Title Items-In-Disarmament - Concept of Nuclear Umbrella - General
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UN Secretariat Item Scan - Barcode - Record Title Pa9e 15 Date 28/06/2006 Time 10:07:35 AM S-0880-0002-03-00001 Expanded Number S-0880-0002-03-00001 Title items-in-Disarmament - concept of Nuclear Umbrella - general Date Created 15/06/1964 Record Type Archival Item Container s-0880-0002: Disarmament Matters Files of the Secretary-General: U Thant Print Name of Person Submit Image Signature of Person Submit 15 June 1964 THE CONCEPT OF "NUCLEAR UMBRELLA." 1. The term "nuclear -umbrella" has been used, in disarmament negotiations to designate a USSR concept of nuclear disarmament by which the US and the USSR would retain on their own territories until the end of the third stage of General and Complete Disarmament (GCD) a "limited" number of missiles - intercontinental, anti-missile and anti-aircraft of the ground-to-air type. This constitutes an exception to the original USSR concept of total elimina- tion in the first stage of GCD of all nuclear delivery vehicles, which was proposed to the Conference of the Eighteen-Nation Committee on Disarmament in the USSR draft treaty of 19 March 1962. 2. The term began to be in general use at the l8th session of the General Assembly after Mr. Andrey Gromyko presented the second revised USSR nuclear disarmament plan on 19 September 19&3; which would allow the controlled retention of the nuclear weapons referred to above until the third stage or "until the completion of the whole process" of GCD, rather than only until the second stage, as previously proposed in the first USSR revised nuclear disarmament plan of 21 September 1962. It was in 'the course of the presenta- tion of the first revised Soviet plan that Mr. Gromyko used the phrase "some sort of protective umbrella", in characterizing the Western position to retain some nuclear deterrent in the process of GCB (GA/PV.1127, p.38). J. The Soviet Union has used the term "nuclear umbrella" rather than "nuclear deterrent" which is generally favoured in the West, for, in the view of the Soviet Union, the concept of nuclear deterrent is incompatible with the concept of disarmament. Nevertheless, the West has welcomed the Soviet reference to the concept of nuclear umbrella, seeing in it a "step towards realism11. 4. At present there exist divergent views on the manner in which the USSR proposal is to be discussed. The Western position on the nuclear umbrella has been that unless the Soviet Union could specify in more detailed terms as to the number and the specifications of all the system of nuclear delivery vehicles referred to in the Soviet plan, it would not be possible for the Western powers to give their definite views. The Soviet Union, for its part, has held the position that the basic issue involved is that of an agreement - 2 - in principle. Once the Western powers agreed to the principle enunciated in the plan, the USSR would be willing to discuss any further details on the question of number and specifications. The issue of nuclear umbrella is emerging as the most important in the discussion of the phasing of disarmament measures. However, the whole question of GCD is not now in the forefront of discussion, 5. As to numbers of missiles to be retained, the Soviet plan states that the number should be "minimal" so as to prevent any power from committing an act of aggression. The Western powers seem to assume,-however, that the USSR is interested not only in limiting the number of missiles, but also in estab- lishing parity between the two sides. The United States, on the other hand, has proposed a proportionate reduction (30$ in the first stage) of nuclear delivery vehicles as well as all other armaments, with the view to maintaining the relative military positions as disarmament proceeds. EUROPEAN OFFICE OFFICE EUROPEAN OF THE UNITED NATIONS DES NATIONS UNIES MEMORANDUM A: His Excellency To: U Thant The Secretary-General De: D. From : Special Representative of the Secretary- General to the 18-Nation Committee on Disarmament Ref: Geneve, 22. Jun,e...l9M... Objet : Subject: Report on the progress of the work of the 18-Mation Committee on Disarmament I forward herewith for your information "Assessment of the opening phase of the seventh session of the Conference" (9-18 June 1964). SEC/CONFIDENTIAL 22 June 1964 CONFERENCE OF THE EIGHTEEN-NATION COMMITTEE ON DISARMAMENT Assessment of the Opening Phase of the Seventh Session of the Conference (9 to 18 June 1964) 1. General During the first two weeks of the resumed session, which were devoted to a general debate, the discussion took place in a good atmosphere, among signs that the parties will not relax their efforts to make further, even if limited, progress* This was stressed, notably, by the two co-chairmen in their opening speeches* President Johnson*s instructions to the