ARMS REDUCTION PLANS

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 February 1947, Page 7

ARMS REDUCTION PLANS

COMPROMISE RESOLUTION BY AMERICA ’ OPPOSITION BY RUSSIA (Rec. 11.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, February 4. Mr. Warren Austin told the Security Council that the United States would never consent -to any international plan for arms reduction until “concrete and enforceable safeguards” were created to make sure there would be no violations. Mr. Austin moved a resolution providing for immediate general disarmament discussions, but still giving priority to atomic energy control. He proposed that the council should consider the Atomic Energy Commission’s report at its next meeting and that a commission of 11 nations be established immediately to study plans for reduction and control of all arms, except atomic weapons. The resolution represented a compromise on the previous United States stand that there must be international agreement on atomic energy before any other form of disarmament could be considered. Mr. Austin said the resolution “represented the best thoughts of President Truman, General Marshall. and the War Secretary, Mr. Patterson. The United States Government, he addhd, sincerely believed that the resolution would provide the most effective first steps towards disarma - ment and the establishment of freedom from the apalling fear of war. Mr. Gromyko (Russia) said the American resolution was unnecessary and would cause delay in the Soviet resolution previously submitted, and that the Atomic Energy Commission’s report was already on the council’s agenda for consideration soon. Mr. Paul Hasluck (Australia) said he could not support either Russia or the United States. He suggested that the delegates who had submitted resolutions on disarmament should confer and draw up one resolution, which the council would accept. The council accepted Mr. Hasluck s proposal and appointed a sub-commit-tee, comprising the Australian, Belgian, Colombian, French, the United States and Russian delegates, who will meet to-morrow.