ResolutiOl18 adopted on reporta of the Fint Committee 5

the Declaration of St. Petersburg of 1868, the Declara- Having regard to the success of negotiations between
tion of the Brussels Conference of 1874, the Conven- these two parties resulting in the emergence of an
tions of The Hague Peace Conferences of 1899 and agreement on principles,
1907, and the Geneva Protocol of 1925, to which the l. Urges the Governments of the Union oí Soviet
majority of nations are still parties, Socialist Republics and the United States of America
Considering that the use of nuclear and thermo- to reach agreement on the composition of a negotiating
nuclear weapons would bring about indiscriminate body which both they and the rest of the world can
suffering and destruction to mankind and civilization regard as satisfactory ;
to an even greater extent than the use of those weapons 2. E.xpresses the hope that such negotiations will be
declared by the aforementioned international declara- started without delay and will lead to an agreed re-
tions and agreements to be contrary to the laws ·of commendation to the General Assembly;
humanity and a crime _under international law,
3. Requests the Governments of the Union of
Believing that the use of weapons of mass destruc- Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of
tion, such as nuclear and thermo-nuclear weapons, is America to report to the General Assembly, before the
a direct negation of the high ideals and objectives which conclusion of its sixteenth session, on the results of
the United Nations has been established to achieve such negotiations.
through the protection of succeeding generations from 1067th plenary meeting,
the scourge of war: and through the preservation and 28 N ovember 1961.
promotion of their cultures,
l. Declares that:
(a) The use of nuclear and thermo-nuclear weapons 1664 (XVI). Question of disarmament
is contrary to the spirit, letter and aims of the United
Nations and, as such, a direct violation of the Charter The General Assembly,
of the United Nations; Convinced that all measures should be taken that
( b) The use of nuclear and thermo-nuclear weapons could halt further n~clear weapons tests and prevent
would exceed even the scope of war and cause in- the further spread of nuclear weapons,
discriminate suffering and destruction to mankind and
civilization and, as such, is contrary to the rules of Recognizing that the countries not possessing nuclear
international law and to the laws of humanity ; weapons have a grave interest, and an important part
to fulfil, in the preparation and implementation of such
(e) The use of nuclear and thermo-nuclear weapons measures,
is a war directed not against an enemy or enemies alone
but also against mankind in general, since the peoples Believing that action taken by those countries will
of the world not involved in such a war will be subject- facilitate agreement by the nuclear Powers to discon-
ed to all the evils generated by the use of such weapons; tinue all nuclear tests and to prevent any increase in
( d) Any State using nuclear and thermo-nuclear the number of nuclear Powers,
weapons is to be considered as violating the Charter Taking note of the suggestion that an inquiry be
of the United Nations, as acting contrary to the laws made into the conditions under which countries not
of humanity and as committing a crime against man- possessing nuclear weapons might be willing to enter
kind and civilization ; into specific undertakings to refrain from manufactur-
2. Requests the Secretary-General to consult the ing or otherwise acquiring such weapons and to refuse
Governments of Member States to ascertain their views to receive, in the future, nuclear weapons in their ter~
on the possibility of convening ·a special conference for ritories on behalf of any other country,
signing a colivention on the prohibition of the use of l. Requests the Secretary-General to make such an
nuclear and thermo-nuclear weapons for war purposes inquiry as soon as possible and to submit a report on
and to report on the results of such consultation to the its results to the Disarmament Commission not later
General Assembly at its--...seventeenth session. than 1 April 1962 ;
1063rd plenary meeting, 2. Requests the Disannament Commission to take
24 November 1961. such further measures as appear to be warranted in the
light of that report;
3. Call.r ,i.pon the nuclear Powers to extend their
fullest co-pperation and assistance with regard to the
1660 (XVI). Question of disarmament implementation of the present resolution.
