The Commission for Conventional Armaments recommends that the following principles should govern the formulation of practical proposals for the establishment of a system for the regulation and reduction of armaments and armed forces:
1. A system for the regulation and reduction of armaments and armed forces should provide for the adherence of all States. Initially it must include at least all States having substantial military resources.
2. A system of regulation and reduction of armaments and armed forces can only be put into effect in an atmosphere of international confidence and security. Measures for the regulation and reduction of armaments which would follow the establishment of the necessary degree of confidence might in turn be expected to increase confidence and so justify further measures of regulation and reduction.
5. (sic.) Examples of conditions essential to such confidence and security are:
(a) The establishment of an adequate system of agreements under Article 43 of the Charter. Until the agreed forces are pledged to the Security Council an essential step in establishing a system of collective security will not have been taken.
(b) The establishment of international control of atomic energy. It is a basic assumption of the work of the Commission for Conventional Armaments that the Atomic Energy Commission will make specific proposals for the elimination from national armaments of atomic weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.
(c) The conclusion of the peace settlements with Germany and Japan. Conditions of international peace and security will not be fully established until measures have been agreed upon which will prevent these States from undertaking aggressive action in the future.
4. A system for the regulation and reduction of armaments and armed forces, in order to make possible the least diversion for armaments of the world's human and economic resources pursuant to Article 26 of the Charter of the United Nations, must limit armaments and armed forces to those which are consistent with and indispensable to the maintenance of international peace and security. Such armaments and armed forces should not exceed those necessary for the implementation of members' obligations and the protection of their rights under the Charter of the United Nations.
5. A system for the regulation and reduction of armaments and armed forces must include an adequate system of safeguards, which by including an agreed system of international supervision will ensure the observance of the provisions of the treaty or convention by all parties thereto. A system of safeguards cannot be adequate unless it possesses the following characteristics:
(a) it is technically feasible and practical;
(b) it is capable of detecting promptly the occurrence of violations;
(c) it causes the minimum interference with, and imposes the minimum burdens on, any aspect of the life of individual nations.
6. Provision must be made for effective enforcement action in the event of violations.
(1) U. N. document S/C.3/31, August 15, 1948. Adopted at the thirteenth meeting of the Commission for Conventional Armaments on August 12, 1948. Back