ABSTRACT
The Conference on Disarmament has been meeting in Geneva for many years. A total of 40 nations are represented there. Some progress was made concerning chemical disarmament in 1984. Discussions took place about how to deal with chemicals which could be used for both peaceful and military ends. There are three elements in the Geneva talks: strategic nuclear weapons, intermediate-range nuclear weapons and space weapons. A Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty would prohibit the testing of any nuclear warhead in any environment. This would inhibit the modernization of nuclear warheads. The 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty bans atmospheric testing but does not prevent underground tests. Between July 1945 and the end of 1984, 1493 nuclear explosions were carried out. The Partial Test Ban Treaty, signed in 1963, did nothing to reduce the number of tests. The primary goal of the Stockholm Conference is to achieve agreements which soothe fears of surprise attack and reduce the chances of countries stumbling into war.
