UN General Assembly
1947

The Soviet Union stands for strict international control of atomic energy plants, but this control should not be transformed into interference in those branches of national industry or in those matters which have no connexion with atomic energy. Here again the British atomic scientists are right when, in their memorandum published on 23 January last, they express the desire “that the right of inspection should be limited as far as possible and should not take the form of excessive curiosity with regard to legitimate industry and other forms of activity.” In their memorandum published in August of this year, the British scientists once again indicate the necessity for restricting within specific limits the right of inspection, which should not serve the ends of organized economic and military intelligence. The memorandum states: “The United States and other supporters of the Baruch Plan should be encouraged to formulate safeguards to ensure that any inspection scheme should not develop into an elaborate system of espionage.”