1962 - Sir John Cockcroft - Problems of Disarmament

In this lecture, Sir John Cockcroft explored some of the reasons why nuclear and conventional disarmament should be a goal for the superpowers and some of the problem associated with a successful disarmament program. He noted that the amount of nuclear weapons was enough to bring disaster to the world, and that sooner or later proliferation would occur, only further increasing the potential for any state to use these weapons. He described a three state disarmament program where an International Disarmament Organisation would be set up and conventional armed forces cut followed by a cut in nuclear weapon delivery systems by 30% and a subsequent reduction of fissile material production and its transfer. He noted that there were problems with verification and the potential to quickly remobilise conventional forces.