THE NATIONS: Four Miles Out

One of the muddiest expanses in the ill-charted sea of international law is the question of territorial waters—the extent to which a coastal nation controls the sea around it. Some nations, e.g., Spain, Italy, Iran, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Brazil, claim a six-mile limit; others, e.g., the Scandinavians, claim four. Most countries accept the limit of three marine miles, a tradition that goes back to the 18th Century, when a good cannon on the shore could heave a ball three miles to sea.* But many governments have added qualifications which extend their claims beyond three miles, and they never...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!