UN General Assembly
1947

When attempts were made in the Security Council and in the Commission for Conventional Armaments to plan practical measures for implementing the resolution of the General Assembly on the general regulation and reduction of armaments, the representatives of the United States and the United Kingdom put forward such conditions as could not but frustrate the execution of the resolution. All the activity of the United States and United Kingdom delegations in the Commission for Conventional Armaments testifies to the fact that these countries do not wish to reduce their armaments; do not wish to disarm and are delaying disarmament, thus sowing alarm among peace-loving peoples. The statement by Mr. Bevin at Southport to the effect that he did not intend to promote disarmament is a convincing reply to queries as to the reasons for the unsatisfactory state of affairs with regard to the implementation of the General Assembly resolution on the reduction of armaments. The same view was expressed by President Truman in a recent speech at Petropolis, where he stressed the fact that the armed forces of the United States would be maintained, but said not a word concerning the obligation assumed by the United Nations under the Assembly resolutions to reduce armed forces.