§ 24. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the British representative at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's recent session in New York voted against a Soviet proposal to study 905 the economic consequences of disarmament and the possibilities of international co-operation to help solve the resulting problems.
§ Mr. R. AllanI assume that the hon. Gentleman has in mind the recent plenary session of the Economic Commission for Europe in Geneva. At this session a Soviet proposal for a study by the Economic Commission for Europe of the economic aspects of disarmament was withdrawn without being put to a vote.
§ Mr. ZilliacusIs it not a fact that the American delegate said that he saw no reason for any such study because he apprehended no difficulty arising out of disarmament, and that therefore if it came to the vote he would vote against it; and that our delegate took the same line and it was withdrawn on that understanding?
§ Mr. AllanNo, the main argument against accepting the proposal at all was that it was premature. In fact, an alternative draft resolution was placed before the Commission which asked for greater progress towards disarmament under effective international control so that its economic and social aspects, consideration of which would at present be premature, might become the subject of fruitful international co-operation.