The Debate Over The Legality Of High Seas Nuclear Tests Between U.S. And Soviet At The First Conference On The Law Of The Sea

The first United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea met in Geneva from February24 to April 28,1958.The Cold War issue that troubled the deliberations on the high seas was nuclear testing.The Soviet bloc led a movement to prohibit nuclear testing on the high seas,a position that the nuclear tests on the high seas violated the universally recognized principle of freedom of the high seas had the sympathy of many opponents of nuclear testing.But in order to improve self-defense ability for the cold war,the United States justified nuclear test on high seas,and was successful in having the matter referred to the General Assembly which due to American’s allies and the security dilemma.The UN disarmament documents and documents on U.S.foreign relations manifested that the differences between the two sides in prohibiting the high seas nuclear tests have historical background and realistic reasons and are related to the overall nuclear strategy of the United States and the Soviet Union.Most countries recognized the principle of freedom on the high seas and the high seas nuclear tests violated international law.The Western Powers such as the United States and Britain are cautious in their attitudes toward using the authority to pursue a perfect solution,so as to have the matter referred to the General Assembly and UN Disarmament Commission negotiating the details as a part of nuclear disarmament,that will reduce the risks form the suspension of nuclear Tests and maximize the freedom of the high seas of the western maritime powers headed by the United States.Finally,the provisions banning nuclear tests on the high seas were not included in the high seas convention and the realization of the freedom of the seas and therefore faced a dilemma.