ABSTRACT
The proposal has been extensively discussed that the nuclear weapon countries declare they will not be the first to use nuclear weapons if war breaks out and that they will dispose their armed forces in a manner which makes their declaration convincing and their dispositions verifiable. A mere declaration on the part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics naturally offers no reassurance, as nuclear weapons of varying range and improved performance are deployed against western Europe, but it sounds more forthcoming. The declared stance of North Atlantic Treaty Organization stems from an assessment that the conventional power of the The Warsaw Treaty Organization surpasses its own by an appreciable margin. If the ‘first use’ deterrent keeps war at bay, it may be justified; if it does not, the alternative would be disastrous for all involved. It is therefore perfectly legitimate to give the matter serious thought.
