A/PV.327 General Assembly

Before asking Mr. Thors, Rapporteur of the First Committee, to present his report on the only item on the agenda of this meeting, I should like to ask the Assembly whether it wishes to !~ave a debate on the report of the First Committee. It was decided, by 32 'Votes to 5, not to discuss the report. Mr. Thors (Iceland), Rappo.yCeur, presented the report of the First Committee and the accompanying draft resolution (A/1770). 2. The PRESIDENT (translated from French): Before calling on those members who wish to explain their votes, I should like to draw your attention to the letter [A/1379/Add.l] which the Secretary-General has addressed to me as President of the General Assembly, and in which he informs me that the Security Counc'~ has decided to remove the item, "Complaint of aggression against the Republic of Korea", from the list of matters of which it is seized. 3. General ROMULO (Philippines): The views of the Philippine Government on the draft resolution before us were set forth during the debates in the ~irst Committee1 and I do not wish to repeat them here. 4. I fe~l, however, that we cannot allow to pass unanswered, in explaining our vote, the invidious claim of any delegation that it alone, together with those that share its views, was dedicated to the cause of peace, while the others which did not share those views were, by implication, committed to the disastrous course of war. For our part, we are ready to allow that our 1 See Official Recoyds of the IGeneral Assembly, Fifth Session, First Committee, 408th to 438th meetings inclusive. 689 A/PV.327 colleagues from Asia and the Middle East are equally sincere in their devotion to peace. Though our approach has differed from theirs, our gor.ti retl1ains the same. 5. We shall vote in favour of this draft resolution, as we did in Committee, because we are convinced, more than ever, that of the two paths that werf~ shown to us, this is the surer way to peace. It is the surer way to peace to the extent that it is based on the recognition, not the avoidance, of truth and on the affirmation, not the denial, of right principles. The Philippine delega- tion will vote, as it did in Committee, for the draft resolution. 6. Mr. TSARAPKIN (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (translated from Russian) : The discussion in the First Committee of the so-called question of th~ intervention of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China in Korea has sbmvn the whole world that the United States never intended to arrive at a peaceful settlement of the Korean question by means of negotiation. J 7. Everyone knows of the exchange of telegrams whicl1 took place with the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China on the conditions for a peaceful settlement of Far Eastern questions. An analy- sis of these telegrams shows how, step.by step, the Government of the People's Republic of China, in its desire for a peaceful settlement of the Korean question and other Far Eastern problems, submitted proposals which might well have led to successful negotiations for the peaceful settlement of these questions and which offered a sound basis rDr general agreement. . 8. The USSR delegation supported those proposals of the People's Republic of China as being most likely to ensure a rapid and peaceful settlement of the Korean question and of questions affecting the People's Repub- lic of China and the Far East. Furthermore, it pointed out in the First Committee that such questions could not be discussed without the participation of repre- sentatives of the Korean and Chinese peoples. gation in the First Committee and to support the United States draft resolution. 16. In order to facilitate the position of the United States delegation in the First Committee and the Gen- eral Assembly, the United States House of Representa- tives and Senate came to kts aid by adopting special resolutions. Those resolutions can be regarded only as an attempt by United States organs of government to exert heavy pressure on the United Nations so as to force the Organization to endorse the aggressive policy of the United States in this matter. 17. As is known, this pressure and these threats by the United States have had the desired effect on certain Members of the Udted Nations, and the voting ma- chine, which seemed to have broken down, again began to work in favour of the United States, albeit so~ewhat creakily. 18. The discussion in the First Committee showed that there was definite opposition to the aggressive policy of the ruling circles of the United States, and this fact cannot be ignored, whatever the results of the vote on the United States draft resolution. 19. In this connexion, attention should be drawn to the efforts made by the delegations of twelve countries to find some measure of agreflment for the peaceful settlement of the Korean question and other Far East- ern problems by means of negotiation; these attempts were unsuccessful, owing to the crude and flagrant pressure, blackmail and threats used by the United States against the countries which intended to support the efforts of those twelve countries. As a result of that pressure, many countries which are economically and otherwbe dep'~ndent on the United States were obliged to fall into line a~d obey the orders of the United States delegation. 