Hungarian Church Press, 1968 (20. évfolyam, 2. szám)

1968-06-01 / 2. szám

HCP Vol XK Special Number

1968 No 2- 150 ~

(07931)

the graving radioactive pollution of the atmosphere). This, of course, does not mean that the ultimate goal, that is, general and total disarmament, is obscured* On the contrary, it is necessary that the exertions toward this ultimate goal - making use of the impetus generated by the partial agreements - be intensified» 1

It is in connection with the disarmament negotiations of the past twenty-two years that all the above mentioned results have been achieved,, (At the first glance, the connection between partial results and negotiations is not always apparent - this is to be said especially cf the nagotiations under the auspices of the UNO# So, for instance, in the case of the great powers announcing their reduction of the manufacture of fissionable material). It is one of the great merits of the disarmament negotiations that, in addition to the crystallization of the principle of general and total disarmament (and the inception of negotiations on this matter, although, for the time being, without success), they have also called attention to the feasibility of a number of complementary measures and partial agreements which have subsequently been partially realized (see above), or, in part, might furnish in the future or have actually provided the basis for - promising negotiations. Without making claim on completeness, we mention the following: agreement on preventing the proliferation of atomic weapons, non-aggression pacts between member countries of antagonistic military blocs, agreement on banning the use of nuclear weapons, the withdrawal of the vehicles adapted for the transportation of nuclear weapons from the territories of foreign states, atom-free zones in various parts of the world, the reduction of military budgets, etc. - important ideas the realization of which would be a very significant achievementc

e) The Current Problems of Disarmament

l) On the 14th of March, 1968, the discussions of the eighteen-power conference in Geneva on the prevention of the spreading of nuclear weapons one1 the text of an agreement on this matter for being submitted to the UNO Assembly was completed. The text has three parts, l) The draft cf the treatjvj.

2) the amendments proposed in the cöurso of the negotiations. 3) The proposal of the Soviet Union, the United States of America and Great Britain according to which the non-nuclear states joining the treaty would receive guarantees against threats of nuclear aggression* All this marks the new stage in the discussion or probably the near solution of a problem which, under the commission of the UNO, has for almost two years been in the centre of the Geneva negotiat ions. H9 )

The treaty has the purpose to shut the door of the atom club, giving assurance both from the side of the nuclear and the non-nuclear countries agpinst the horizontal spreading of nuclear weapons« We cannot have any doubts that, in itself, the agreement would not alter the present level of nuclear armaments, that it will not stop overnight the armament race and its effect on