CONCESSION BY SOVIET

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 6 December 1946, Page 5

CONCESSION BY SOVIET

PROPOSALS FOR DISARMAMENT U.S. PLAN ACCEPTED AS BASIS

NEW YORK, December 4. r M. Molotov told the United Nations’ political and security committee that Russia was anxious for unanimity and, therefore, would not insist on her own disarmament plan. Although the American proposals were "insufficiently clear and somewhat onesided,” Russia would accept them as a basis for discussion. AT. Molotov agreed that the veto would not apply to any system of controls and inspection in connection with arms limitation, hut he made it clear that the Soviet retained the right of veto in the Security Council discussions leading up to the establishment of control and inspection.

Dispelling Misunderstanding

work of finding a method of international control of atomic energy. M Molotov insisted on the Soviet proposal tha.t the United Nations establish two commissions—one to control the execution of the decision on disarmament and the other to control the execution of the decision on the prohibition of the military use of.atomic energy. Attitude of Britain Sir Hartley Shawcross summarised the British policy as follows: (1) The atomic problem should be handled by the Atomic Energy Commission until the commission can report to the General Assembly. (2) No partial system of disarmament should be adopted in the sense that atomic weapons should be prohibited but other mass destruction, weapons, sucp as rockets, would not. (3) Any agreement to reduce armaments must be implemented hy a system of control and inspection. (4) The operation of that system must not be subject to the veto. Senator T. Connally. United States, welcomed M Molotov’s declaration and promised that the United States would give the amendments meticulous consideration. The United States insisted that there should be no interference with the Atomic Energy Commission’s work.

“There is need to dispel the obvious misunderstanding which has arisen,” he said. “The Soviet favours the Security Council adopting measures to prohibit weapons of mass destruction and the only principle of unanimity in the Security Council (the term the Soviet always applies to the veto) can guarantee the adoption of arms reduction. Unanimity is necessary in adopting regulations for the control commission.

“The principle of unanimity has no relevance to .the work of control. It is wrong to say that any State which has the veto has the power to prevent control and inspection.

“Any attempt .to prevent the .carrying out of control and inspection would be violation of the Security Council’s decision,” he added.

Sir Hartley Shawcross( Britain) welcomed M. Molotov’s statement as an important concession and Mr. J. Hasluck, Australia, said the new Soviet poliev opened the way for immediate United Nations' action. Amendments Offered

Proposing amendments to the American disarmament plan, M. Molotov said the Security Council resolution, rather than international treaties, should provide for a reduction of arms. Treaties would provide excuses for delays. The American resolution should be amended to outlaw atomic weapons, and other weapons of mass destruction rather than me'rely the control of them. M. Molotov accepted the United States’ principle that the Atomic Energy Commission should continue its

The_ committee appointed a subcommittee of 20 nations, including Australia, to reconcile the various disarmament proposals advanced mainly in the American resolution and the Soviet amendments to it.

The Associated Press says the delegates regard M Molotov’s amendments as offering no serious obstacle to an ultimate agreement.