THE QUESTION OF ALLIED TROOPS ABROAD

Speech at the Meeting of the First
Committee of the General Assembly
November 22, 1946

Mr. Chairman and Delegates. We are discussing an
important question. That has been recognized by most of
the representatives who have spoken here.
It is clearly our duty to discuss questions that concern
any country, in so far as they affect vital interests of se-
curity or national independence. All the more, then, are
we obliged to discuss questions which, like the present
one, affect the problem of universal peace and the
development of friendly relations among all states. The
present case involves both the interests of the great states
and those of the small countries.
The Soviet Government's proposal that the United
Nations submit information regarding their troops, in so
fair as these troops are stationed outside the borders of
their' home countries, and particularly in so far as they
are stationed on the territory of one or another of the
United Nations, will affect the great Powers first and
foremost. The great Powers should regard the submission
of this information as the fulfilment of their duty towards
the other states, and particularly the small countries. Nor
are the small countries unaffected. If we accept the propos-
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