Freedom From War

The United States Program for General

and Complete Disarmament in a Peaceful World

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

DEPARTMENT OF STATE PUBLICATION 7277

Disarmament Series 5

Released September 1961

Office of Public Services

BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

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INTRODUCTION

The revolutionary development of modern weapons within a world

divided by serious ideological differences has produced a crisis in

human history. In order to overcome the danger of nuclear war now

confronting mankind, the United States has introduced at the

Sixteenth General Assembly of the United Nations a Program for

General and Complete Disarmament in a Peaceful World.

This new program provides for the progressive reduction of the

war-making capabilities of nations and the simultaneous

strengthening of international institutions to settle disputes and

maintain the peace. It sets forth a series of comprehensive

measures which can and should be taken in order to bring about a

world in which there will be freedom from war and security for all

states. It is based on three principles deemed essential to the

achievement of practical progress in the disarmament field:

First, there must be immediate disarmament action:

A strenuous and uninterrupted effort must be made toward the goal

of general and complete disarmament; at the same time, it is

important that specific measures be put into effect as soon as

possible.

Second, all disarmament obligations must be subject to effective

international controls:

The control organization must have the manpower, facilities, and

effectiveness to assure that limitations or reductions take place as

agreed. It must also be able to certify to all states that retained

forces and armaments do not exceed those permitted at any stage

of the disarmament process.

Third, adequate peace-keeping machinery must be established:

There is an inseparable relationship between the scaling down of

national armaments on the one hand and the building up of

international peace-keeping machinery and institutions on the

other. Nations are unlikely to shed their means of self-protection in

the absence of alternative ways to safeguard their legitimate

interests. This can only be achieved through the progressive

strengthening of international institutions under the United Nations

and by creating a United Nations Peace Force to enforce the peace

as the disarmament process proceeds.

There follows a summary of the principal provisions of the United

States Program for General and Complete Disarmament in a

Peaceful World. The full text of the program is contained in an

appendix to this pamphlet.

FREEDOM FROM WAR

THE UNITED STATES PROGRAM FOR GENERAL

AND COMPLETE DISARMAMENT IN A PEACEFUL WORLD

SUMMARY

DISARMAMENT GOAL AND OBJECTIVES

The over-all goal of the United States is a free, secure, and

peaceful world of independent states adhering to common

standards of justice and international conduct and subjecting the

use of force to the rule of law; a world which has achieved general

and complete disarmament under effective international control;

and a world in which adjustment to change takes place in

accordance with the principles of the United Nations.

In order to make possible the achievement of that goal, the

program sets forth the following specific objectives toward which

nations should direct their efforts:

• The disbanding of all national armed forces and the prohibition of their

reestablishment in any form whatsoever other than those required to

preserve internal order and for contributions to a United Nations Peace

Force;

• The elimination from national arsenals of all armaments, including all

weapons of mass destruction and the means for their delivery, other than

those required for a United Nations Peace Force and for maintaining

internal order;

• The institution of effective means for the enforcement of international

agreements, for the settlement of disputes, and for the maintenance of

peace in accordance with the principles of the United Nations;

• The establishment and effective operation of an International

Disarmament Organization within the framework of the United Nations to

insure compliance at all times with all disarmament obligations.

TASK OF NEGOTIATING STATES

The negotiating states are called upon to develop the program into

a detailed plan for general and complete disarmament and to

continue their efforts without interruption until the whole program

has been achieved. To this end, they are to seek the widest

possible area of agreement at the earliest possible date. At the

same time, and without prejudice to progress on the disarmament

program, they are to seek agreement on those immediate

measures that would contribute to the common security of nations

and that could facilitate and form part of the total program.

GOVERNING PRINCIPLES

The program sets forth a series of general principles to guide the

negotiating states in their work. These make clear that:

• As states relinquish their arms, the United Nations must be progressively

strengthened in order to improve its capacity to assure international

security and the peaceful settlement of disputes;

• Disarmament must proceed as rapidly as possible, until it is completed, in

stages containing balanced, phased, and safeguarded measures;

• Each measure and stage should be carried out in an agreed period of

time, with transition from one stage to the next to take place as soon as all

measures in the preceding stage have been carried out and verified and

as soon as necessary arrangements for verification of the next stage have

been made;

• Inspection and verification must establish both that nations carry out

scheduled limitations or reductions and that they do not retain armed

forces and armaments in excess of those permitted at any stage of the

disarmament process; and

• Disarmament must take place in a manner that will not affect adversely

the security of any state.

