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which could not adequately be considered in discussions chat included conventional armaments. Soviet spokesmen, on the other hand, wanted to discuss the atomic bomb in relation co other armaments in the Conven- tional Armaments Commission when that commission was established. They discounted the pecuhar problems presented by atomic weapons, and accused the Americans of delaying discussions of convencional arms until agreement was reached on atomic weapons. They stressed the unreslity of keeping the discussions separate when national security involved both types of armament. Happily, this aspect of the controversy has now been termi- suggested that the two commissions be consolidated. More than a year later, speaking to the General Assembly in Paris, Secre- tary of State Dean Acheson announced: “. .. We favor the merger of the Atomic Energy Commission and the Conven- tional Arms Commission. This I say quite frankly is a change in the position of the United States.” With the ice broken, all Parties admitted the desirability of the merger which was con- summated by the General Assembly an January 11, 192. The new Disarmament Commission is set up “under the Seeuricy Council.” Like cach of its two predecessors it normally has a membership of 12—one for each member of the Security Council plus Canada, It was instructed to become operative within 30 day*'The chairmanship is ta rotate each month among its members. Instructed to submic its first report nat later than June 1, 1952, the Commission is required to make detailed studies and to prepare plans and treacics. Moreover, when the Commission's work proxresses to a point where any parc of its program is ready to be submitted, the Secretary General is requested to convene a disarmament conference. The eyes of an armament-burdened world will be hopefully focussed on the new Commission as it atcempts to set the stage for further agreement. Banning the Bomb All nations favor the banning of atomic weapons and other means of mass de- struction of civil life. All nations also approve the necessary corollary of the proposed ban-—an international system of 14 a RS PS Fai Ce ne control designed co ensure faithful compliance with ir. Appar- ently, all parties agree that sooner or later the-ban should prohibit national states and private parties from xsiug, pos- sessing and manufacturing atomic and other weapons of rrass destruction. However, differences exist over the rype of controls re- quired and over “timing” of the program, Nevertheless, the fact remains that there appears to be agreement on the desir- ability of banning atomic weapons. Regulating Conventional Arms Another general area of agreement between the nations is that conventional armaments and armed forces should be regulated, hmited and reduced. At one time con- troversy arose as to what “conventional arms and armed forces” should include. There is now substantial agreement thar these categories should include (a) all armaments not classificd as weapons of mass destruction, (b} milirary, naval and air bases, and (c) armed forces of all types including para-military, security and police forces. ; However, twa principal obstacles to further agreement have been encountered. One is the dispute over whether a census of armaments should include atomic weapons. The other is the continuing disagreement as co whether the reduc- tional in conventional arms should be “progressive and balanced” or by a flac percentage. Concerning the first, the United States, with a monopoly of atomic weapons, wanted no census until a “foolproof” plan of control had been agreed upon and put into operation. The Soviets, on cho other hand, without acomic weapons at the time the dispute arose, demanded that the Commission for Conven- tional Armaments conduce a census that would include bath types of armament, The American view prevailed, and the stalemate already mentioned continued. The United States, in proposing the merger of the two old commissions, has agreed to a census of atomic weapons, provided less secret weapons have first been disclosed and verified. It is now agreed, there- fore, that the census should include weapons of all types, pro- vided che “stares” problem can he resolved vided en cf sfages praoem: Can of resoived. 15