FOREIGN RELATIONS, 19-50, VOLUME I


waters is fixed at a greater or lesser extension than six nautical miles.
(Law No.,230 of Sept. 17,1936.)
  U.S.S.R.: 12-mile claim,
  4"In general, it would appear that the Soviets insist upon the 12-mile
limit for their own territorial waters, while claiming the right for
their vessels to approach within 3 miles of the shore of other coun-
tries." (Moscow emb. airgram 2785, Aug. 1,1949.)
      " a maritime zone 12 miles wide, measuring from -the line of
the lowest tide, both on the continent and on islands, except in cases
provided for by international-agreements-of the Union of S.S.R."
("Collection of Laws and Decrees of the Workers' and Peasants'
Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics," ..No. 62,
Nov. 19,1927; Art. 625,II-c,)
   [Here follows a sIMmary listing of 61hims by 1four South American
countries. For a concfe citation of claims advanced by all the Latin
American countriesr ee Department's circular airgram, September 15,
infra.]
  Asian Countries
  Ceylon: 3-mile claim
  There is no ena;tfment establishing a general limit of territorial
waters. There are, however, enactments and cases covering specific
situations and in general upholding the three mile lilmit, with excep-
tions made for pearl and'chank fisheries.
  India: 3-mile claim
  No enactment is known defining the territorial waters of India for
general purposes. However, in its reply to the questionnaire of the
League of Nations of December 15, 1928 (League of Nations, Prepara-
tory Committee for the Conference for the Codification of Interna-
tional Law, Bases of Discussion, Vol. 2, Territorial Waters C.74M.39.
1929.V, p. 166)-the Govermnent of India associated itself with the
reply of the British Government which had advocated a three mile
limit for all purposes, reserving the rights of pearl and chank fisheries
outside territorial limits. (ibid. p. 162.)
   There are a number of Indian cases which define territorial waters
 as extending three miles from low water-mark.
   Iran: 6-mile claim, with contiguous zone
   The territorial waters of Persia extend for a distance of six nauti-
 cal miles from the extreme point of the shore bared at low-water.
 *Besides, a zone of maritime control extending to a distance of 12 miles
 shall be placed under the supervision of the government.
   Every island belonging to Persia is surrounded by territorial waters
 as defined above. Where an archipelago is concerned the territorial
 waters begin at the outermost island of the group.... (Law of
 July 15,1934 Tir 24,1313.)


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