DISARMAMENT STAGES

The program provides for progressive disarmament steps to take

place in three stages and for the simultaneous strengthening of

international institutions.

FIRST STAGE

The first stage contains measures which would significantly reduce

the capabilities of nations to wage aggressive war. Implementation

of this stage would mean that:

• The nuclear threat would be reduced:

All states would have adhered to a treaty effectively prohibiting the testing

of nuclear weapons.

The production of fissionable materials for use in weapons would be

stopped and quantities of such materials from past production would be

converted to non-weapons uses.

States owning nuclear weapons would not relinquish control of such

weapons to any nation not owning them and would not transmit to any

such nation information or material necessary for their manufacture.

States not owning nuclear weapons would not manufacture them or

attempt to obtain control of such weapons belonging to other states.

A Commission of Experts would be established to report on the feasibility

and means for the verified reduction and eventual elimination of nuclear

weapons stockpiles.

• Strategic delivery vehicles would be reduced:

Strategic nuclear weapons delivery vehicles of specified categories and

weapons designed to counter such vehicles would be reduced to agreed

levels by equitable and balanced steps; their production would be

discontinued or limited; their testing would be limited or halted.

• Arms and armed forces would be reduced:

The armed forces of the United States and the Soviet Union would be

limited to 2.1 million men each (with appropriate levels not exceeding that

amount for other militarily significant states); levels of armaments would

be correspondingly reduced and their production would be limited.

An Experts Commission would be established to examine and report on

the feasibility and means of accomplishing verifiable reduction and

eventual elimination of all chemical, biological and radiological weapons.

• Peaceful use of outer space would be promoted:

The placing in orbit or stationing in outer space of weapons capable of

producing mass destruction would be prohibited.

States would give advance notification of space vehicle and missile

launchings.

• U.N. peace-keeping powers would be strengthened:

Measures would be taken to develop and strengthen United Nations

arrangements for arbitration, for the development of international law, and

for the establishment in Stage II of a permanent U.N. Peace Force.

• An International Disarmament Organization would be established for

effective verification of the disarmament program:

Its functions would be expanded progressively as disarmament proceeds.

It would certify to all states that agreed reductions have taken place and

that retained forces and armaments do not exceed permitted levels.

It would determine the transition from one stage to the next.

• States would be committed to other measures to reduce international

tension and to protect against the chance of war by accident,

miscalculation, or surprise attack:

States would be committed to refrain from the threat or use of any

type of armed force contrary to the principles of the U.N. Charter

and to refrain from indirect aggression and subversion against any

country.

A U.N. peace observation group would be available to investigate

any situation which might constitute a threat to or breach of the

peace.

States would be committed to give advance notice of major military

movements which might cause alarm; observation posts would be

established to report on concentrations and movements of military

forces.

SECOND STAGE

The second stage contains a series of measures which would bring

within sight a world in which there would be freedom from war.

Implementation of all measures in the second stage would mean:

• Further substantial reductions in the armed forces, armaments, and

military establishments of states, including strategic nuclear weapons

delivery vehicles and countering weapons;

• Further development of methods for the peaceful settlement of disputes

under the United Nations;

• Establishment of a permanent international peace force within the United

Nations;

• Depending on the findings of an Experts Commission, a halt in the

production of chemical, bacteriological and radiological weapons and a

reduction of existing stocks or their conversion to peaceful uses;

• On the basis of the findings of an Experts Commission, a reduction of

stocks of nuclear weapons;

• The dismantling or the conversion to peaceful uses of certain military

bases and facilities wherever located; and

• The strengthening and enlargement of the International Disarmament

Organization to enable it to verify the steps taken in Stage II and to

determine the transition to Stage III.

THIRD STAGE

During the third stage of the program, the states of the world,

building on the experience and confidence gained in successfully

implementing the measures of the first two stages, would take final

steps toward the goal of a world in which:

• States would retain only those forces, non-nuclear armaments, and

establishments required for the purpose of maintaining internal order; they

would also support and provide agreed manpower for a U.N. Peace Force.

