Office of the Historian

501.BB/11–2646

Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Special Political Affairs (Hiss) to the Under Secretary of State (Acheson)

[Washington,] November 26, 1946.

Mr. Ross informed me today by telephone that this morning the Secretary spoke both to Senator Connally and to Mr. Bevin to the effect that he is strongly opposed to any resolution on the disposition of troops containing an inspection provision. This apparently settles our position on this point clearly. (It will be recalled that Senator [Page 1061] Connally in his statement of yesterday on this subject did not make clear our opposition to such provision being in the resolution relating to troops. His emphasis, instead, was upon the importance we attach to safeguards, including inspection, in regard to disarmament.) Mr. Ross said that both the Chinese and French Delegations are also opposed to inspection in connection with reporting on troop dispositions.

Molotov today stated in Committee I that the U.S.S.R. is prepared to report on troops at home only in connection with the consideration of disarmament. He said that if such troops are to be reported upon then their armament, mentioning in particular jet-propelled planes and atomic bombs, should also be reported. He also indicated that the Soviets will be prepared to discuss the question of inspection in connection with disarmament. At that time, he said, they will have specific proposals to make with respect to inspection.32

  1. The reference is to Molotov’s statement at the 28th Meeting of the 1st Committee, November 26, 11 a.m.; for the record of that meeting, see GA (I/2), First Committee, pp. 151–158. In the course of the meeting, Senator Connally offered an amendment to the United Kingdom resolution (p. 1050) which eliminated the provision for the verification of information. Molotov then submitted an additional Soviet proposal which was subsequently resubmitted in connection with disarmament; it read as follows: “The General Assembly deems it necessary that all States Members of the United Nations should submit information regarding armed forces and armaments in their own territory, this information to be submitted when the Security Council will consider the proposals for general reduction of armaments.”↩