Assembly 404. Disarmament.

1. The Drafting Group this morning considered position created by
the United Kingdom amendment to the resolution on troops (Assembly
395 and 396). [1] Spaak attempted to persuade Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics and United Kingdom to withdraw all previous
proposals on troops and to substitute amendment to paragraph four
of disarmament resolutions, [2] calling upon Member States to
report to the next Assembly action taken to give effect to
recommendations of paragraph four. However, inevitable conflict
arose as to whether this should apply to all forces or only to
forces abroad. No agreement could be reached.

2. Disarmament Resolution (for text see our immediately preceding
telegram [3]) was therefore referred back to sub-Committee,
together with United Kingdom amendment on troops.

3. We regard this text as unsatisfactory and in conjunction with
Canada and after discussion with United Kingdom and United States
will press tomorrow in sub-Committee for amendments to make clear
beyond [doubt]-
(A) that the plans formulated by the Security Council will be
considered by the Assembly or an International Conference before
submission to Member States for ratification.

(B) that control system must be established concurrently with
agreements to prohibit or reduce armaments.

(C) that the case [for] atomic energy control to ensure use
peaceful pur-poses must be part of the plan, and that the present
resolution does not in any way modify terms of reference of the
Atomic Energy Commission.

4. We are active to combat increasing tendency on the part of our
Allies to accept ambiguous and plausible compromises.