SECRET

At the meeting of the United States Secretary of State and the ambassadors of the four other Western nations on January 18, it was agreed that in the discussions which will begin January 25 the five Western delegations should develop in general terms a complete and far-reaching disarmament programme, whose first stage will comprise specific proposals which can be implemented in the present world political situation. The United Kingdom produced a paper ⁵⁶ outlining a disarmament programme which was basically the same as that presented to the United Nations General Assembly by Mr. Lloyd, ⁵⁷ with some added features. United States officials have indicated that they intend to accept the United Kingdom proposals as a basis of discussion. While the United States will doubtless have modifications to suggest, nothing was disclosed as to their nature. The French and Italians also said that they would be submitting papers for discussion, but it is thought that these are not likely to include topics additional to those in the United Kingdom programme.

2. The delegation will also discuss the USSR disarmament proposals put forward by Mr. Khrushchev in the General Assembly on September 18, 1959,⁵⁸ with the purpose of determining an agreed position on them.

3. The matter dealt with in the UK and USSR plans may be divided into a number of different aspects or phases of disarmament. The Canadian delegation will have to express views on these. While it would not seem useful at this time to develop a competing “Canadian disarmament programme,” the delegation can endeavour to ensure that the programme finally agreed by the five Western nations should accord with certain principles. The following are suggested as principles which should guide the Canadian delegation in its representations, and which, taken together, can be considered as the initial Canadian position on disarmament.

(1) The ultimate object is to achieve the maximum of disarmament and reduction of military forces which can be verified and controlled, and which is compatible with the maintenance of adequate security against aggression.

(2) Disarmament must be accomplished in stages. However, the first stage should not consist merely of exchanges of information and studies of various aspects of disarmament to be put into effect later, but should include a substantial measure of actual disarmament.

(3) An international organization to verify and control disarmament as it is effected is necessary. It preferably should be an organ of or linked to the United Nations.

(4) A comprehensive plan for the prevention of surprise attack should be developed and presented to the five Eastern nations. Priority should be given to developing methods of controlling missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons of mass destruction.

(5) The nations should agree not to use artificial earth satellites as carriers of nuclear or other offensive weapons.

(6) Reduction of conventional armaments should be effective in terms of weapons and equipment, rather than in terms of numbers of effectives.

(7) As national armaments are reduced, an international authority should be built up, disposing of military force capable of restraining aggression. The international authority preferably should be within the framework of the United Nations.

(8) Production of fissile material for weapons should be stopped, and existing stocks transferred to peaceful uses, as soon as a practical and controllable plan can be agreed upon.

(9) The manufacture and use of biological and chemical weapons in massive warfare should be banned.

4. It is, of course, to be understood that as the negotiations proceed, specific proposals relating to the several aspects of disarmament covered in the above principles will be developed, which will have to be referred to the Government for instructions.

5. A paper commenting in some detail on the United Kingdom programme for disarmament referred to in the first paragraph of this memorandum will be submitted to you shortly.

6. May the above principles be approved as a guide to the Canadian delegation in the forthcoming meetings of the five Western nations? If any of the principles as set forth are not approved, may instructions be given as to what modifications are necessary?

N.A. ROBERTSON

⁵⁶ Voir/See Documents on International Affairs 1959 (London: Oxford University Press/Royal Institute of International Affairs, 1963), pp. 91-93.

⁵⁷Le document britannique est discuté dans le document du Cabinet 24-60 du 21 janvier.†
The UK paper is discussed in Cabinet Document 24-60, January 21.†

⁵⁸Voir/See Documents on International Affairs 1959, pp. 93-111.