DISARMAMENT COMMISSION WORKING PAPER SETTING FORTH PROPOSALS FOR FIXING NUMERICAL LIMITATION OF ALL ARMED FORCES. STATEMENT OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF FRANCE, THE UNITED KINGDOM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000600010051-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 21, 2003
• Sequence Number: 51
• Content Type: PAPER

Approved For Release 2003/06/16 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R000600010051-1
Working Paper Setting Forth Proposals
for Fixing Numerical Limitation of All Armed Forces
Statement of the Representatives of
France, the United Kingdom, and the
United States.
The Delegations of France, the United Kingdom and the United
States which sponsored the Resolution of the General Assembly establish-
ing the Disarmament C6mmission are today submitting the attached working
proposals for the determination of overall numerical limitations on all
armed forces.
In fixing numerical limitations on the armed forces of states
a number of factors, demographic, geographic, political and economic,
have to be considered. The Charter responsibilities of states and the
need of balanced power-relationships among states must also be taken
into account. There is no one automatic formula which can inflexibly be
applied in all cases. The objective must be to reduce the possibility
and the fear of successful aggression and to avoid a disequilibrium of
power dangerous to international peace and security.
The proposals suggest that there should be fixed numerical
ceilings for China, France, the U.S.S.R, the United Kingdom and the
United States. A ceiling between 1,000,000 and 1,500,000 is suggested
for the U.S.S.R, the United States and China, while a ceiling between
700,000 and 800,000 is suggested for the United Kingdom and France.
The proposals call for agreed maximum ceilings for all other
states having substantial armed forces to be fixed in relation to the
ceilings agreed upon for the Five Powers. Such ceilings should be fixed
with a vew to avoiding a disequilibrium of power dangerous to inter-
national peace and security in any area of the world, thus reducing the
danger of war. The ceilings would normally be less than one percent of
the population and should be less than current levels, except in very
special circumstances.
The proposals envisage substantial and balanced reductions in
armed forces. Agreement on such reductions should greatly lessen the
likelihood and the fear of successful aggression and should facilitate
agreement on other essential parts of a comprehensive disarmament program
including the elimination of all major weapons adaptable to mass
destruction and the effective international control of atomic energy to
insure the prohibition of atomic weapons and the use of atomic energy for
peaceful purposes only.
State Dept. review completed
Approved For Release 2003/06/16: CIA-RDP80BO1676R000600010051-1
 Approved For Release 2003/06/16 : CIA-RDP80B01676R000600010051-1
WORKING PAPER SETTING FORTH PROPOSALS FOR
FIXING NUMERICAL LIMITATION OF ALL ARMED FORCES,
SUBMITTED BY THE REPRESENTATIVES OF FRANC E. THE
UNITED KINGDOM A __ THE UNITED STATES
A. Introduction
1. Paragraph 3 of the General Assembly Resolution of
January 11, 1952
"Directs the Disarmament Commission to prepare
proposals to be embodied in a draft treaty (or treaties)
for the regulation, limitation and balanced reduction
of all armed forces and all armaments, for the elimina-
tion of all major weapons adaptable to mass destruc-
tion, and for the effective international control of
atomic energy to ensure the prohibition of atomic
weapons and the use of atomic energy for peaceful
purposes only."
2. Paragraph 6 of the Resolution
"Directs the Commission, in working out plans
for the regulation, limitation and balanced reduction
of all armed forces and all armaments;
(a) To determine how overall limits and restric-
tions on all armed forces and'all armaments can be
calculated and fixed;
(b) To consider methods according to which
States can agree by negotiation among themselves, under
the auspices of the Commission, concerning the deter-
mination of the overall limits and restructions
referred to in sub-paragraph (a) above and the
albcation within their respective national military
establishments of the permitted national armed forces
and armaments."
3. The present working paper presents a plan for the
determination of overall numerical. limitations on the size
of the armed forces of states. Obviously some overall limi-
tations on the size of the armed forces of states are an
essential part of any comprehensive plan for the regulation,
limitation and balanced reduction of armed forces and
armaments. The working paper is not intended to exclude,
but to facilitate the development of other essential
components which must be included in what the preamble of
the General Assembly Resolution refers to as "comprehensive
and co-ordinated plans, under international control, for the
regulation, limitation. and balanced reduction of all armed
forces and armaments, for the elimination of all major
weapons adaptable to mass destruction, and for the effective
control of atomic energy to ensure the prdnibition of atomic
weapons and the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes"
including "safeguards that will ensure the compliance of all ...
nations hose military resources are such that their failure
to accep would endanger the syste~." Proposals have
already been submitted on certain other essential components,
i.e., the control of atomic energy and disclosure and veri-
fication of all armed forces and armaments. By submitting
this working paper and focusing attention on another compo-
nent we hope to facilitate progress toward an agreed compre-
hensive program.
