Major General Duchein argues that a strong merchant marine is central to the national interest. He argues there are both commercial and defense implications. On the commercial aspect, he notes the efficiency of sea shipping as well as the fact that man cannot walk on 3/4ths of the Earth's surface. On the defense angle, he argues Sputnik shocked America into its space program, and a similar situation is developing with the Soviet's merchant marine. Though not as dramatic as Sputnick, the exploding Soviet maritime strength has far more ominous political, economic and military implications. The U.S. has paid the price in Vietnam for its dependence, admittedly small, upon foreign ships in time of war. Duchein proposes a five-point program to give the U.S. merchant fleet a pre-eminent world oceanic position.