The Flag on Gorbachev Crater

Whereas our Member Nations have quarreled much among themselves as to which of them is entitled to colonize the moons of Jupiter, especially the largest moon, known as Ganymede; and Whereas certain of our Member Nations have threatened armed aggression to assert their claims; and

Whereas certain of our Member Nations are even now preparing to set forth with their respective warships in a race to take and hold Ganymede by violence; and

Whereas it is the wish of all Member Nations that this dispute be settled amicably and fairly;

Now Therefore,

(1) The first Member Nation whose citizen plants a flag on that area of Gorbachev Crater on Ganymede designated in Appendix A, and under conditions hereinafter described, shall be deemed to own Ganymede.

(2) Flag-planting vessels may leave space ports on Earth or Luna at any time after twelve-hundred hours, November 1, 2036. Contestant ships leaving earlier will be disqualified. United Nations corvettes will continuously monitor the area until completion of the race.

By Order of Member Nations

In Plenary Session

(Seal) (illegible)

Secretary