CONTROL OF ARMS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27489, 25 October 1954, Page 11

CONTROL OF ARMS

Checks Made By Inspectors

(Rec. 9.30 p.m.) PARIS, October 23. Inspectors of the new European Arms Control Agency will carry out snap checks at Continental arms factories and depots to ensure that the agreed arms production and stockpiling limitations are being respected. Inspectors must be given free access to plants or depots on demand, and have all the relevant accounts and documents shown them. The agency will be headed by a director responsible to the SecretaryGeneral of the Western European Union. The agency’s task will be to ensure that Germany does not make “ABC” (atomic, biological, and chemical) weapons, long-range or guided missiles, “influence” mines, big warships or strategic bombers. The agency will also control the production, import and export of the following armaments in all six Continental states: (1) All guns, howitzers or mortars of more than 90 millimetre calibre and all guided missiles. (2) Mines, of all types except antitank and anti-personnel mines. (3) Tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles of more than 10 metric tons. (4) Aircraft bombs, heavy, guns, howitzer and mortar ammunition. (5) Complete military aircraft except trainers, transport and communication nlanes. and helicopters. (6) Military airframes, jet engines and rocket motors. . Each Western European Union nation will state the annual quantity of arms required by its forces under the N.A.T.O. Commander. The agency will immediately report any breaches of the rules to the Ministerial Council. If the council holds infraction not of major importance it will inform the agency ana the member concerned to take “local action. ’ In other cases the council, by a majority vote will take the measures it deems necessary in accordance with a procedure to be determined. ’