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countries was one which had not been discussed by the Commission and which must be fully analysed in the future. If the plan in its final form were not so designed, as to share equally burdens no less than benefits, it would prove unacceptable not only to the Soviet Union but to many other delegations. The United Kingdom delegate characterized Mr Vyshinsky's strategic argument as " most surprising." Was it because at the present time any one can photograph American military installations and Soviet diplomats can move freely about the United States that the Soviet Union would be put at a military disadvantage by the proposed control system? Was the Assembly to put " a premium on secrecy " ? The United Kingdom Government thought the six-power discussions proposed in the Canadian resolution might show whether the Soviet Union would permit or assist in a resolution of the deadlock, and were quite prepared to include the difficult question of quotas on the agenda of those meetings. When the resolutions and amendments were put to the vote, the Soviet resolution was rejected, receiving 6 votes in favour, 40 (N.Z.) against, with 5 abstentions. The Two Indian amendments to the Canadian resolution were rejected, the first receiving 9 votes for, 15 against, with 26 abstentions (N.Z.), and the second 5 for, 31 (N.Z.) against, with 15 abstentions. The Canadian resolution was then adopted by a show of hands in the form approved by the First Committee. Forty votes (N.Z.) were cast in favour, 6 against, and there were 4 abstentions. Prohibition of the Atomic Weapon and Reduction by One-third of the Armaments and Armed Forces of the Permanent Members of the Security Council During the opening debate the delegate of the Soviet Union (Mr Vyshinsky) delivered a strongly worded attack on the military preparations of the western Powers, preparations which, he declared, were being undertaken with the intention of launching atomic war against the Soviet Union. Accordingly, " for the purpose of strengthening the cause of peace and removing the menace of a new war, which is being fomented by expansionists and other reactionary elements," he presented on the instructions of his Government a draft resolution, the operative part of which read : '■' The General Assembly " Recommends to the permanent members of the Security Council • United States of America, United Kingdom, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, France and China—as a first step in the reduction of armaments and armed forces, the reduction by onethird during one year of all present land, naval and air forces; " Recommends the prohibition of atomic weapons as weapons intended for aims of aggression and not for those of defence ;