20. In conclusion, th~ USSR delegation feels oblig/ed to PQint out once again that the purpose of the United States draft resolution, whici~ has now been submitted to the General Assembly by the First Committee, is to extend the aggression ~rpetrated by the United States in Korea and against the People':, Republic of China. By submitting that text, the United States has finally shown itself to be opposed to the ~aceful settlement of the Korean and other Far Eastern questions by negotia- tion; by means of this draft resolution the United States is trying to mask its 'continued aggression in Korea and its aggression against the People's Republic of China. 21. It is for these reasons that the delegation of the Soviet Union will vote against the draft resolution sub- mitted to the General Assembly. 22. Mr. TSIANG (China): Before the vote is taken I should like to state that, in the opinion of my delega- States~ in keeping with its poH<:y - the natu~e.~f which is only i:oo clear from the vast programme Imtiated by the ruling circles of the United States in order to pro- mote a war psychosis and to prepare and car9' out other acts of agg-:\~ssion - not only does not Wish for a peaceful s\~ttll;me'1t of the Korean conflict, but is seeking to p':olon~~ ;'LIld extend its aggression in Korea and against ;~he People's Republic of China. 28. That is why the 'United States delegation did all it could to prevent the p'~aceft!! settlement of the Korean question all.d of all othej~ Far East~m problems and to nullify all attempts to negotiate on such matters. That is why the': United States delegr~tion rejected all the proposals of the Central Peopl~/s Government of the People's F.',epublic of China for the rapid ;t..nd pp..Jl(:eful settlement .of the Korean question a:nd of all questions affecting th(" People's Republic of t1tina and the Far East. That is why the delegation ,of the United St?tes submitted its draft ~e~olilti0n, the purpose of which was to prolong and extend Unit~d States aggression in Korea and against the People's Republic of China. 29. By foisting this draft resolution on the United Nations, the United States is using the OrganiZAtion of the United Nations Charter and to the aspirations of hundreds of millions of people throughout the world, who yearn for peace and do not want war. . 31. Mr. NOSEK (Czechoslovakia): The Czechoslo- vak delegation stated in the course of the debate in the First Committee its reasons for supporting the peace proposals sub.mitted by the Central People's Govern- ment of the People's Repr~lic of China 8Ild its o~po­ sition to the draft resolutio11 proposed by the Untted States. 32. The proposals submitted by the. Central ?eopl~'s Government oJ the People's Republic of China give expression to the sincere and insistent desire ?f the Chinese people for peace. They are an expression of a desire for a peaceful settlement of the Korean qu~­ tion and all Far Eastern problems and for collaboration with all peace-loving nations so that peace may be secured and maintained. . 33. The draft resolution submitted by the Unitoo States and approved by the so-called maJority of the First Committee has noting in common with peace or with the maintenance, strengthening and securing of oeace. That draft resolution is but an expression of the War hyzteria of the ruling circles of ltne United Stat~ and their lust for Yv"ar, which they wer'e already waging in June 1950. 3~ . During the debate in the Fii"st Committee, many phras~s about peace, open doors, :l1?-d w~l~~~ess. tt.! negotiate were uttered by the delegatio:: 0.1. the Untted States. What sh"1low, false and hypocritical phrases they were was re. ea!ed by the methods used by the ruling circles of the United States, both within the United Nations and outside, to secure the adoption of the draft resolution. 35. The statement made to the First Committee by the delegation of the United Sta~~ to the effect that it would vote against the twelve-Po~rer draft resolution regardless of any amendments, provides, in my opinion, further proof that the ruling drc1es of the United States never wan.tOO and do not now want to negotiate a peace- ful settlement of the Korean question and other Far Eastern p::oblems. 36. The methods used by the United States ruling circles outside the United Nations to bring about the adoption of their draft resolution are w~ll. illustrated by examples such as that of the two million tons of grain requested by India. May I be allowed to quote in this conn~.xion an article by David Lawrence in today's New ..YOt·.~ Herald Tribune, in which he writes: "The vote in the UN on the aggression resolution is in a proper sense a v1dory for the diplomacy of the United States and particularly for the ambassadors and ministers abroad who have heen labouring so zealously in' the last few weeks tu explain to the different foreign offices of the world th~ tru,e mean- ing of the American viewpoint in world. aflairs today.'; to yield to the pressure of the United States and follow the war policy of the United States luling circles, thus becoming involved in a possible catastrlJphe, or to decide to take the road of peace. The draft resolution submitted by the First Committee to the General As- sembly, under unprecedented pressure on the part of the United Stat(:>s, is a draft resolution of the United States ~:armongers, the purpose of which is to enable the United States ruling circles to attain their aggressive and imperialist aims, to expand the war and to spread disaster and death. War, not peace, is the substance of the United States draft resolution. 