A SHORT HISTORY of Disarmament and Arms Control

A SHORT HISTORY OF
Disarmament and Arms

Control
Arms Controls
Arms reduction implies partially disarmament based on mutually agreed set of arms
levels between given groups of nation states. Arms limitation includes a wide variety of
international accords to limit impact of potential wars or to prevent their accidental
outbreak (exchange of information to prevent misunderstanding or banning acquisition
of particular types of weaponry).
History of Disarmament
Disarmament attempts can be traced back to the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, which
stipulated against the need for building fortifications. In 1816, the Czar of Russia
proposed to the British government the reduction of armaments, a call that was not
well received however.
In 1863 and in 1869, France made similar calls for disarmament in Europe, but it was
ignored.
In 1898, the Czar of Russia called on European powers to gather at Hague to discuss
disarmament, a suggestion that was well received, leading to the First Hague Peace
Conference attended by 28 states.
In 1907, another conference was held at The Hague for the same purpose. Both
conferences called upon military and naval experts to propose reducing military
expenditures through disarmaments, but the major powers were not ready for such
moves in practice.
Disarmament after WWI
The devastation caused by WWI impelled statesmen of the world to give serious
thought to disarmament. Woodrow Wilson in one of his famous fourteen points asserted
armament should be reduced to „the lowest point consistent with domestic safety‟.
The Treat of Versailles (1919) also recognized that „the maintenance of peace requires
the reduction of national armaments‟. The League of Nations was given the specific
duty to secure a general agreement on disarmament and the covenant of the League
stated that only those countries will be allowed membership who accepted the
proposed agreement.
A permanent advisory commission was established in the League, but being comprised
of military personnel, it failed to make much progress in a path of disarmament.
The Council of the League appointed another commission in 1920, the Temporary Mixed
Commission, with a fixed four year mandate and comprised primarily of civilians. This
temporary commission of the League was asked to identify limitation of land and naval
forces for various countries according to their national security needs, the commission
also proposed compulsory arbitration and proposed international aid to victims of
aggression.
Unfortunately, the commission’s recommendations were not accepted by members of

the League of Nations. In 1926, the League set up another preparatory commission for
disarmament which prepared a draft of a treaty considered at the Geneva conference of
the League in 1932 by 61 states. Discussions on this draft continued for 2 years but
then the Japanese attack on Manchuria and the German withdrawal from the treaty in
1933, dashed the hopes for disarmament.
Disarmament after WWII

The devastation unleashed by WWII again led to calls for disarmament. The UN charter
laid much emphasis on the need for disarmament. The UN established a Military Staff
Committee to assist the Security Council to regulate armaments and explore means for
disarmament.
Disarmament efforts by the UN
The UN established the Atomic Energy Commission consisting of all five Security Council
members and Canada.
The Commission was meant to explore mechanisms for peaceful transfer of nuclear
technology, to identify safeguards by way of inspections for compliant states to prevent
hazards of violation and to eventually work towards elimination of nuclear weapons.
While both superpowers agreed to cooperate, their divergent stances (the US arguing
that control take precedence over disarmament and the USSR arguing the reverse) on
the Commission goals led to its ineffectiveness.
The General Assembly of the UN also established a Commission on Conventional

Armaments, which also felt victim to Cold War divergences, ultimately the USSR pulled
out of both Commissions due to China‟s representation on them.
Atoms for Peace Plan

In 1953, President Eisenhower of the US proposed establishment of a pool of fissionable
materials donated by declared nuclear states to the Atomic Energy Commission, which
could be provided to other countries strictly for peaceful purposes.
The Soviets opposed this plan arguing that an agreement on prohibiting nuclear
weapons was first necessary prior to disseminating nuclear technology.
Other Disarmament Efforts

Many disarmament and arms control efforts were undertaken through bilateral means
between the two superpowers, the biggest proliferations of armaments in the post-
WWII period (NTBT, NPT, SALT I and II).
The six nation summit held in New Dehli in 1985 is indicative of the growing concern
amongst developing countries about arms race, particularly nuclear weapons.
CTBT
The NTP review conference was held in Geneva in 1995 which recommended infinite
extension of the NTP. Israel, Pakistan and India were criticized for not acceding to the
NPT nor to the subsequent CTBT, which even forbids tests required for developing
nuclear weapons.
Even France signed the CTBT after conducting its last nuclear test in the South Pacific.
India and Pakistan remain reluctant and argue that the advanced nuclear states can
keep their weaponry safe and updated by tests stimulated in lab settings.

A SHORT HISTORY of Disarmament and Arms Control

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A SHORT HISTORY of Disarmament and Arms Control

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A SHORT HISTORY OF

Disarmament and Arms

Unfortunately, the commission’s recommendations were not accepted by members of

Disarmament after WWII

The General Assembly of the UN also established a Commission on Conventional

Atoms for Peace Plan

Other Disarmament Efforts

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