UN General Assembly
1947

It is also impossible to regard as normal, in the mutual relations between Members of the United Nations, a situation in which foreign armed forces continue to be stationed on the territory of Member States of the United Nations and to act as a means of political interference in the internal affairs of those States. This situation creates relations of inequality and dependence between States, which contravene the Charter of the United Nations. British troops are still in Egypt against the will of that country; in Greece in disregard of that country’s constitution; in Transjordan which has applied for membership in the United Nations. United States troops are still in China, a condition which is anything but conducive to the establishment there of internal peace and tranquility. Foreign troops should not be in non-enemy territories unless their presence there is required for the protection of communications with former enemy territories while the latter remain under occupation. The strengthening of universal peace and mutual confidence between countries demands a rapid and effective solution of the problem of evacuating from the territories of non-enemy States foreign troops which are not protecting communications with former enemy countries.