• The U.N. Peace Force, equipped with agreed types and quantities of

armaments, would be fully functioning.

• The manufacture of armaments would be prohibited except for those of

agreed types and quantities to be used by the U.N. Peace Force and

those required to maintain internal order. All other armaments would be

destroyed or converted to peaceful purposes.

• The peace-keeping capabilities of the United Nations would be sufficiently

strong and the obligations of all states under such arrangements

sufficiently far-reaching as to assure peace and the just settlement of

differences in a disarmed world.

Appendix

DECLARATION ON DISARMAMENT

THE UNITED STATES PROGRAM FOR GENERAL

AND COMPLETE DISARMAMENT IN A PEACEFUL WORLD

The Nations of the world,

Conscious of the crisis in human history produced by the revolutionary

development of modern weapons within a world divided by serious ideological

differences;

Determined to save present and succeeding generations from the scourge of war

and the dangers and burdens of the arms race and to create conditions in which

all peoples can strive freely and peacefully to fulfill their basic aspirations;

Declare their goal to be: A free, secure, and peaceful world of independent states

adhering to common standards of justice and international conduct and

subjecting the use of force to the rule of law; a world where adjustment to change

takes place in accordance with the principles of the United Nations; a world

where there shall be a permanent state of general and complete disarmament

under effective international control and where the resources of nations shall be

devoted to man's material, cultural, and spiritual advance;

Set forth as the objectives of a program of general and complete disarmament in

a peaceful world:

(a) The disbanding of all national armed forces and the prohibition

of their reestablishment in any form whatsoever other than those

required to preserve internal order and for contributions to a United

Nations Peace Force;

(b) The elimination from national arsenals of all armaments,

including all weapons of mass destruction and the means for their

delivery, other than those required for a United Nations Peace

Force and for maintaining internal order;

Disarmament Organization within the framework of the United

Nations to ensure compliance at all times with all disarmament

obligations;

(d) The institution of effective means for the enforcement of

international agreements, for the settlement of disputes, and for the

maintenance of peace in accordance with the principles of the

United Nations.

Call on the negotiating states:

(a) To develop the outline program set forth below into an agreed

plan for general and complete disarmament and to continue their

efforts without interruption until the whole program has been

achieved;

(b) To this end to seek to attain the widest possible area of

agreement at the earliest possible date;

disarmament program --- agreement on those immediate measures

that would contribute to the common security of nations and that

could facilitate and form a part of that program.

Affirm that disarmament negotiations should be guided by the following

principles:

(a) Disarmament shall take place as rapidly as possible until it is

completed in stages containing balanced, phased and safeguarded

measures, with each measure and stage to be carried out in an

agreed period of time.

(b) Compliance with all disarmament obligations shall be effectively

verified from their entry into force. Verification arrangements shall

be instituted progressively and in such a manner as to verify not

only that agreed limitations or reductions take place but also that

retained armed forces and armaments do not exceed agreed levels

at any stage.

adversely the security of any state, whether or not a party to an

international agreement or treaty.

(d) As states relinquish their arms, the United Nations shall be

progressively strengthened in order to improve its capacity to

assure international security and the peaceful settlement of

differences as well as to facilitate the development of international

cooperation in common tasks for the benefit of mankind.

(e) Transition from one stage of disarmament to the next shall take

place as soon as all the measures in the preceding stage have

been carried out and effective verification is continuing and as soon

as the arrangements that have been agreed to be necessary for the

next stage have been instituted.

Agree upon the following outline program for achieving general and complete

disarmament:

STAGE I

A. To Establish an International Disarmament Organization:

(a) An International Disarmament Organization (IDO) shall be

established within the framework of the United Nations upon entry

into force of the agreement. Its functions shall be expanded

progressively as required for the effective verification of the

disarmament program.

