UN General Assembly
1956

60. The Assembly will have noted that the Soviet Government has revived its demand for the elimination of the world’s stockpiles of nuclear weapons. However, they must know that this suggestion is quite unrealistic so long as there is no known method detecting hidden stocks of such weapons. The one step forward contained in the latest Soviet proposals is the somewhat grudging acceptance of the principle of aerial inspection, as part of the system of control. But the Soviet Government says only that it is “prepared to consider the question of employing aerial photography” within an area 800 kilometres east and west of the present demarcation line in Europe, “provided that the States concerned give their consent” [A/3366, para. 27]. 61. Since the United States and ally but a very narrow strip on the western frontier of the Soviet Union would be outside this area, this would provide no guarantee against a major surprise attack, which was the purpose of the original proposal made by President Eisenhower.