Replies

What is our President's position on this?

He's been rather coy, but his State Dept. has continued pushing it via both Colin Powell and Condileeza Rice. He has done nothing overtly to discourage it, and a raft of his officers have claimed he supports it. E.g., as reported by Phyllis Schlafly up above:

When Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) asked Condoleezza Rice during her confirmation hearings about the Law of the Sea Treaty, she replied that President Bush "certainly would like to see it passed as soon as possible." Assuming she was authorized to deliver that shocking news, George W. Bush can no longer claim the mantle of the Ronald Reagan legacy.

What is our President's position on this?

Uh, I'll get back to you.

***

Q Scott[McClellan], the Treaty of the Law of the Sea is something that's talked about almost never at any of the briefings here, and recently, Senator Inhofe held hearings over at the Natural Resources Committee in the Senate which indicated that if the treaty were ever ratified, it would lead to U.S. citizens paying international taxes and U.S. troops under some kind of world control. In other words, it very deeply could affect sovereignty. Is the President opposed to ratification of the Treaty of the Law of the Sea?

MR. McCLELLAN: Let me get you some more information on that and I'll come back to it. I'll be glad to talk to you about it.

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
The James S. Brady Briefing Room

May 24, 2004

***

Q On at least one occasion last year, you stated the administration's support for ratification of the Treaty of the Law of the Sea. Dr. Rice, in her confirmation hearings, underscored support for ratification. When it was in the White House, the Reagan administration killed the treaty, and several officials, alumni of that administration, still speak out against it. What has caused this administration to change the attitude that the Reagan administration had, and support ratification of the treaty?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think we put out some information on that when the President announced, I believe, a committee to look at these matters and work to address these issues. I really don't have any further updates for it right now. I'll be glad to take a look at it, though, John, and we can get back to you.

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
The James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

January 31, 2005

***

Q Since we're going to be briefed later today on the prison situation, I'd like to just turn to another subject right now. Last month, when I asked about the treaty -- the Law of the Sea, you were kind enough to have your office get back to me and indicate the President's positive reaction to the treaty, although questions about the security provisions of it. Given the fact that the late President Reagan and his administration were very opposed to it and helped put it off when it came up previously, why is this President different in his approach to the treaty? And also, will the administration watch the hearings Chairman Hyde is about to have on it?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I mean, the administration always follows issues before Congress, and this would be one of them. So we have, certainly, people that follow these issues. In terms of what my staff got back to you on in terms of the Treaty of the Sea. I mean, that's what our position is. I don't really have anything more to add to it right now. But I'll be glad to get you some more information.

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
The James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

June 22, 2004