Statement on Signing the
R.M.S. Titanic Maritime Memorial Act of 1986
I
have approved S. 2048, the R.M.S. Titanic Maritime Memorial Act of 1986, the
purpose of which is to encourage international negotiations to: (1) designate
the R.M.S. Titanic as an international maritime memorial and (2) develop and
implement guidelines for conducting research on, exploration of, and if
appropriate, salvage of the R.M.S. Titanic. Such agreements and guidelines
would serve to enhance public knowledge of the Titanic's
scientific, cultural, and historical significance. The R.M.S. Titanic is the
premier symbol in modern times of both the perils of the sea and the need for
high standards of ship safety. The significance of the R.M.S. Titanic stems not
only from the durable imprint of the disaster upon the consciousness of
succeeding generations but also from the enormous strides made by the
international community in promoting safety of life at sea, the study and
observation of ice conditions, the maintenance of ice patrols in the North
Atlantic Ocean, and the development and improvement of standards for the design
and construction of vessels.
Although
I support the purpose of this act, I must register my objections to two of its
provisions. Section 5(a) directs the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to enter into consultations with foreign nations;
section 6(a) directs the Secretary of State to enter into negotiations with
foreign nations. If interpreted literally, these requirements would contravene
my constitutional authority to conduct foreign relations. To avoid this
constitutional difficulty, these provisions must be viewed as discretionary.
Entry into negotiations with the appropriate nations concerning the R.M.S
Titanic is, of course, dependent on the willingness of those nations to support
the development of the international agreement and guidelines encouraged by
this act. I invite interested nations to join us in this endeavor.
Note:
S. 2048, approved October 21, was assigned Public Law No. 99 - 513.