Towards the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
| Published date | 01 October 1959 |
| DOI | 10.1177/004711785900101202 |
| Author | Michael Aaronson |
| Date | 01 October 1959 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
TOWARDS THE PEACEFUL USES
OF OUTER SPACE
MICHAEL
AARONSON
ATits thirteenth session last autumn. the General Assembly of
the United Nations Organization adopted aresolution on the
peaceful uses of outer space.IThe preamble of this resolution
recognizes the common interest of mankind in outer Space and
refers to the provisions of art. 2part Iof the Charter. which
states that
"the
Organization is based on the principle of the
SOvereign
equality of all its members."
This resolution established an Ad Hoc Committee on the Peace-
ful
Uses of Outer Space consisting of representatives of Argentina.
Australia. Belgium, Brazil. Canada, Czechoslovakia, France, India.
Iran. Italy, Japan, Mexico. Poland. Sweden. the U.S.S.R., the
United Arab Republic. the United Kingdom and the United
States. The composition of the committee was designed to combine
the criteria of technical capacity and experience, active interest in
the peaceful uses of outer Space as demonstrated during the Inter-
national Geophysical Year. and the recognition of the need to en-
Sure
equitable geographical distribution
in
accordance with United
Nations principles and practices.
The Soviet Union was unable to agree to these criteria and
maintained that the composition of the committee should be based
on
the concept of parity between the
so~called
East and West blocs.
Consequently. after withdrawing its original resolution. which re-
lated the peaceful uses of outer Space with the elimination of
foreign military bases2and substituting aresolution.' and sub-
sequent revision; designed to deal entirely with the peaceful uses
of outer Space unconnected with the question of foreign military
bases. the Soviet Union announced that it would not participate
in
the studies to be undertaken
by
the
Ad
Hoc Committee. Poland
and Czechoslovakia followed suit. Subsequently. India and the
United Arab Republic indicated that they would follow the same
course. Nevertheless. the Ad Hoc Committee On the Peaceful
Uses of Outer Space convened
in
New-York on 6May 1959. with-
out the participation of these countries. and produced within a
relatively short space of time aremarkably well balanced report
for submission to the fourteenth session of the General Assembly
of this year."
It
is
of interest to note that as the Ad Hoc Committee convened.
IU.N. Res. 1348 xiii, 1958.
2U.N. Doc. A/3818,
17
March. 1958.
3U.N. Doc.
A/CI
/LZI
9,
7Nov
.•
1958.
IU.N. Doc.
A/CI/LZI9
Rev
18
Nov., 1958.
:.
Report
of
the Ad Hoc Committee
on
the
Peacdul
Uses
of
Outer Space.
U.N. Doc. A/4141.
611
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