Office of the Historian

77. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations1

Washington, November 5, 1977, 1731Z

265333. Subject: 32nd UNGA: Resolution on Chemical Weapons. Ref: USUN 4183.2

1. US Del is authorized to join consensus adoption or vote for resolution on Chemical Weapons (CW) along the lines of revised Canadian/Polish draft reported Reftel.

2. If explanation of vote is deemed necessary, Del may note the effort that the US and USSR have devoted to developing a joint initiative on CW and may indicate US commitment to continuation of this effort. However, US Del should avoid suggesting when joint initiative may be completed.3

Christopher
  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770409–0684. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Arch Turrentine (ACDA/MA/IR); cleared by David Macuk (IO/UNP), David Carlson (PM/DCA), Edward Melanson (DOD/ISA), and Alan Neidle (ACDA/MA); and approved by Robert Barry (IO).↩
  2. The Canadian and Polish draft resolution discussed in telegram 4183 from USUN, October 29, called for the “effective prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of all chemical weapons” and urged all states to accede to the 1925 Geneva Protocol. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770398–0120) In telegram 4373 from USUN, November 5, the Mission predicted that the resolution would be adopted by the UN General Assembly by November 14. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770407–1101)↩
  3. On December 12, 1977, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 32/77 largely on the lines of the October 29 Canadian/Polish draft. For the text of the Resolution, see Documents on Disarmament, 1977, pp. 825–827.↩