boundary and technical information concerning the establishment of the boundary. Each contains an article which describes the legal effect of the boundary: that neither country shall claim nor exercise, for any purpose, sovereign rights or jurisdiction over the waters or seabed and subsoil on the other country's side of the boundary line. Each treaty also provides that establishment of the boundary does not affect or prejudice either country's position concerning the maritime jurisdiction that may be claimed by the other country. This disclaimer was deemed necessary as many of these countries assert claims of jurisdiction over the high seas not recognized by the United States.

As I noted previously, the U.S. position in the negotiation of these treaties was adopted after a full interagency review of legal questions and resource considerations and consultation with interested constituents and Members of Congress. We believe all three treaties are advantageous to the United States and fair to the other party. Ratification of these treaties will resolve issues with neighboring states which could become contentious and difficult if they are left unresolved.

S. Ex. Rept. 96-49, 96 Cong., 2nd sess. (1980), pp. 10-15.

The Dept. of State had transmitted for the Senate's consideration maps of the area covered by the three maritime boundary agreements which are reproduced at ibid., pp. 13-15, and post.

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The Maritime Boundary Agreement between the United States and the Republic of Cuba, done at Washington, Dec. 16, 1977, may be found at S.Ex. H, 96th Cong., 1st sess. (1979); Int'l Legal Materials, Vol. XVII (1978), p. 110. An Agreement Extending the Provisional Application of the Maritime Boundary Agreement of Dec. 16, 1977, for a period of two years from Jan. 1, 1980, pending entry into force of the Maritime Boundary Agreement, was effected by exchange of notes at Washington, Dec. 27 and 28, 1979; TIAS 9732; 32 UST 840; entered into force, Dec. 28, 1979; terminated according to its terms, Dec. 31, 1981. An Agreement Extending the Provisional Application of the Maritime Boundary Agreement of Dec. 16, 1977 for a (further) period of two years from Jan. 1, 1982, pending entry into force of the Maritime Boundary Agreement, was effected by exchange of notes at Washington, Dec. 16 and 28, 1981; TIAS 10327; entered into force, Dec. 28, 1981. For subsequent extensions, see, Files, L/T and the current Treaties in Force.

The Treaty on Maritime Boundaries between the United States of America and the United Mexican States, done at Mexico, May 4, 1978, may be found at S. Ex. F, 96th Cong., 1st sess. (1979); Int'l Legal Materials, Vol. XVII (1978), p. 1073.

The Maritime Boundary Agreement between the United States and Venezuela, signed at Caracas, Mar. 28, 1978, is at TIAS 9890; 32 UST 3100; entered into force, Nov. 24, 1980.

The Treaty Ceding Alaska, between the United States and Russia, dated Mar. 30, 1867, may be found at TS 301; 15 Stat. 539; 11 Bevans, Treaties and Other International Agreements of the United States of America, 1776-1949 (1974), p. 1216.

See, further, the 1978 Digest, pp. 945-949.

Effect of Islands

When testifying before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on the three treaties establishing maritime boundaries between the United States and Mexico, Venezuela, and Cuba (ante), Mark B. Feldman, Deputy Legal Adviser of the Department of State, discussed the Department's general position on the effect to be given to islands in establishing such boundaries, as well as the "practical accommodation" that the United States had made in negotiating the treaty with Mexico.

Mr. Feldman pointed out that there had been "specific trade-offs" in negotiating the treaty with Mexico, in that a substantial area in the Pacific of "significant fisheries interest" "went to the United States and a somewhat smaller area in the deep waters of the east central Gulf of Mexico. went to Mexico." With respect to principles applicable in other areas, he continued, the United States used islands and rocks as basepoints for measuring its territorial sea and the 200-mile zone "over a large percentage of the total stretch of the United States coast"; the practice also bore upon United States boundaries in the Pacific, and it served the general boundary position of the United States from the standpoint of its national interest. Mr. Feldman noted that the United States had followed maritime boundary principles flowing from the 1958 Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf, from the 1969 North Sea Continental Shelf Cases before the International Court of Justice, and from the 1977 decision of the United Kingdom/France Court of Arbitration on the