MORE
Approved For Release 2003/06/16 : CIA-RDP80B01676R000600010051-1
 Approved For Release 2003/06/16 : CIA-RDP80B01676R000600010051-1
B. Standards for Determining Numerical Limitations of
All Armed Forces
4. In fixing numerical limitations on the armed forces of
states a number of factors, demographic, geographic, political
and economic, have to be considered. The Charter responsibilities
of states and the need of balanced power-relationships among
states must also be taken into account. There is no one
automatic formula which can inflexibly be applied in all cases.
The objective must be to reduce the possibility and the fear
of successful aggression and to avoid a disequilibrium of
power dangerous to international peace and security.
5. The following working formula is suggested as a basis
of discussion.
a. There should be fixed numerical ceilings for
China, France, the USSR, the UK, and the U,,S. which
should be worked out with a view to avoiding a
disequilibrium of power dangerous to international
peace and security among themselves or with other
states and thus reducing the danger of war. It is
tentatively suggested that the maximum ceilings for
the USSR, the US and China should be the same and fixed
at, say, between 1,000,000 and 1,500,000 and the
maximum ceilings for the United Kingdom and France
should be the same and fixed at, say, between 700,000
and 800,000.
b. For all other states having substantial armed
forces there should be agreednxaximum ceilings fixed in
relation to the ceilings agreed upon for the Five
Powers. Such ceilings should be fixed with a view
to avoiding a disequilibrium of power dangerous to
international peace and security in any area of the
world and thus reducing the danger of war. The
ceilings would normally be less than one percent of
the population. Moreover, they should be less than
current levels except in very special circumstances.
C. Significance of Overall Numerical Limitations
6. While a nations armed forces are not the only measure
of its armed strength, and other elements of armed strength
will have to be considered in any comprehensive program for
the balanced reduction of armed forces and armaments, neverthe-
less a numerical limitation on armed forces is a major element
in any such program for the following reasons:
a. All armaments programs depend upon manpower and
therefore must to a greater or less degree be affected
by limitations on permitted armed forces.
b. A substantial reduction of armed forces as here
suggested in itself would tend to reduce the likelihood
of successful aggression.
c. Agreement on a substantial and balanced reduction
of armed forces minimizing the likelihood and fear of
successful aggression should greatly facilitate
agreement reducing and restricting the armaments
supporting these armed forces.
Approved For Release 2003/06/16 : CIA-RDP80B01676R000600010051-1
 Approved For Release 2003/06/16 : CIA-RDP80B01676R000600010051-1
-3-
D. Im2lementation of Proposals for Numerical Limitations
of A Arme Forces
7. In determining the numbers in the armed forces, all
kinds of armed forces, including para-military and security
forces must be included.
8. Adequate provision must be made to insure that the
maximum limitation on armed forces is not circumvented throL*gh
building up large forces of trained reserves or militarily
trained police,
9. This system must be accepted by all states, whether or
not Members of the United Nations, whose military resources
are such that their failure to accept would enda.iger the
system.
10. There should be adequate safeguards throughout the
process of reduction to ensure that limitations are put into
effect and observed as agreed and that violations can be
promptly detected.
11. The implementation of the reductions should be
closely related to progress in connection with other phases of
the program for. regulation, limitation and balanced reduction
of armed forces and armaments, such as the control of atomic
energy and the system of progressive and continuing disclosure
and verification.
12. The reduction should be carried through in a manner
and in accordance with a time schedule prescribed by the inter-
national control organ and should be completed within the
shortest feasible time after its commencement.
13. In the future, further numerical limitation of per-
mitted armed forces would be contem lated as substantial
progress is achieved toward the easing of international tensions,
and the agreed ceilings would be subject to review at stated
intervals.
l4. The proposed limitations -- including their relation-
ship to other components of the program for regulation,
limitation and baler.:ed reduction of armed forces and armaments
and the elimination of weapons adaptable to mass destruction --
should be comprehended within the treaty or treaties required
under Paragraph 3 of the General Assembly Resolution of
January 11, 1952.
Approved For Release 2003/06/16 : CIA-RDP80B01676R000600010051-1