ABSTRACT
The Biological Disarmament Convention can serve as model for chemical disarmament, but some of its weaknesses and ambiguities would not be tolerated now, considering the nature of the weapons to be banned under a chemical convention. The main issue in the chemical disarmament debate has been what should be the scope of the prohibition. This chapter examines the controversial question in the light of the opinions expressed by the participants in the debate. The acceptance by the United States of the prevailing international opinion that the present law prohibiting the use of chemical weapons comprehensively covers all chemical agents- including irritant agents, such as tear gas, and anti-plant agents, might facilitate negotiations on the scope of a chemical disarmament convention. Chemical weapon-free zones could be established in different parts of the world; for example, the Treaty of Tlatelolco, prohibiting nuclear weapons in Latin America, could be expanded to include chemical weapons.
