THE UNITED STATES DELEGATION 
TO THE 
CONFERENCE OF THE COMMITTEE ON DISARMAMENT 
CAUTION: CHECK 
AGAINST DELIVERY 
STATEMENT TO BE MADE BY AMBASSADOR JOSEPH MARTIN, JR. 
AT THE 721ST PLENARY MEETING ON 
TULSuAY, AUGUST 17, 1976 
tlr. Chairman: 
Last week the United States participated In active and 
Interesting Informal meetings with experts on the question of the 
prohibition of the development and production of new types of 
weapons of mass destruction. 
The proposal by the Soviet Union, involving a comprehensive 
ban, is embodied in a draft agreement set out in Document 
Number CCD/511. It is elaborated to some extent, particularly 
as to definitions, in Document Number CCD/51^. 
The Soviet proposal raises many complex and difficult 
questions. In light of the uncertainties remaining to be 
resolved or clarified further, many of the views expressed by 
the U.S. expert in the informal meetings were of a preliminary 
character . 
It is the long-standing practice of the United States to 
contribute in a constructive manner to technical examination of 
Vll-2 
[ 487 ] 
