Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, National Security Affairs, Foreign Economic Policy, Volume I

501.BC Armaments/6–2949: Telegram

The Acting United States Representative at the United Nations (Ross) to the Secretary of State

secret

New York, June 29, 1949—7:19 p. m.

788. Following is sent with reference to current consideration by CCA of GA resolution of November 19, 1948 and future work of CCA.

On May 26 French introduced as their paper based on RAC D–34e (S/C.3/SC.3/21).¹

On June 20, RAC D–34/2d was given to representatives of France, Canada and UK as possible section III to complete French paper in accordance with Deptel 319 of June 6 [16].²

In view of strong and clear position taken by Soviet member in working committee attacking proposal of census and verification of conventional armaments and effectives as called for by GA resolution, unlikely that CCA deliberations will go beyond majority approval of set of general proposals consisting substantially of present French proposals plus something like our proposed section III. In view further of shortness of time which exists for formulation of such proposals, it is also felt that this would be about as much as could be expected in order to submit report on that resolution to SC and 4th session of GA. We feel that this will be sufficient to indicate on one hand an honest set of proposals within framework of GA resolution considered and approved by majority, and on other hand fundamental nature of opposition to GA resolution by Soviet Union.

Under these circumstances it appears possible to vote on proposals during latter part of July and thus have majority approved proposals for report to SC and GA on subject GA resolution which we would be prepared to support in SC and GA. After that has been done CCA could revert to discussions based on its approved plan of work with realization, however, that CCA will probably be unable to formulate plans for establishment of system for regulation of armaments which will be acceptable to all since Soviet Union has failed to agree with majority on principles considered to be basic to formulation of plans for such regulation.

It is also hoped that prior to next GA session, CCA may be able to submit to SC second progress report (S/C.3/32/Rev. 1) which includes findings on items one and two of plan of work.³

In preliminary conversations on this subject, representatives of France, Canada and UK have expressed themselves unofficially in general agreement with views expressed above.

Ross

1. For text, see Report of the Commission for Conventional Armaments to the Security Council (S/1372), August 9, Sections I and II, pp. 107 and 109.
2. Telegram 319 to New York, June 16, not printed, indicated that document RAC D–34/2d, not printed, was being transmitted to the United States Mission for discussion with French, British, and Canadian representatives preparatory to its introduction if possible by the French in the Working Committee as Section III of their working paper (501.BC Armaments/6–1649).
3. See footnote 3, p. 12.