40. The Czechoslovak delegation opposed the United States war draft resolution when it was voted on in the First Committee and whole-heartedly supported the peace proposals of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. The Central People's Government of th,~ People's Repuhlic of China desires peace; the Unitec, States ruling cildes desire war. The Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China wishes an end to the war; the United States ruling circles wish to spread the war. The Central People's Goyernment of 'i.:he People"s Republic of China wishes to work in peace for the rehabilitation of its country and thus contribute to the maintenance of peace in the whole world; the United States ruling circles want to destroy the world with atomic bombs. 41. The Czechoslovak delegation states again that the people of Czechoslovakia sincerely desire peace. The 1)eople of Czechoslovakia reject war. Therefore the Czechoslovak delegation will vote against the war draft re~lution which is now before the General Assembly. 42. Sir Gladwyn JEBB (Uruted Kingdom): I have already, in Committee, given a full explanation of His Majesty's Govemment's views on the present draft resolution, and 1 now wish to give only a short ex- planation of the understandings which have enabled my government to instruct me to vote in favour ef the draft. 43. In the first place, a.; you know, we attach primary importance to the work of the gootl offices committee, provision for wIDch is made in the last paragrapq of the draft resolution. My government has the utmost Vi~ry difficult one. 44. My government hopes that the first task of the group will be to study the various communications that have been received, through one channel or another, from the Peking Government, and see what light they throw on the possibilities of peaceful negotiation and what further clarifications seem to be required. This is obviously a most urgent and important task. 45. Secondly, as I have already made clear in Com- mittee, my government attaches great importance to the ideas contained in the programme outlined to us in Committee by the Canadian Secretary of State for Ex- ternal Affairs. This programme seems to us to contain many valuable ideas and, in the opinion of my govern- ment, might well form the basis of an eventual settle- ment 46. It will not have escaped the President's notice that there are many points in thin programme which seem to require urgent discussion ~ for instance, the compo- sition of the conference which has been suggested and the manner in which it shmlld proceed to organize the arrangements for a cease-fire iif there appears to be any possibility of doing so - with due regard, of course, to the principles which we have already accepted. These questions clearly merit the urgent attention of the good offices committee. 47. I am sure that the President has fully in mind all these suggestions which have been made in the course of our debate, and, if I emphasize them at this moment, it is because of the confidence my government feels in the ability of'the President and the other members of his committe~ to pursue these negotiations with the utmost devotion. It is only for that reason that my government has felt it possible to instruct me to vote in favour of the draft resolution as a whole. 48, Finally, now that we have established our moral position by condemning the Central People's Govern- ment of the People's Republic of China for engaging in aggression, the most important thing, as my deiegatioiul sees it, is to concentrate on the problem of a peaceful settlement - or, as I myself should prefer to say, of an agreed solution of the Korean question - rather than on the question of potential sanctions. 49. Apart from the fact that the consideration of sanc- tions should not even be started by the General As- sembly for a long time yet, so as not to prejudice any hope of an agreed solution that may remain, my govern- ment quite frankly has the gravest doubts whether any punitive measures can be discovered which are not dange.mus, double-edged, or merely useless, or any which will materially assist our brave troops now fight- ing in Korea. The group to be set up under the sixth paragraph of the operative part to study the question may well report in this sense, or it may report that cel ~ain minor 'nlc.~sures could profitably be taken. But it is obviously doubtful how far its report, whether negative or mildly positive, can assist in the attainment of any agreed solution, on the Ci.1e hand, or any imposed solution, on the other hand. cover~d up its ovv-:;' aggression against the Korean people; it is now trying to conceal its aggression against the Chinese people in the same way. 65. Thus the text before us is intended to secure not the peaceful settlement of the Korean and other Far Eastern questions, but the extension of United States aggression in the Far East under the aegis of the United Nations. 66. The delegation of the Ukrainian SSR therefore protests against the adoption of this draft resolution by the Gener~.1 Assembly. In the interests of the main- tenance of international peace and security, the United Nations should reject the United States draft resolu- tion which has been submitted by the First Committee and should take steps to secure a peaceful settlement of the Korean ant' other Far Eastern questions. 