(b) The IDO shall have: (1) a General Conference of all the parties;

(2) a Commission consisting of representatives of all the major

powers as permanent members and certain other states on a

rotating basis; and (3) an Administrator who will administer the

Organization subject to the direction of the Commission and who

will have the authority, staff, and finances adequate to assure

effective impartial implementation of the functions of the

Organization.

undertaken by verifying the execution of measures agreed upon;

(2) assist the states in developing the details of agreed further

verification and disarmament measures; (3) provide for the

establishment of such bodies as may be necessary for working out

the details of further measures provided for in the program and for

such other expert study groups as may be required to give

continuous study to the problems of disarmament; (4) receive

reports on the progress of disarmament and verification

arrangements and determine the transition from one stage to the

next.

B. To Reduce Armed Forces and Armaments:

(a) Force levels shall be limited to 2.1 million each for the U.S. and

U.S.S.R. and to appropriate levels not exceeding 2.1 million each

for all other militarily significant states. Reductions to the agreed

levels will proceed by equitable, proportionate, and verified steps.

(b) Levels of armaments of prescribed types shall be reduced by

equitable and balanced steps. The reductions shall be

accomplished by transfers of armaments to depots supervised by

the IDO. When, at specified periods during the Stage I reduction

process, the states party to the agreement have agreed that the

armaments and armed forces are at prescribed levels, the

armaments in depots shall be destroyed or converted to peaceful

uses.

(d) A Chemical, Biological, Radiological (CBR) Experts Commission

shall be established within the IDO for the purpose of examining

and reporting on the feasibility and means for accomplishing the

verifiable reduction and eventual elimination of CBR weapons

stockpiles and the halting of their production.

C. To Contain and Reduce the Nuclear Threat:

(a) States that have not acceded to a treaty effectively prohibiting

the testing of nuclear weapons shall do so.

(b) The production of fissionable materials for use in weapons shall

be stopped.

in weapons, agreed initial quantities of fissionable materials from

past production shall be transferred to non-weapons purposes.

(d) Any fissionable materials transferred between countries for

peaceful uses of nuclear energy shall be subject to appropriate

safeguards to be developed in agreement with the IAEA.

(e) States owning nuclear weapons shall not relinquish control of

such weapons to any nation not owning them and shall not transmit

to any such nation information or material necessary for their

manufacture. States not owning nuclear weapons shall not

manufacture such weapons, attempt to obtain control of such

weapons belonging to other states, or seek or receive information

or materials necessary for their manufacture.

(f) A Nuclear Experts Commission consisting of representatives of

the nuclear states shall be established within the IDO for the

purpose of examining and reporting on the feasibility and means for

accomplishing the verified reduction and eventual elimination of

nuclear weapons stockpiles.

D. To Reduce Strategic Nuclear Weapons Delivery Vehicles:

(a) Strategic nuclear weapons delivery vehicles in specified

categories and agreed types of weapons designed to counter such

vehicles shall be reduced to agreed levels by equitable and

balanced steps. The reduction shall be accomplished in each step

by transfers to depots supervised by the IDO of vehicles that are in

excess of levels agreed upon for each step. At specified periods

during the Stage I reduction process, the vehicles that have been

placed under supervision of the IDO shall be destroyed or

converted to peaceful uses.

(b) Production of agreed categories of strategic nuclear weapons

delivery vehicles and agreed types of weapons designed to counter

such vehicles shall be discontinued or limited.

delivery vehicles and agreed types of weapons designed to counter

such vehicles shall be limited or halted.

E. To Promote the Peaceful Use of Outer Space:

(a) The placing into orbit or stationing in outer space of weapons

capable c,f producing mass destruction shall be prohibited.

(b) States shall give advance notification to participating states and

to the IDO of launchings of space vehicles and missiles, together

with the track of the vehicle.

F. To Reduce the Risks of War by Accident, Miscalculation, and Surprise

Attack:

(a) States shall give advance notification to the participating states

and to the IDO of major military movements and maneuvers, on a

scale as may be agreed, which might give rise to misinterpretation

or cause alarm and induce countermeasures. The notification shall

include the geographic areas to be used and the nature, scale and

time span of the event.

(b) There shall be established observation posts at such locations

as major ports, railway centers, motor highways, and air bases to

report on concentrations and movements of military forces.

arrangements to reduce the danger of surprise attack as may be

agreed.

(d) An international commission shall be established immediately

within the IDO to examine and make recommendations on the

possibility of further measures to reduce the risks of nuclear war by

accident, miscalculation, or failure of communication.

