Three-Stage Programme

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29222, 4 June 1960, Page 13

Three-Stage Programme

The so-called “basic clauses’’ of the proposed treaty on general and complete disarmament included these major points of a three-stage programme:

First Stage.—The elimination of al! nuclear weapons, discontinuance of their manufacture and the destruction of all means of delivering such weapons The withdrawal of all foreign troops to within their own borders and the elimination of foreign military bases and stores Prohibition of “the launching into orbit or the placing in outer space of special devices.” On-the-spot inspection of all rocket launching sites, the rockets to be used only for peaceful purposes. “International on-the-spot control shall be established over the destruction of missiles, military aircraft, surface warships, submarines and other devices which may be used to carry atomic and hydrogen weapons,” the document said.

“International inspection teams shall be sent to places where military bases and foreign troops are situated in foreign territory, in order to supervise the abolition of the aforesaid bases and the withdrawal of troops and military personnel to within their own national frontiers. Control shall also be established at airports and harbours, to ensure that they are not used for military purposes

“At the same time, under the supervision of the international control organisation, missilelaunching installations shall be destroyed, with the exception of those retained for the launching of rockets for peaceful purposes ” The first stage should be completed in about a year to 18 months with the control organisation ascertaining to what extent the measures had been carried out, “with a view to reporting thereon to States parties to the treaty and also to the Security Council and General Assembly of the United Nations” Destruction Of Weapons Second Stage.—Nuclear, chemical. biological and other weapons of mass destruction should be completely prohibited, their production halted and all the stockpiles of these weapons destroyed

The armed forces of all States should be reduced to agreed levels, with those of the United States and the Soviet Union cut to “not more than 1.700.000 then." Conventional weapons and ammunition thus released should be destroyed and military expendies correspondingly reduced.

“As upon the transition from the first to the second stage, the international control organisation shall ascertain to what extent the second-stage measures have been carried out with a view to reporting thereon to the States parties to the treaty and to the Security Council and General Assembly of the United Nations.” the document said U.N. Police Force Third Stage: Completion of the disbandment of the armed forces of all States. States then should retain at their disposal only ‘‘strictly limited contingents of police (militia), the size of which shall be agreed upon for each country and which shall be equipped with small arms to be used for the maintenance of internal order and the protection of the personal security of citizens.”

All remaining types of conventional arms should be destroyed or used for peaceful purposes, military production should be wound up in all factories except for a “strictly limited output of small arms intended for the contingents of police (militia) ” War Ministries, general staffs and all military and para-military establishments and organisations should be abolished and all reservist courses terminated Funds made available from the implementation of complete disarmament should “be used to reduce or abolish taxation of the population, to subsidise national economies and to furnish economic and technical assistance to underdeveloped countries.”

The international control organisation should send officers to verify on the spot that all measures had been completed and it might, “as necessary, institute a system of aerial observation and aerial photography over the territories of States."

After completion of the disarmament programme, the Soviet Union proposed that the control organisation should remain and keep “permanent surveillance over the fulfilment by States of the obligations they have assumed.” It should have the right to send mobile inspection teams to any point and to any facility in the territories of States. Measures to maintain peace and security in accordance with the United Nations Charter should be carried out with States undertaking to place at the disposal of the Security Council as necessary formations from the militia contingents retained by them. In putting forward these proposals the Soviet Union said it was “taking into account the consideration advanced by the Western Powers.” In a concluding paragraph in the document, the Soviet Government expressed its readiness to reach agreement on the implementation of disarmament on the basis of the proposals. “The essential point,” It said, “is to conclude an agreement and proceed, at last, to the general and complete disarmament for which the peoples are waiting and which is called for by the United Nations.

“The Soviet Government is prepared to do this forthwith, without loss of time, and expresses the sincere hope that other States will act in the same way. in full awareness of the responsibility for the cause of disarmament which is borne by the Governments of all States and especially by the Governments .of the Great Powers.” *