67. Mr. LACOSTE (Frc:mce) (translated from French): The French delegation has already said all it has to say concerning the circumstances in which - I might be tempted to say the conditions under which -it decided to support the United States draft reso- lution. I do not think it is nece~sary for me to mention them again. In the statement I made on 29 January, I gave all the necessary explanations. At that ti- .; I also explained why my delegation considered thaL the Assembly should first take a decision along the lines of the United States drnft resolution, and in particular of the first paragraph (If the operative part of that text, which described the intenention of Communist China in Korea, and that only then would it be possible to begin negotiations for pea(~e. ~. I think it is even less necessary to reaffirm the fact that in this matter my delegation has no other object than peace. As to the choice of the path to follow, we have certainly not been in agreement ....;ith the view of some delegations here present, which procla~m their desire for peace, but our goal is the sanle - peace. And it it: with the firmest hopes for success that we shall deploy all our efforts to that end. , 69. Faris EL-KHOURI Bey (Syria): My govern- ment believes that the means for achieving a peaceful settIem€~ It have not been exhausted. It has participated in the e1r.orts at conciliation made by the Asian and Arab nations since the be~i1ning of thi~ probkm. It still enter~ains good and well-founded hopes that there A~in, according to high authorities, the General As- sembly, while it can make various recommendations under Articles 10 or 11 of the Charter, cannot make a finding or a determination as to an act of aggression. 76. Finally, the draft resolution submitted by twelve Asian Powers in the First Committee would, had it been adopted, have produced a cease-fire, within perhaps a week, and a definite programme for the removal of various misunderstandings and for the solution of all Far Eastern problems. The present draft resolution does not appear to us to offer any prospect of an early end of hostilities, nor does it hold out any prospect of a solution of any of these other problems. 77. Mahmoud FAWZI Bey (Egypt): On general principle, and, since it is my intention to take as little of the General Assembly's time as possible, I shall con- tinue to resi~t .;.11 temptation to answer the - fortunately few - falladous irrelevancies of some of those who have spoken befc,'re me, either today or previously. 78. Although I may know some of the good words and many of the bad ones, I shall also continue to resist the even more luscious temptatior.. of commenting 'upon the equally few - and fortunately..so -"- impatient ges- tures which occasionally flared cp in the Committee. In doing this, I keep in mind that we are dealing here exclusively with opinions and that an impatient gesture is nQt an opinion. I take leave, however, to make an exception for the remark which was made this morning by my colleague and friend, General R6mulo, who re- ferred to twelve of the Asian Powers in a rather im- patient manner, which we are not accustomed to hearing from him. 79. I note that f'xeneral R6mulo said that he could not 4'allow to pass unanswered . . . the invidious claim of any delegation that it alone . . . was dedicated to the cause of peace" and that the rest of them uwere, by implication, comn~itted to the disastrous course of war", and that he was - and, for my part, I add the word "generously" - willing to allow that his colleagues from Asia and the Middle East were "equally sincere in their devption to peace". 80. I am trying to refresh my memory very carefully in this connexion, but I fail to find that any representa- tive of the twelve Asian Powers to which General R6mulo referred accused anyone of insincerity or claimed for himself or his group a monopoly of sin- cerity or good intentions. 81. May I, in this connexion, refer to what I told the First Committee on 29 January, at which time I ~,aid that those who differed with us, though we considered them dangerously wrong, were sincere. Before that, on 25 January, I told the First Committee - I am reading from my statement and not quoting from memory: "There has been a great area of ag£eement among all of us as to the basic nature of these questions, while there has been a lesser area of agreement as to the best approach to their solution ... [Nevertheless] it remains true that we all - without exception, I submit _. realize the seriousness and the hugeness of the questions we are facing, and we are quite con- Jl See Kelsen, Hans, The Law of the United Nations, New York, Frederick A. Praeger Inc., 1950. I " For the summary of this statement, see ibid., 435th meet- ing. Against.' India, Poland, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Burma, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Czechoslovakia. Printed in U.S.A. Budget estimates for the financial year 1951: statement by the President [Agenda item 39] 95. The PRESIDENT (translated from French): Before adjourning the meeting, I have a brief statement to make. I wish to call the attention of the members of the General Assembly to document A/1734/Add.l, which was circulated on 21 December 1950. This docu- ment contains the text of the draft resolution on the emoluments of the judges and the registrar of the InteInational Court of Justice, as proposed by the Fifth Committee. It is an integral part of the budget estimates for the financial year 1951 prepared by the Fifth Committee [A/1734]. On 15 December 1950 [326th meeting], when the General Assembly adopted the Fifth Committee's recommendations on this item of the agenda, the te.'-t uf addendum 1 had not been circulated to the members of the Assembly. However, as it was obviously the intention of the Assembly on that date to approve the recommendations of the Fifth Committee in their entirety, I have decided that the draft resolution contained in the addendum should be considered, for the record, as having been adopted on the same date as the other draft resolutions contained in document A/1734. 96. If there are no objections, I shall consider that the Assembly approves my decision. It was so decided. A-40464-Apri11951-3,6PO