G. To Keep the Peace:

(a) States shall reaffirm their obligations under the U.N. Charter to

refrain from the threat or use of any type of armed force--including

nuclear, conventional, or CBR--contrary to the principles of the U.N.

Charter.

(b) States shall agree to refrain from indirect aggression and

subversion against any country.

settlement of disputes and shall seek within the United Nations

further arrangements for the peaceful settlement of international

disputes and for the codification and progressive development of

international law.

(d) States shall develop arrangements in Stage I for the

establishment in Stage II of a U.N. Peace Force.

(e) A U.N. peace observation group shall be staffed with a standing

cadre of observers who could be dispatched to investigate any

situation which might constitute a threat to or breach of the peace.

STAGE II

A. International Disarmament Organization:

The powers and responsibilities of the IDO shall be progressively

enlarged in order to give it the capabilities to verify the measures

undertaken in Stage II.

B. To Further Reduce Armed Forces and Armaments:

(a) Levels of forces for the U.S., U.S.S.R., and other militarily

significant states shall be further reduced by substantial amounts to

agreed levels in equitable and balanced steps.

(b) Levels of armaments of prescribed types shall be further

reduced by equitable and balanced steps. The reduction shall be

accomplished by transfers of armaments to depots supervised by

the IDO. When, at specified periods during the Stage II reduction

process, the parties have agreed that the armaments and armed

forces are at prescribed levels, the armaments in depots shall be

destroyed or converted to peaceful uses.

armaments.

(d) Agreed military bases and facilities wherever they are located

shall be dismantled or converted to peaceful uses.

(e) Depending upon the findings of the Experts Commission on

CBR weapons, the production of CBR weapons shall be halted,

existing stocks progressively reduced, and the resulting excess

quantities destroyed or converted to peaceful uses.

C. To Further Reduce the Nuclear Threat:

Stocks of nuclear weapons shall be progressively reduced to the

minimum levels which can be agreed upon as a result of the

findings of the Nuclear Experts Commission; the resulting excess of

fissionable material shall be transferred to peaceful purposes.

D. To Further Reduce Strategic Nuclear Weapons Delivery Vehicles:

Further reductions in the stocks of strategic nuclear weapons

delivery vehicles and agreed types of weapons designed to counter

such vehicles shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure

outlined in Stage I.

E. To Keep the Peace:

During Stage II, states shall develop further the peace-keeping

processes of the United Nations, to the end that the United Nations

can effectively in Stage III deter or suppress any threat or use of

force in violation of the purposes and principles of the United

Nations:

(a) States shall agree upon strengthening the structure, authority,

and operation of the United Nations so as to assure that the United

Nations will be able effectively to protect states against threats to or

breaches of the peace.

(b) The U.N. Peace Force shall be established and progressively

strengthened.

developments in rules of international conduct and in processes for

peaceful settlement of disputes and differences.

STAGE III

By the time Stage II has been completed, the confidence produced through a

verified disarmament program, the acceptance of rules of peaceful international

behavior, and the development of strengthened international peace-keeping

processes within the framework of the U.N. should have reached a point where

the states of the world can move forward to Stage III. In Stage III progressive

controlled disarmament and continuously developing principles and procedures

of international law would proceed to a point where no state would have the

military power to challenge the progressively strengthened U.N. Peace Force and

all international disputes would be settled according to the agreed principles of

international conduct.

The progressive steps to be taken during the final phase of the disarmament

program would be directed toward the attainment of a world in which:

(a) States would retain only those forces, non-nuclear armaments,

and establishments required for the purpose of maintaining internal

order; they would also support and provide agreed manpower for a

U.N Peace Force.

(b) The U.N. Peace Force, equipped with agreed types and

quantities of armaments, would be fully functioning.

those of agreed types and quantities to be used by the U.N. Peace

Force and those required to maintain internal order. All other

armaments would be destroyed or converted to peaceful purposes.

(d) The peace-keeping capabilities of the United Nations would be

sufficiently strong and the obligations of all states under such

arrangements sufficiently far-reaching as to assure peace and the

just settlement of differences in a disarmed world.

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1961 O 609147

Freedom From War

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Freedom From War

Freedom From War