The General Assnnbly, 1070th plenary meeting,
W elcoming the agreement between the Govemments 4 December 1961.
of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the
United States of America, as a result of negotiations
between them, that general and complete disarmament 1665 (XVI). Prevention of the -wider diNemina•
should be accomplished, and their agreement on the tion of nuclear weapons
principles which should guide disarmament negotia-
tions, The General Assembly,
N oting that the two Govemments are desirous of Recalling its resolutions 1380 (XIV) of 20 Novem-
resuming disarmament negotiations in an appropriate ber 1959 and 1576 (XV) of 20 becember 1960,
body, whose composition is yet to be agreed upon, Convinced that an increase in the number of States
Considering it essential that these two principal possessing nuclear weapons is growing more imminent
parties should agree to and accept a negotiating body, and threatens to extend and intensif y the arms race and
6 General Assembly-S1:stteenth Session

to increase the difficulties of avoiding war and of es- 2. Requests the Secretary-General to maintain a
tablishing international peace and security based on the public registry of the information furnished in accord-
rule of law, ance with paragraph 1 above;
Believing in the necessity of an international agree- 3. Requests the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of
ment, subject to inspection and control, whereby the Outer Space, in co-operation with the Secretary-Gen-
states producing nuclear weapons would refrain from eral and making full use of the functions and resources
relinquishing control of such weapons to any nation not of the Secretariat:
possessing them and whereby states not possessing such (a) To maintain close contact with governmental
weapons would refrain from manufacturing them, and non-governmental organizations concerned with
l. Calls upan all States, and in particular upon the outer space matters;
States at present possessi;:ig nuclear weapons, to use ( b) To provide far the exchange of such informa-
their best endeavours to secure the conclusion of an tion relating to outer space activities as Governments
international agreement containing provisions under may supply on a voluntary basis, supplementing but not
which the nuclear States would undertake to refrain duplicating existing technical and scientific exchanges;
from relinquishing control of nuclear weapons and from (e) To assist in the study of measures for the pro-
transmitting the information necessary for their manu- motion of international co-operation in outer space
facture to States not possessing such weapons, and activities;
provisions under whi.ch States not possessing nuclear
weapons would undertake not to manufacture or other- 4. Further requests the Committee on the Peaceful
wise acquire control of such weapons; Uses of Outer Space to report to the General Assembly
on the arrangements undertaken for the performance
2. Urges all States to co-operate to those ends. of those functions and on such developments relating
1070th plenary meeting, to the peaceful uses of outer space as it considers sig-
4 December 1961. nificant.
1085th plenary meeting,
20 December 1961.
1721 (XVI). International co-operation in the e
peaceful uses of outer space
The General Assembly,
A N oting with gratification the marked progress for
The General Assembly, meteorological science and technology opened up by
the advances in outer space,
Recagnizing the common interest of mankind in
furthering the peaceful uses of outer space and the Convinced of the world-wide benefits to be derived
urgent neeá to strengthen international co-operation from international co-operation in weather research
in this important field, and analysis,
B<Jlieving that the exploration and use of outer space l. Recommends to all Member States and to the
should be only far the betterment of mankind and to World Meteorological Organization and other appro-
the benefit of States irrespective of the stage of their priate specialized agencies the early and comprehensive
economic or scientific development, study, in the light of developments in outer space, of
measures:
l. Cammends to States for their guidance in the
exploration and use of outer space the following prin- (a) To advance the state of atmospheric science and
technology so as to provide greater knowledge of basic
cipies:
physical forces affecting climate and the possibility of
(a) International law, including the Charter of the large-scale weather modification ;
United Nations, applies to outer space and celestial
( b) To develop existing weather forecasting ca-
bodies;
pabilities and to help Member States make effective use
( b) Outer space and celestial bodies are free for of such capabilities through regional meteorological
exploration and use by all States in conformity with centres;
international law and are not subject to national ap-
propriation ; 2. Requests the World Meteorological Organiza-
tion, consulting as appropriate with the United Nations
2. Invites the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and
Outer Space to study and report on the legal problems other specialized agencies and governmental and non-
which may arise from the exploration and use of outer governmental organizations, such as the International
space. Council of Scientific Unions, to submit a report to the
1085th plenary meeting, Governments of its Member States and to the Economic
20 December 1961. and Social Council at its thirty-fourth session regard-
B ing appropriate organizational and financia! arrange-
ments to achieve those ends, with a view to their
The General Assembly, further consideration by the General Assembly at its
Believing that the United Nations should provide seventeenth session ;
a focal point for international co-operation in the peace- 3. Requests the Committee on the Peaceful uses
ful exploration and use of outer space, of Outer Space, as it deems appropriate, to review
l. Calls upan States launching objects into orbit or that report and submit its comments and recommenda-
beyond to furnish information promptly to the Com- tions to the Economic and Social Council and to the
mittee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, through General Assembly.
the Secretary-General, for the registration of launch- 1085th plenary meeting,
ings; 20 December 1961.