ABSTRACT
Arms control limitations in the context of international law and the use of force evoke several observations. While many legal scholars outline circumstances authorizing or limiting the use of force, those concerned with arms control focus on mechanisms that constrain access to the most dangerous weapons. Arms control agreements fall into a special group of international commitments. A state party to an arms control agreement may ignore potential legal claims if the relationship established under an evolving arms control agreement preserves that state's substantive interests. The nature of the relationship between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics plays a critical role in the viability of future arms control agreements. In fact, the radical shift in Eastern Europe has allowed the execution of a new conventional arms control agreement. Consequently, US-Soviet arms control agreements invariably contain "verification" provisions that assist each party in evaluation of the compliance of the other party.
