Assembly 378. Disarmament.

1. Sub-Committee continued debate on paragraph 3 of United States
draft (Assembly 301) [1], and Soviet amendment. [2]

2. Discussion centred mainly on interpretation of the phrase
'within the framework of the Security Council'. [3] Molotov was
not present and Vyshinsky appeared to be acting under instructions
to make no concessions. He repeatedly referred to Molotov's
statement on 4th December that 'the decision on reduction of
armaments should be taken by means of a resolution of the Security
Council', and that the Control Commissions would 'work in
accordance with these rules drawn up for them by the Security
Council'. He argued-
(a) That Articles 24 and 26 gave the Security Council primary
responsibility for disarmament and that the Council could not
surrender that responsibility.

(b) That Article 2(B) of the Assembly Resolution of 24th January
establishing the Atomic Energy Commission [4] meant that the
Security Council would issue directions to the Control
Commissions.

(c) That the Control Commissions would be subsidiary organs of the
Security Council.

3. We pointed out that the U.S.S.R. had already agreed that the
control system must be established by International Convention and
insisted that the resolution must clearly state that the powers of
the Control Commissions will be derived from and defined in the
Convention.

4. This position was supported by Canada, United States of
America, China, India, France and the United Kingdom, and
Shawcross proposed the following redraft of paragraph 3-

'To ensure the adoption of measures for the reduction of armaments
and prohibition of the use of atomic energy for military purposes
and other major weapons adaptable for mass destruction here shall
be established by means of a Convention or Conventions as
mentioned in paragraph 2, within the framework of the Security
Council who bear the main responsibility for international peace
and security but acting independently of that body in the
discharge of the functions assigned to them by such Convention or
Conventions, a system of 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 carrying out the Convention or Conventions in
regard to the reduction of armaments, including the operation of
any necessary system of control and inspection.

(b) A Commission or Commissions for carrying out the Convention in
regard to the prohibition of the use of atomic energy for warlike
purposes and its control and supervision for peaceful purposes and
in regard to the prohibition of other major weapons adaptable to
mass destruction.

The Commission referred to in paragraph 3(b) shall be entitled as
occasion may require to add to the list of prohibited weapons.'

5. This is much less objectionable than the original Soviet draft,
but still retains the phrase 'within the framework of the Security
Council', which is still dangerous, even with the United Kingdom
additions. The United Kingdom draft also leaves much too vague the
functions of the proposed Commissions. We suggested that a small
Drafting Committee might be appointed to formulate a resolution in
logical order as follows-
(a) General principles for formulation of system of disarmament.

(b) Prohibition of atomic and other weapons of mass destruction
and recommendation on type of control suited to special problem of
atomic energy.

(c) Regulation and reduction of armaments other than weapons of
mass destruction.

6. Vyshinsky said that if Sub-Committee could have an opportunity
of studying the United Kingdom amendment it might not be necessary
to appoint a Drafting Committee, and it was decided to defer
reference to Drafting Group until after next meeting of Sub-
Committee.