Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, National Security Affairs, Volume II, Part 2

Disarmament files, lot 58 D 133, “NSC Papers, 1953–1955”

Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Smith) to the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (Lay)¹

top secret

Washington, February 17, 1953.

• Subject:
• Annex to Second Progress Report on NSC 112, “Formulation of a United States Position With Respect to the Regulation, Limitation and Balanced Reduction of Armed Forces and Armaments”, dated January 19, 1953²

Pursuant to the decision of the National Security Council’s Senior Staff at the February 12, 1953 meeting, the following additional material is transmitted to the Council for consideration in connection with the Second Progress Report on NSC 112:

1. Proposed draft resolution concerning Disarmament, which was to be introduced during the consideration of the item in the second half of the 7th General Assembly. This resolution was tentatively agreed to by Representatives of the United Kingdom, Canada and France.

2. Suggested additional paragraph to draft resolution, to be added if strong support for such addition is obtained in confidential discussions with other delegations to the General Assembly.

3. Additional paragraphs to be added to Second Progress Report on NSC 112 and to replace Section 2 of this report entitled “Courses of Action Currently Being Implemented”. These additional paragraphs reflect developments since the filing of the Second Progress Report.

It is requested that this information, together with this memorandum, be circulated to the members of the National Security Council for their information as an “Annex” in connection with the consideration of the Second Progress Report on NSC 112.

Walter B. Smith

[Enclosure 1]

Draft Resolution Concerning Disarmament

The General Assembly

Recognizing that

(1) Under the Charter of the United Nations all states are bound to settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered, and to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations;

(2) The aim of a system of world-wide disarmament is to prevent war and release the world’s human and economic resources for the purposes of peace;

1. Takes note of the report of the Disarmament Commission,³ commends the Commission for its efforts to carry out the instructions of the Sixth General Assembly, and commends the initiative of members of the Commission in submitting constructive proposals to the Commission;

2. Reaffirms General Assembly Resolution 502 (VI) and requests the Disarmament Commission to continue its work for the development by the United Nations of comprehensive and coordinated plans providing for:

(a) The regulation, limitation and balanced reduction of all armed forces and armaments,

(b) The elimination and prohibition of all major weapons, including bacteriological, adaptable to mass destruction, and

(c) The effective international control of atomic energy to ensure the prohibition of atomic weapons and the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes only, the whole program to be carried out under effective international control and in such a way that no state would have cause to fear that its security was endangered.

3. Requests the Commission to report to the General Assembly and the Security Council no later than September 1, 1953.

[Enclosure 2]

Suggested Insert to be Added Between Operative Paragraphs One and Two of the Draft Resolution, if Substantial Support Can be Obtained from General Assembly Delegations

“Notes with regret the introduction into the discussions of issues extraneous to the Commission’s tasks and the obstacles to achievement of agreement resulting from lack of a positive spirit of cooperation on the part of one of the Members of the Commission.”

[Enclosure 3]

Additional Paragraphs to be added to Second Progress Report on NSC 112 and to replace Section 2 of this Report entitled: “Courses of Action Currently Being Implemented”

2. Courses of Action Currently Being Implemented.

The United States during the first year of the Disarmament Commission made it clear to the world that we were ready, willing and eager to work out a comprehensive disarmament program. Furthermore the United States showed its willingness to commence negotiations on any of the major aspects of such a disarmament program. It has now become apparent that Soviet policy will not permit at this time any genuine negotiations on disarmament.

President Eisenhower in his inaugural address deals with this problem in his first “fixed principle”, which is stated as follows:

“Abhorring war as a chosen way to balk the purposes of those who threaten us, we hold it to be the first task of statesmanship to develop the strength that will deter the forces of aggression and promote the conditions of peace. For, as it must be the supreme purpose of all free men, so it must be the dedication of their leaders, to save humanity from preying upon itself.

“In the light of this principle, we stand ready to engage with any and all others in joint effort to remove the causes of mutual fear and distrust among nations, so as to make possible drastic reduction of armaments.

“The sole requisites for undertaking such effort are that—in their purpose—they be aimed logically and honestly toward secure peace for all; and that—in their result—they provide methods by which every participating nation will prove good faith in carrying out its pledge.”⁴

In view of this principle, the United States intends to point out in the Disarmament Commission the futility of working out details of a disarmament program in the absence of Soviet willingness to negotiate in connection with the general proposals already submitted to the Commission. Until the Soviet Union indicates such a willingness to negotiate, the United States believes that the Disarmament Commission discussions will be fruitless and if directed toward a detailed program rather than general principles, could create a misleading impression of progress.

The pursuit of this course of action in the Disarmament Commission will probably lead, in the absence of a change in Soviet attitude, to an adjournment of Disarmament Commission discussions at such time in the future as the remaining members of the Commission (other than the Soviet Union) likewise become convinced of the futility of further discussions.

It will still be necessary for the United States to develop its position on disarmament both in order to express our views in connection with proposals which may be made in the Commission by other states, and to be prepared in the event of a change in Soviet policies. The Department of State in connection with other interested agencies and certain consultants is currently working on several projects along these lines.

1. By memorandum of Feb. 17, Lay transmitted copies of this paper to the members of the National Security Council, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Acting Director of Central Intelligence. (Disarmament files, lot 58 D 133, “NSC Papers, 1953–1955”)
2. For text of the second progress report, see p. 1091.
3. United Nations, Official Records of the Disarmament Commission, Special Suppl. No.1.
4. For the full text of the Inaugural Address, Jan. 20, 1953, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953, pp. 1–8.