th January 1946. The onset of the United Nations regime coincided with the beginning of the nuclear age. Just five months after, the two nuclear bombs destroyed the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. UN Atomic Energy Commission on 24th January 1946 established by resolution 1 in its first United Nations General Assembly meeting. Its mandate was to suggest measures to deal with the complications arising out of the advent of atomic energy.
UN Atomic Energy Commission on 24th January 1946 established by resolution 1 in its first United Nations General Assembly meeting.Failing at its very inception in nuclear disarmament, the Commission was disbanded in 1952. It had been inactive since 1949 after the Soviet Union joined the nuclear club. Nuclear proliferation gathered pace thereon.
Initial Mandate of Atomic Energy Commission:
The Commission was tasked to make proposals on the following issues:- Exchange of scientific information to be shared between nations for peaceful purpose.
- Oversee and control atomic energy to be used for peaceful ends only.
- Eradication of atomic weapons with national governments and any other weapons of mass destruction.
- Safeguards to be employed to ensure that no violation of international nuclear norms occurs.
Baruch Plan to eradicate Atomic Weapons:
The United States of America was the only nuclear weapon powered country at the initial time. Hence, the US representative to the commission, Bernard Baruch presented the Baruch Plan. It was in line with the Commission’s mandate to eradicate atomic weapons.- The plan was unveiled on 14th June 1946 in which the USA suggested to destroy its nuclear arsenal.
- The condition was that UN would allow only the peaceful development of atomic energy.
- All the countries should be adequately inspected to deter any secret nuclear weapons development.
- Also, these controls would not be subjected to a UN Security Council veto.
- The plan was passed by the Commission but faced a roadblock in the UN Security Council. The Soviet Union abstained from voting in the UN Security Council.
- It was already much ahead in the development of atomic weapons.
- The Soviet Union unveiled its nuclear power in 1949.