of weapons effects and civil defense protection measures must be a necessary duty of our government.

43. Inevitably, a certain element of risk is involved in the testing of nuclear weapons, just as there is some risk in manufacturing conventional explosives or in transporting inflammable substances such as oil or gasoline on our streets and highways. The degree of risk must be balanced against the great importance of the test programs to the security of the nation and of the free world. However, the degree of hazard can be evaluated with considerable accuracy and test conditions can be controlled to hold it to a minimum. None of the extensive data collected from all tests shows that residual radioactivity is being concentrated in dangerous amounts anywhere in the world outside the testing areas.

44. In the event of war involving the use of atomic weapons, the fallout from large nuclear bombs exploded on or near the surface would create serious hazards to civilian populations in large areas outside the target zones. However, as mentioned in the foregoing Report, there are many simple and highly effective precautionary measures which must be taken by individuals to reduce casualties to a minimum outside the immediate area of complete or near-complete destruction by blast and heat. Many of these protective measures, such as shelter and decontamination procedures, have been detailed by the Federal Civil Defense Administration.

47. DISARMAMENT PROPOSED: FINAL COMMUNIQUE OF ASIANAFRICAN CONFERENCE, APRIL 24, 1955 (EXCERPT) 1

1

The conference considered that disarmament and the prohibition of production, experimentation and use of nuclear and thermonuclear weapons of war are imperative to save mankind and civilization from the fear and prospect of wholesale destruction.

It considered that the nations of Asia and Africa assembled here have a duty toward humanity and civilization to proclaim their support for the prohibition of these weapons and to appeal to nations principally concerned and to world opinion to bring about such disarmament and prohibition.

The conference considered that effective international control should be established and maintained to implement such prohibition and that speedy and determined efforts should be made to this end. Pending the total prohibition of the manufacture of nuclear and thermonuclear weapons, this conference appealed to all the powers concerned to reach agreement to suspend experiments with such

weapons.

The conference declared that universal disarmament is an absolute necessity for the preservation of peace and requested the United Nations to continue its efforts and appealed to all concerned speedily to bring about the regulation, limitation, control and reduction of all armed forces and armaments including the prohibition of the production, experimentation and use of all weapons of mass destruction and to establish effective international control to this end.

1 New York Times, April 25, 1955.

48. DATA ON ATOMIC RADIATION: STATEMENT BY THE UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS (LODGE), JUNE 21, 1955 1

Although the best scientific information known to us shows that properly safeguarded nuclear testing, in contrast with nuclear warfare, is not a threat to human health, there has been concern in several parts of the world over the problem of radiation from atomic tests and of its effect upon human health and safety. There is already a large body of scientific data in existence relating to this question and we in the United States are making intensive studies of it. These studies must and will continue.

But the data which already exist and which will become available in the future, both in the United States of America and in other countries, have not been collated. We, therefore, propose that these data from all countries should be assembled, so that all nations can be satisfied that humanity is not endangered by these tests.

We believe that the United Nations can perform an important service in undertaking to bring this about. The best place to assemble all available information is the United Nations. We think that the next General Assembly should establish a procedure to receive and assemble radiological information collected by the various states, as well as the results of national studies of radiation effects on human health and safety.

The collation by the United Nations of scientific reports and data on radiation levels could set at rest unjustified fears, combat sensational distortion in the light of truth, and lead to humanity's learning how to deal best with the problems of atomic radiation.

49. EXCERPT FROM TRANSCRIPT OF UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE DULLES' NEWS CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 29, 1955

Q. Mr. Secretary, would you care to comment on the Soviet radio announcement this morning that Russia is ready to stop nuclear tests if Britain will do the same?

A. I have just seen the report of that. I think it just came on the ticker a few minutes ago. The question as to whether or not a suspension of nuclear testing could be made dependable and in the interests of the United States is a matter which has been under consideration and study by this Government for a great many months. So far, we have not found any formula which we felt could meet the two specifications I indicated of being both dependable and in the interests of the United States. And when I say "the United States," I refer not only to our national interest but the interest that we have in protecting peace and freedom in the world. So, as I say, the topic is one which has been long considered. It involves a great many highly technical elements. And, so far, the United States has not come to any positive conclusion in the matter.

1 U. S./U. N. press release 2179 dated June 22.

* Department of State Bulletin, December 12, 1955.

50. EFFECTS OF ATOMIC RADIATION: RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, DECEMBER 3, 19551 The General Assembly,

Recognizing the importance of, and the widespread attention being given to, problems relating to the effects of ionizing radiation upon man and his environment,

Believing that the widest distribution should be given to all available scientific data on the short-term and long-term effects upon man and his environment of ionizing radiation, including radiation levels and radio-active "fallout",

Noting that studies of this problem are being conducted in various countries,

Believing that the peoples of the world should be more fully informed on this subject,

1. Establishes a scientific Committee consisting of Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, France. India, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and requests the Governments of these countries each to designate one scientist, with alternates and consultants as appropriate, to be its representative on this Committee; 2. Requests the Committee:

