Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-24

Eof the problems Of disarmament
would be considered in indis-
soluable unity with decisions for
putting into effect . plan for
gradual disarmament. At the
same time 1t Is necessary to
keep sight of the fact that
achievement Of o really valuable
exchange Of military informa-
ton viii become really effective
to the degree that mutual trust
among states is strengthened.
Now I would also like to ex-
press my opinion about the prob
lem Of aerial photography.
I do not doubt that when you
introduced your proposal for
photographing from the air the
territories Of our two countries,
you were guided BY . legitimate
desire to create confidence that
neither Of our two countries
would be subjected to attack by
the other.
However. let us be frank to
the end. Under present inter-
national conditions both our
countries are not acting singly.
The. United States Of America, as
lis known, heads all military
groupings which exist in the
West and in the East, and what is
more their armed forces are sta
toned not only on American ter
ritory: they are also stationed In
England, West Germany. Italy,
France, Spain, North Africa,
Greece. Turkey. In several coun-
tries Of the Near and Middle
East. in Japan, on Taiwan, In
the Philippines. etc.
Cites Unified Command
To this should be added the
fact that the armed forces Of
several states are organically
connected with the military
forces Of the United States
through inclusion under q single
command.
Under these conditions, the
Soviet Union on its side has
united militarily with several
allied states.
It Is impossible not to see that
the proposal introduced by you
completely omits from considera-
ton armed forces and military
installations which are outside
the area Of the United States
and the Soviet Union.
And yet it is perfectly self.
evident that aerial photograph
ing should also be extended to-
all armed forces and military
installations located on the ter
rttories Of those other States.
This presents an entirely new
problem: Would the governments
Of such States permit their SOW
ereign territory to be photo
from the air by foreign
aircraft?
All this shows that the prob
lem Of aerial photography is not
. question which. under pres
ent conditions, would lead to ef-|
fective progress towards insur-
Ing security Of States and sue
cessful accomplishment Of dis
Questions Photo Plan
This conclusion is suggested
by the fact that your proposal,
unfortunately does not mention
the necessity for reduction Of
ornaments and prohibition Of
weapons.
It Is therefore natural that
people should ask more and
more often what the proposal
for aerial photography and the
collecting Of such information
would really do to end the arms
race. II such q proposal does
not promote the ending Of the
arms race. then It means that
it does not remove the threat
OF a new war.
It does not tighten the burden
which the peoples are bearing In
connection with this arms race.
Would such q proposal satisfy
the expectations Of our peoples
and that Of all countries?
Finally. 1t Is impossible not
to stop and think about what
would happen II we occupy our
selves with the questions Of
aerial photography and the ex-I
change Of military information
without taking effective measures
for reduction Of ornaments and
prohibition Of atomic weapons.
I have approximations which I
cannot help but share with you.
Would not such q situation lead
to the weakening Of vigilance
toward the still-existing threat
Of violation Of the peace gen.
Grated by the arms race?
Agreement In Sight
My remarks do not at all mean
that we cannot achieve an agree
ment on important aspects Of
the disarmament problem. i
would like to call your atten-
ton to the fact that on very
substantial aspects Of this prob
lem our position has become so
close to each others that we
would be able to reach q def
mite agreement.
Let us take such q. question
as the establishment Of levels OF
armed forces for the great
powers.
It is generally recognized that
this is a question Of great i'm
portance. Originally the idea Of
establishing levels to which
armed forces of the Big Five
should be reduced, as is known,
was put forth by your govern
ment together with the govern
ments Of Great Britain and
France in 1852. In the interest
of achieving general agreement
on this matter. which is so i'm
portant for the problem Of dis
armament, we decided to adopt
this joint proposal Of the United
States. England and France as
a basis for discussion, ConSe-