ARMAMENTS REDUCTION PROPOSED

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25020, 31 October 1946, Page 7

ARMAMENTS REDUCTION PROPOSED

Prohibition Of Atom Bomb Sought MOLOTOV DEFENDS VETO POWER (N.Z. Press Association—Cppyrigh)) (Rec. 8.25 P- m -) NEW YORK, October 29. The Russian Foreign Minister, Mr Molotov, moved in the fnited Nations General Assembly to-day that in the interests e f strengthening international peace and security the Assembly should consider necessary a general reduction of armaments, (je first task, he said, was the prohibition of the production ud use of the atom bomb for war. The Assembly should recommend the Security Council to take practical measures in the field of a reduction of armaments and appeal to all governments to support the Security Council la those important matters, Re said all the mistakes which the Security Council had jiade were wrongly attributed to the so-called veto and the toise made around this matter was due to intentions to conjeal the real issue. The question was whether the United jiations were on the right course. The basic principle of the League of Nations had been the nunimity hll members. That had made the League unworkable. The United Nations Charter was based differently, blouse the Security Council required the unanimifv of the Big Fire. That principle was accepted not by accident but because 8 was intended to secure a unanimity of action by the Great Pewers which had not existed before the second world war. The principle of the unanimity of the Big Five had deep n»ts. What was behind the wide campaign which had recently |qn begun against it? The result of the elimination of the veto would be majority n|e, allegedly the most democratic, as though it was possible to compare the voice of Honduras with that of the United States «the voice of Haiti with that of Soviet Russia. Who would ie naive enough to overlook the fact that this campaign was Uli-Soviet?

gr Molotov said some people were tying to undermine the very foundaias of the United Nations. Soviet Bncia was as true as ever to the princpjes of real international collabora•inc and adherence to the United Nations Charter, but the success of such i policy depended on the attitude of other Powers. Mr Molotov said there was no doubt h Soviet Russia that peace and peaceful competition were in the interests of the Russian people and in the interests of the peoples of other countries. but the Russians were not sure whether the fate of Germany and Japan had been a sufficient warning to imperialists. Some people, like Mr Churchill, believed only in extreme methods of aggression. Those people in Soviet Russia the main obstacle to their dark plans. •Judging by certain frank statements we must, under the new post-war conditions, take into account the possibility of an increased influence in certaip counties of aggressive imperialistic circles, which for the sake of achieving world domination can embark upon reckless aggression and hazardous military adventures. "Mr Churchill, who has many sympathisers both in England and the United States, is the prophet for such imperialists. They are now waging a campaign against the Soviet Union.” The Soviet was willing to give full afcrmation on troops in non-enemy r.mtries. and it did not understand thy other countries should decline to to this. There were two diverging tendencies z the development of international resmuggle between the imted Nations principles and those •x sought world domination was still ® its preliminary stage. JW eliroation of the veto would tean liquidation of the United Nations «|aniMtion, since the veto was the bmdatian of it It would ruin demoraoc international co-operation and : the forefront new pretenders world domination. If the Great ™ers were not allowed to split their fcks. much could be done in the inh s international co-operation. « was mown that naval units and squadrons suddenly appeared they had never been before to . ‘diplomatic negotiations.” It 2-ST 11 dollar diplomacy 10 promote dollar democracy. * jam task of the United Nations «s to withstand these attacks. The Atom Bomb Played a great role S conjectures of many Stalin had said atom kSr® no t ci tange the course of 1 them aUSe there wer e not enough r£A olotov said the bomb had nob against troops, and « was no accident. are ’ however, plans to use cinn? 01 ? • against the civilian popuand to use them on a as certain newsone should not give teXrJL- a? 7 Elusions regarding 1 effect which will be W of Ot atrOCi ' tatatom j* should not be forgotten Pyubs used by one side may P y at- 0111 bombs and someher side, and *3 fte the collapse of caSS e^ t '£ ay calculations of ceribut short-witted people all too apparent.” “U.S. Plan Egotistical” Sectored that the BaJ ' =■ R triL c ? llte S!! plan was egotistifiles to obtain for the United 8 a ma?!!? 0 P oI Z of the atom bomb tbe S oly by one nation could Sstion mi 7& ned A scientific *»er tSi not he locked in a hn ' at3 ementation of the Ame"Jd be'?? 0 ooergy control plan to the uhNations Pted decisions of the to carry Het the he necessary to abandonßations Charter and of thp r 5 Principle of the unani- ? Counrii HJ- P° w ers in the Secuestion of^fh W hl c h is to decide the rise th\S e atom bomb. Is it not hand 15 ? desire to give a si) that worshippers of the atom • arnim?T2 ne ls raising .such a 4ng d £ e veto? AU this goes ®«t "ft.' -?} e Bvuch plan does i bnth mte / ests of the United ’ & form aS £ar as lts substance uri P are concerned.” Rossian Plan I J &aid- RuSSlan control plan, U ?h oUr calc ulations for the rerSn Fu e x Of the atom bomb, taly has a n. th at the General AsO f^ dy . declared for the arrn a »? to nnc weapons from 55 I «ason entS ; Therefore, there 1 2^Stemati? OSt 1 pon ' e the adoption by convention prop’s of tho OOViet regarding the manu facture and use <teeki«K )ns ‘ , Onl y by adopting fevour?hi WIR he created con- * 10 the free and ’ questions re- ■ Sarnie ablistuneni of control ft in all countries.’’ mu ch noise was the veto t 0 free of th® atom bomb 5 K Plans nn e X e not building their atom bomb The I' WJbomb S hn,HJ ar -hke use of the Ik ho the sacred task iV 0 ? 81 ? aggression. ■•U? the the Assembly to af Orl <i* sp htting into two I atomisu” >ud ano