(a) To receive and assemble in an appropriate and useful form the following radiological information furnished by States Members of the United Nations or members of the specialized agencies

(i) reports on observed levels of ionizing radiation and radio-activity in the environment;

(ii) reports on scientific observations and experiments relevant to the effects of ionizing radiation upon man and his environment already under way or later undertaken by national scientific bodies or by authorities of national Governments;

(b) To recommend uniform standards with respect to procedures for sample collection and instrumentation, and radiation counting procedures to be used in analyses of samples;

(c) To compile and assemble in an integrated manner the various reports, referred to in sub-paragraph (a) (i) above, on observed radiological levels;

(d) To review and collate national reports, referred to in subparagraph (a) (ii) above, evaluating each report to determine its usefulness for the purposes of the Committee;

(e) To make yearly progress reports and to develop by 1 July 1958, or earlier if the assembled facts warrant, a summary of the reports received on radiation levels and radiation effects on man and his environment together with the evaluations provided for in sub-paragraph (d) above and indications of research projects which might require further study;

(f) To transmit from time to time, as it deems appropriate, the documents and evaluations referred to above to the SecretaryGeneral for publication and dissemination to States Members of the United Nations or members of the specialized agencies;

1 UN Document A/Res/335, 5 December 1955.

3. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Committee with appropriate assistance in organizing and carrying on its work, and to provide a secretary of the Committee;

4. Calls upon all concerned to co-operate in making available reports and studies relating to the short-term and long-term effects of ionizing radiation upon man and his environment and radiological data collected by them;

5. Requests the specialized agencies to concert with the Committee concerning any work they may be doing or contemplating within the sphere of the Committee's terms of reference to assure proper co-ordination;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to invite the Government of Japan to nominate a scientist, with alternatives and consultants as appropriate, to be its representative on the Committee;

7. Decides to transmit to the Committee the records of the proceedings of the General Assembly on the present item.

(2) Inspection, Control, and Phasing in Disarmament

[Negotiations during the past decade suggest that the establishment of a disarmament system hinges largely on the issues of inspection, control, and phasing. Valuable experience was gained in the League of Nations on these issues, particularly on the exchange of military information as a step in control. In the United Nations two Commissions, on Conventional Armaments and Atomic Energy, developed inspection and control proposals relating to the two types of armaments. In 1952 a single Disarmament Commission was formed and subsequent proposals for the most part related to both types of weapons. Scientific and political developments outmoded some of the earlier proposals, particularly those relating to nuclear weapons. In the fall of 1955 the United States placed reservations on earlier propositions, pending review. At the present time the Western Powers place emphasis on confidence-building measures by seeking to prevent sudden and massive aggression through mutual inspection. Meantime, current Soviet proposals bave been criticized by the Western Powers largely for failing to provide sufficient safeguards.]

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

51. THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON ARMAMENTS UNDER THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS: REVIEW BY THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT, AUGUST 3, 1951 1

I. THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION UNDER THE COVENANT OF THE

LEAGUE

A. THE COVENANT PROVISION CONCERNING THE EXCHANGE OF

INFORMATION

1. Article 8 of the Covenant which was the corner stone on which the League's activity in the field of disarmament was based, included only one immediately obligatory provision, paragraph 6, which read as follows:

'UN Document, A/Ac.50/3, Part III, 3 August 1951.

"The Members of the League undertake to interchange full and frank information as to the scale of their armaments, their military, naval and air programmes and the condition of such of their industries as are adaptable to warlike purposes."

B. FIRST QUESTIONNAIRE ON ARMAMENTS, 1920

2. The first resolution adopted by the Council with regard to the exchange of military information was that of 28 October 1920, by which the Council instructed the Permanent Advisory Commission for Military, Naval and Air Questions to examine practical methods for obtaining information regarding armaments of the Members of the League.

3. The Permanent Advisory Commission in 1920 drafted a comprehensive questionnaire covering the following items:

"A. ESTABLISHMENTS

"(1) Strength of an annual levy (called up and serving). "(2) Number of men serving with the colours in a given year. "(3) Period of service (active, reserve, 3rd line troops). "(4) The peace establishments by formations and unitsnumber of such formations and units.

"(5) The war establishments by formations and units-number of such formations and units.

"(6) The ratio of the peace establishment to the war establishment.

"(7) The number of classes required to raise the peace establishment to war establishment.

"(8) The number of men and the number of annual levies (trained and untrained) available after the army has been placed on a war footing.

"In the case of States which maintain a colonial army, the figures for this and the Home Army should be given separately. “In (1), (2), (5) and (8) the proportion of the establishment to the total population should be given.

"B. WAR MATERIAL

"(1) A schedule of war material and munitions should be submitted, showing what amount of war material must be kept in store in peace, in order to enable the force mentioned in A (5) to be maintained in the field for 6 months.

"(2) State Government factories producing war material in peace time.

"(3) What proportion of the anticipated monthly needs of the army can these turn out?

"(4) State privately-owned factories producing war material in peacetime.

(5) What proportion of anticipated monthly needs of the army can these turn out?

"(6) What proportion of war material and munitions must be obtained from outside?