US delegation, Mr* Foster said, were to make every effort to find a basis for early agreement on safeguarded alternatives to the arms race* Similarly, Mr* Zorin referred to the firm instructions of the Soviet Government to do everything possible to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion and added that the possibility of finding a solution to the problem of disarmament "is more favourable today than ever before". In his second statement, Mr* Zorin also remarked that "the world of today is already somewhat better than that of yesterday"• Concerning the role of the ENDC in disarmament negotiations, although Mr* Zorin regretted that the ENDC talks had not led to any concrete results, he admitted that the debates had proved "to be useful to some extent"• As not long ago there was rather"strong criticism of the ENDC"by the Soviet Union, the change of tone did not pass unnoticed* Mr* Foster stressed that the work of the ENDC "continuously contributes to steps taken by governments in pursuance of peace"* All East European delegations acknowledged that the debate within the Committee had contributed in some measure to the conclusion of the agreements reached since 1963* Many representatives insisted on the need for improving the Committee's methods of work* For the first time in over a year the Committee adopted procedures for the organization of its work* As regards general disarmament, the Committee decided to devote the next several Tuesday meetings to a resumed discussion of the elimination of nuclear delivery vehicles and to conventional disarmament* On 18 June the Committee adopted the recommendation of the co-chairmen for a work schedule for collateral measures, including specific measures for discussion for the ensuing five weeks* 2* General and Complete Disarmament The USSR again stated that it considered general disarmament as the main task for the ENDC and called for a positive Western contribution to the negotiations* The USSR would be prepared "to take yet another step forward to meet the Western Powers" and participate "immediately" in an appropriate working 'body which would proceed to a "detailed consideration of concrete questions" relating to the elimination of the means of delivery of nuclear weapons, provided the Committee accepted in principle, as proposed by India before the recess, the Soviet proposal for a nuclear umbrella as the basis for solving the problem* To this, the Western countries replied that, while they agreed to the establishment of a technical working group, all proposals relevant to the problem of elimination should be open for discussion in the group and not just that of one side* The US restated its previous position that it could not accept the Gromyfco proposal for a nuclear umbrella "either in principle or as the basis for negotiations"* As a consequence, while both sides now declared themselves ready to move on to a detailed discussion of the central problem of disarmament in a proper working body (a fact which in itself is not without interest), each side in practice excluded from discussion the method of elimination of nuclear delivery vehicles envisaged by the other side, because of the fear that the other side might otherwise secure a strategic advantage* However, Mr* Zoriu said, the task of the Committee was not to dwell upon the existing great differences of approach, but to search for a solution* For the first time, a Soviet representative, in referring to the idea of a "nuclear umbrella", noted that others referred to it as the "minimum deterrent"* Hr. 2orin also stated, "The Soviet Government thinks that there are possibilities for the softening and then the removal of differences, for bringing the position closer and finding mutually acceptable solutions"* 3» Collateral Measures There were no new proposals on collateral measures and no changes of position on underground tests* Mr* Foster said that the US would - 3 - elaborate further at the current session on the cut-off of production of fissile material as veil as on the other proposals contained in President Johnson*,s message of 21 January (ENDC/120). What he stressed was flexibility of approach on collateral measures* He also said that the US would like to discuss verification in greater detail) particularly in connexion with collateral measures, but he made clear that inspection should be strictly limited to those objects which must necessarily be placed under scrutiny to provide assurance of compliance* Mr* 'Zorin stated that the USSR would participate most actively and in a business-like manner in the formulation and negotiation of collateral measures* Although the Committee's main task was general disarmament, an agreement on partial measures could be of "unquestionably substantial importance"* He again submitted the measures"contained in the Memorandum of the Soviet Government of 28 January 1964 (ENDC/123).