Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, National Security Affairs; Foreign Economic Policy, Volume I

600.0012/10–2451: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France¹

top secret   priority

Washington, October 24, 1951—7:47 p. m.

2418. No distribution. For Bruce and Bonsal. Fol is text of document referred to in immediately preceding tel:²

Outline of Program for Regulation, Limitation and Balanced Reduction of All Armed Forces and Armaments

1. The entire Free World is concerned over the dev of internatl tensions which have imposed upon the World a constantly growing burden of armaments. Nonetheless, the freedom-loving peoples of the World are unshakably determined to continue their efforts to dev the strength required for their security in the realization that, under present conditions, without that security there can be no peace with justice. The Sov Union has forced us to travel this path against our desire. We shall not relax our efforts to achieve strength. But we also recognize that cooperative and effective regulation and limitation of armed forces and armaments wld greatly reduce the danger of war and thus enhance the security of all nations. Accordingly, the US proposes to introduce in this Sixth GA a program for regulation, limitation and, balanced reduction of all armed forces and armaments.

2. It is obvious that a program for regulation, limitation and balanced reduction of all armed forces and armaments can make no progress while actual fighting continues in Kor and internatl tensions are high. However, all States shld consider seriously whether steps can be taken to find ways of easing the armaments burden as methods are found to bring about peace and internatl tensions are relaxed. Discussions on this subject can begin now.

3. In any honest program for regulation, limitation and balanced reduction of all armed forces and armaments, a first and indispensable step is a progressive system for internatl disclosure and verification of all armed forces and armaments on a continuing basis. This means revealing in appropriate stages all armed forces—incl para-mil, security and police forces—and all armaments, incl atomic, and providing for proper and progressive internatl inspection to verify the adequacy and accuracy of this info. It is necessary for each State to disclose the level of its armed forces and armaments in order to permit other States to know that its armed establishment is really for defense and not to menace others. The Gen Prins of such a system of disclosure and verification are set forth in Annex A.

4. A program for disclosure and verification of armed forces and armaments shld be an integral part of and lead to a system for the regulation, limitation and balanced reduction of all armed forces and armaments. The US proposes that such a disarmament program include the fol elements:

a. The objective shld be to secure the regulation, limitation and balanced reduction of all armed forces and armaments to a level which wld decrease substantially the possibility of successful aggression, and thereby decrease the chance that armed aggression wld be used to further natl objectives.

b. There must be an adequate system of safeguards to ensure observance of any acceptable disarmament program. The safeguards shld provide for the prompt detection of violations, while at the same time causing the minimum necessary degree of interference in the internal life of each country.

c. In working out the regulation, limitation and balanced reduction of armed forces and armaments, subject to adequate safeguards, the fol criteria are examples which cld be suggested for consideration in the course of detailed negots on the program:

(1) Limiting the size of armed forces, including para-military, security, and police forces to a fixed percent of population, but subject to a ceiling for any country of an agreed maximum figure.

(2) Restricting the portion of natl production which cld be used for mil purposes, so that such production wld bear a direct relation to the amount needed for the armed forces permitted under the program and perhaps subject to a ceiling expressed in terms of a percentage of the natl product.

(3) Developing mutually agreed natl programs, within the overall limitations, concerning the composition of armed forces and armaments that each country wld maintain.

d. The UN plan for the internatl control of atomic energy and the prohibition of atomic weapons shld continue to serve as the basis for the atomic energy aspects of any program for the regulation, limitation and balanced reduction of all armaments and armed forces, unless and until a better and more effective plan can be devised.

e. The program must be open for adherence to all States and initially it must include at least those States whose mil resources are so substantial that their absence from the program wld endanger it.

f. Once a program for the regulation, limitation and balanced reduction of all armed forces and armaments has been agreed upon in the UN, the details of the mutually agreed several natl programs under para 4c(3) above shld be developed within the framework of the UN program through conferences under UN auspices.

5. If such a program cld be put into effect, it wld lift the immense burden of mil expenditures which now presses on nearly all peoples of the world. This burden has necessitated in all countries the postponement of great constructive programs of reconstruction and development which had been planned nationally and internationally. New hope and opportunity wld be given everywhere for better conditions of life. Within developed countries new resources for peaceful production cld be put to work. And in underdeveloped areas of the world the UN cld undertake an intensified and concerted campaign against poverty, hunger, disease and ignorance.

6. Concurrently with putting such a system of regulation, limitation and balanced reduction of all armed forces and armaments into force, there can and must be settlement of major polit issues which have divided the World.

7. It is our desire to see a world in which internatl peace and security are assured. The present proposals for a program of regulation, limitation and balanced reduction of all armed forces and armaments will move us forward toward that objective. We shld all be willing to serve the cause of peace by deeds instead of words. The US is prepared to begin negots in the UN on a system of continuing disclosure and verification of all armed forces and armaments as a necessary first step and an integral part of a honest program for the regulation, limitation and balanced reduction of armed forces. Such negots, if good faith is consistently demonstrated, may then lead to a workable agreement.

8. Pending the conclusion of such an effective program for regulation, limitation and balanced reduction of all armed forces, the freedom-loving peoples of the World must continue their full programs to dev the strength required for their security.

Annex A

Principles Governing the System of Disclosure and Verification

The US believes that a proper system of disclosure and verification shld be based on the fol prins:

a. The system of disclosure and verification must be on a continuing basis. Disclosure as of a particular date on a “one time” basis and subsequent verification of such disclosure wld not meet the requirements of a continuing program for regulation, limitation and balanced reduction of all armed forces and armaments.

b. Disclosure and verification shld be carried out stage by stage, with appropriate provisions for proceeding to the next stage when, and only when, previous stages have been satisfactorily completed.

c. The early stages of the disclosure wld have to include the numbers of all types of armed forces, incl para-mil, security and police forces, and the organized reserve components of these forces, as well as in gen the types and amts of armaments and materiel of such forces in service and reserve.

d. With respect to atomic energy, also, the disclosure wld have to be carried out in stages. The US is aware that in due course this program wld require all States to disclose the atomic weapons in their possession. The US believes that a continuing system of disclosure and verification, as the first step in this program, shld include atomic energy.

e. The UN shld establish, at the time of the adoption of the Gen Prins governing this program, the necessary inspection machinery to ensure effective verification of the armed forces and armaments, incl those involving atomic energy, disclosed pursuant to the program.

Acheson

1. Also sent to London as telegram 2177 for Ambassador Walter S. Gifford and Minister Holmes.
2. Supra.