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These views, which were shared by a large number of delegations, were reflected in a draft resolution submitted by the United Kingdom. This resolution, after referring to the deadlock in the Atomic Energy Commission, the Conventional Armaments Commission, and the Military Staff Committee, created in each case by the attitude of the minority, stated that —— "Certain members of the United Nations, by refusing to accommodate themselves to the views of the majority and to co-operate or indeed to participate fully in the work of the organization in the political field, have compromised, the success of this work and thus contributed further to the present world wide sense of insecurity." The substantive part of the resolution read — The General Assembly " Recognizes the gravity of this situation and the importance of bringing about the increase in international confidence which is an essential prerequisite for agreement on disarmament and security problems, " Endorses the general principles considered by the majority of the Commission for Conventional Armaments as~ necessary to the regulation and reduction of armaments and armed forces, in particular the principle that such regulation and reduction can only be put into effect in an atmosphere of international confidence and security, and the principle that any system of disarmament must include an adequate system of safeguards, and " Urges _ all nations, and particularly those constituting the minority in the Commission for Conventional Armaments, to co-' operate to the utmost of their power in the attainment of the above-mentioned objectives." The delegate of China, in subscribing to the general criticisms of the Soviet proposal, referred to the particular difficulties which rendered it unacceptable to his Government. At the end of the war the Chinese Government had begun the demobilization of its army to enable the reconstruction of the country. However, the Communists, who had a large army, had rebelled against the lawful Government. China was therefore in the midst of a struggle to preserve its national unity, and could not consider any scheme of disarmament which did not give due consideration to the requirements of domestic security. The armed forces of China, however, were not a factor in the present world tension. During the course of the debate a number of amendments and alternative proposals were brought forward, including a Syrian resolution calling for the continuance of the work of the Commission for Conventional Armaments. A sub-committee of eleven 1 was established to examine all the proposals and submit an appropriate draft to the Committee.
1 Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, El Salvador, France, Lebanon, Poland, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and United States.