Assembly 278.

1. In Committee 1 this morning voting regarding troops in foreign
territories was completed with adoption by 34 to 7 with 4
abstentions of complete text based on United Kingdom and United
States amendments reported in our Assembly 270. [1] Egypt
consented to regard its amendment (see paragraph 7 of Assembly 270
[2]) as a separate resolution and debate was deferred.

2. Egyptian action resulted in termination of foreign troops
debate much earlier than expected and after Australian
intervention on the veto (see our Assembly 277 [3]) Committee
proceeded to disarmament debate. Molotov presented his resolution
(see our Assembly 62 [4]) with following addendum.

'To ensure the adoption of measures for the reduction of armaments
and prohibition of the use of atomic energy for military purposes
there shall be established within the framework of the Security
Council, who bear the main responsibility for international peace
and security, international control operating on the basis of a
special provision which should provide for the establishment of
special organs of inspection for which purpose there shall be
formed
(a) a commission for the control of the execution of the decision
regarding the reduction of armaments
(b) a commission for the control of the execution of the decision
regarding the prohibition of the use of atomic energy for military
purposes.'
3. United States was unprepared for debate and indicated privately
that in the circumstances they had no objection to our proceeding
with our amendment. Therefore having regard to instructions in
your UNY417 [5], which was received shortly before the meeting, we
took immediate action to place Australian amendment before the
Committee and it now occupies a prominent position in Committee's
business. Canada also submitted amendment along similar lines.

4. Delegation arrangement had been that Makin should make our
principal statement on disarmament but in view of sudden emergency
Hasluck took responsibility for immediately lodging amendment. In
a brief statement he said that he reserved the right of Delegation
Chairman to make principal statement tomorrow and stated that only
reason for intervening was
(a) To take earliest opportunity of expressing strong interest of
Australia in disarmament and their intention to do everything
possible to assist in establishing an effective system of
disarmament and be able to lodge the amendment which the
Australian Government had approved for this purpose.

5. Above unexpected developments answer most of the points raised
in your UNY 417. As explained in our Assembly 243 [6] lodging of
our amendment was delayed for reasons arising out of consultation
with Delegations mentioned in your paragraph 4. Debate on troops
in foreign territory developed in a manner that left no
opportunity of linking it directly with disarmament and as will
appear from our earlier telegrams British and American tactics
were to pin down this item to Article 43. [7] We feel that this
morning's action has given us a good position for taking an active
part in future discussions on disarmament.