made up of those who wished to use atomic energy for peace. Mr Bernard Baruch, the chairman of the Atomic Energy Comipission, in October had frankly spoken of the way he about peace. His philosophy was clearly one of limitless expansion and world domination. The Soviet could not believe that the majority of Americans accepted this philosophy, which was also alien to the Soviet. Mr Stalin’s replies to the questions recently put to him showed the reality and wisdom of the Soviet’s search for world co-operation. Trusteeship Council

Mr Molotov said it might be thought that someone was deliberately hindering the establishment of the Trusteeship Council. The prestige of the United Nations was being undermined by the. fact that it had not created the Council for nearly two years. The Council could have been called upon to facilitate an improvement in tne livipg conditions of the people's inhabiting the territories held under mandate by France, Britain, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium and South Africa and tontribute to their development towards self-government and independence.

Mr Molotov said not a single step had been taken along this path by those countries, which would not release their firm hold of their mandates but were confining themselves to writing unsatisfactory drafts and insignificant declarations. Mr Molotov declared that the Security Council adopted openly £n unfavourable attitude toward Soviet Russia on the Persian question, making a gross error which was bound to undermine its prestige. He said it was high time the jyst demands of India and Indonesia were recognised. It was also necessary for the Security Council to know what armed forces of the United Nations were at present stationed outside their own countries to facilitate the work of the Military Staff Committee. All these things were shortcomings of the United Nations. Soviet Desire for Peace After referring to Russia’s great task in rehabilitating her devastated country, Mr Molotov said; “There is no lack of faith among our people in peaceful means of progress and there is no feeling of uncertainty which is created in countries with unstable economic and political prospects because we stand firmly on the position attained by the Soviet Union and have profound faith in the Soviet people’s growing strength. “Our people are anxious to participate in peaceful competition with States and social systems, under which it will be possible for various people not only to demonstrate their internal possibilities, but to establish closer and more varied co-operation with each other. “Our people long for a lasting peace and believe that only under conditions of peace can economic well-being and true prosperity be guaranteed for many years to come as well as a life of freedom for the common people and all mankind. The Soviet Union is alien to the strivings of those strong Powers and influential groups in other countries which are contaminated by imperialistic ravings for world domination. The Soviet sees its best friends in truly peace-loving States. We regard the strengthening of international cooperation for the sake of peace and progress as our primary task.” Molotov’s Resolution Mr Molotov moved the following motion:— “First, in the interests of consolidating international peace and security and in conformity with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Organisation, the General Assembly considers a general reduction in armaments necessary. “Second, the implementation of the decision on the reduction of armaments should include as a primary objective the banning of the manufacture and use of atomic energy for military purposes. “Third the General Assembly recommends to the Security Council that it should provide for the practical achievement of the objectives set forth in the above paragraphs. “Fourth, the General Assembly calls upon the governments of all States to render every possible assistance to the Security Council m this responsible undertaking, the accomplishment of which conforms to the establishment of a stable peace and international security and also serves the interests of the peoples by lightening the heavy economic burden caused by excessive expenditures for armaments which do not correspond to peace or post-war conditions.” . ... Mr Molotov added: “We hope this resolution will find the support of all i the United Nations.”