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The question of the number of armed forces of each member State within its own territory had no direct relevance to the proposal under discussion, but would arise, and could be agreed upon, when the problem of general reduction of armaments came to be examined. At that time facts concerning all armed forces of all nations, whether stationed abroad or at home, would be essential. However, the problem of the presence of allied troops in friendly countries long after the end of the war should not be drowned in more general problems. Mr Molotov submitted the following draft resolution, revised in accordance with Senator Austin's suggestion : " The General Assembly recommends to the Security Council to take a decision to the effect that States members of the United Nations should submit the following information to the Secretary-General and to the Security Council within a month : "1. At what points in the territory of members of the United Nations or other States, with the exception of former enemy territories, and in what number are armed forces of other members of the United Nations. "2. At what points in the former enemy States and in what number are armed forces of the Allied Powers and other members of the United Nations. "3. At what points in the above-mentioned territories are air and naval bases, and what is the size of their garrisons belonging to the armed forces of States members of the United Nations. " 4. The information to be provided under paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 should refer to the situation as it existed on 1 November, 1946." The representative of the United States on the First Committee {Senator Connally) categorically rejected any contention that the presence of American troops endangered international security or justified uneasiness among the peoples of the world. The American troops had been sent into friendly countries to crush the Axis, and to restore the peace of the world, not to grab territory. They were being withdrawn when their tasks had been completed. Of five million men abroad at the end of the war, only eight hundred thousand remained. (At a subsequent meeting, Secretary of State Byrnes stated that the number of American troops at present abroad was five hundred and fifty thousand.) Troops now located beyond United States borders were there with the consent of the Governments concerned. The United States devotion to the principles of the Charter included absolute opposition to political, economic, or military coercion of any kind. If the Committee felt the reports envisaged by the Soviet resolution would be valuable, the United States would furnish information on the location of its troops both at home and abroad, in accordance with an appropriately drafted resolution. The United States delegation felt that all the cards should be laid on the table, and accordingly believed the reports should be extended to cover all troops on active service throughout the world.

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