S/PV.1836 Security Council

The Security Council will now continue its discussion of the matter before it, which was begun at our morning meeting. The next speaker is the representative of Romania. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement. The meeting was called to order at 3.30 p.m.

Mr. President, I should first like to express to you and the other members of the Security Council the gratitude of the Romanian delegation for having provided us with the opportunity to present the position of the Romanian Government on the item now being dealt with by the Council. Adoption of the agenda The agenda was adopted. Report of the Security Council Committee on the Admission of New Members concerning the applications of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam (S/l 1794) 5. It is a source of particular satisfaction to us to speak before the Security Council under the presidency of an illustrious representative of Japan-a friendly country with which Romania is developing excellent relations of co-operation based on mutual confidence and respect, on equality of rights and mutual advantage.

In accordance with the decision taken this morning [283&h meeting], I propose now, with the consent of the Council, to invite the representatives of Cuba, the German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Hungary, India, Poland, Romania, Somalia and Yugoslavia to participate in the discussion without the right to vote. 6. It is for me a signal honour to be able warmly to welcome, on behalf of the Romanian Government, the presence here in the United Nations of the first representantives accredited as Observers for the Republic of South Viet-Nam, Mr. Dinh Ba Thi, and for the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam, Mr. Nguyen Van Luu. I should like to extend to them our warm congratulations, to express to them our best wishes for success and to assure them of our complete support in the accomplishment of their mission. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Acosta Rodriguez (Cuba), Mr. Neugebauer (German Democratic Republic), Mrs. Jeanne Martin Cissh (Guinea), Mr. B&y&z (Hungary), Mr. Jaipal (India), Mr. Czarkowski (Poland), Mr. Datcu (Romania), Mr. Hussein (Somalia) and Mr. Petri6 (Yugoslavia) took the places reserved for them at the side of the Council chamber.

In addition, I should like to inform the members of the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Algeria requesting that he be invited to participate in the discussion of the question on the Council’s agenda in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 7. At present the Security Council is considering the requests for admission to the United Nations of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam, both sovereign States which 8. For 30 years the Vietnamese people has had to struggle against internal reactionary forces and against foreign intervention in order to defend its right to free, dignified and independent development. The resounding victory of the Vietnamese people has once again confirmed the great truth of our times, that when a people is determined resolutely to defend its sacred and inalienable right to freedom and national independence no force in the world is capable of preventing it from winning a complete victory. 9. Socialist Romania has from the very outset expressed its solidarity with the heroic struggle of the Vietnamese people and we have given it all our support for the final liberation of its homeland. We consider the victory of the Vietnamese people a historic contribution to the success of the struggle of progressive anti-colonial forces against the former policies of force, diktat and interference in the internal affairs of countries in order to support and to safeguard the right of all peoples to be masters of their own destinies and to organize their lives along independent lines in accordance with their own aspirations and with a view to building a better and fairer world. 10. The fortunate outcome of events in Indo-China has created for the sorely tried Vietnamese people conditions which will enable it to get down to the task of reconstruction and the democratic development of its society in order to achieve the noble ideals of economic and social progress. In this complicated task they must be able to rely on the support and solidarity of the international community as a whole and at the same time to derive benefit from the fruits of multilateral co-operation within intemational organizations. 11. The admission of the Republic of South Viet- Nam and of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam to membership in the United Nations is, after all, only a natural and logical step, long awaited by the world public, that will thus bring about their complete incorporation into the ranks of the community of sovereign independent nations. That is why the Romanian Government gives its full support to the requests of the two Vietnamese States to become Members of the United Nations. We sincerely believe it is the mission of the Organization to concert the efforts of all peace-loving States in order to strengthen its capacity and to enhance its role. 13. Acceptance of the applications would not only be a political act in harmony with the principles of the Charter of the Organization; it would also be an act of justice, and would mean that the Organization had fulfilled its duty towards the Vietnamese people, which, through its countless sacrifices, has so gloriously defended the great principles of the Charter. The admission of the two Vietnamese States to the United Nations must be considered the recognition of a right that has been won by the Vietnamese people at the end of a long and arduous struggle, the culmination of their struggle for national independence. 14. The people of Viet-Nam has addressed itself to the Organization. The Organization as a whole, and each and every one of its Members, must find a source of satisfaction in the fact that after such a lengthy struggle, and even before their wounds had healed, one of the first acts of foreign policy of the two Vietnamese States was to seek membership in the Organization so as to contribute to it their experience, their energy and their efforts and to work with the other nations of the world to strengthen peace and co-operation internationally. It is now up to the Organization, and particularly at this stage it is up tn you, the members of the Security Council, to give them an unequivocal and affirmative reply. It is in that spirit that the Romanian Government voices the hope that the members of this lofty forum will accede to the justified requests submitted by the. Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and that the draft resolutions sponsored by nine States [S/Z1795 and S/l 17961 will be adopted.

The next speaker is the representative of India. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement.

Mr. President, may I extend to you my warm congratulations on your assumption of the office of President of the Security Council for this month and wish you every success. My delegation is grateful to you, Sir, and to the other members of the Security Council for giving us this opportunity to express our views on the important question now engaging the attention of the Council. 17. The Government and people of India have long been interested in the successful outcome of the struggle for independence of the Vietnamese people, an interest which goes back to the days of our own national movement for independence. Historically 21. We are well aware of precedents in the past for denying admission to one State or more unless some other States were also admitted at the same time. Those precedents have not added to the glory of the Organization. But there are surely other precedents to follow, and my delegation hopes that the members of the Security Council would not allow alien factors to enter into their consideration of the applications for admission before them. On the contrary, we hope that they will base their decision exclusively on whether or not the two applicant States fulfil the conditions for admission established by the Charter. We think that they do, and therefore we think they should be admitted without question and without delay. 18. It was our expectation-and, indeed, that of many others too-that Viet-Nam would have joined the United Nations at the same time as the other two States of Indo-China, but that did not happen. Instead, the struggle of the Vietnamese people to free themselves of all foreign forces entered a new and more harrowing phase in which the country became divided and the land and the people became the testing-ground for the terrifying weapons of modern war. No other war of national liberation has left such a big scar on the conscience of the United Nations, because, as an organization, the United Nations stood aside and did nothing. That was one local conflict which the United Nations did not even try to stop, and as a consequence the United Nations has, if I may say so, developed a sort of guilt complex about Viet-Nam. It must therefore make all of us feel quite small to be facing a situation in which the Vietnamese people themselves seek representation in the Organization that did so little for them. In these circumstances one would have thought that the United Nations would admit the two applicant States of Viet-Nam quietly, without any fuss, and, what is more, offer to make amends to them for the years of neglect by the United Nations, 22. Lastly, I should like to draw the attention of the members of the Council to Article 2, paragraph 6, of the Charter, which reads: “The Organization shall ensure that States which are not Members of the United Nations act in accordance with these principles so far as may be necessary for the maintenance of international peace and security”. 23. Is it not an obligation of the United Nations under this Article to admit a State that qualifies for membership? Because by doing so the United Nations would be ensuring that it does in fact act in accordance with the Charter’s principles for maintenance of peace and security. It would be a very strange way indeed for the United Nations to fulfil its clear obligation under Article 2, paragraph 6, of the Charter by denying States membership when they apply for it and when they fulfil the conditions for membership. This aspect of the Charter I would commend to those who may be thinking of casting a negative vote on the two draft resolutions before the Security Council. 19. There is a certain pathos and irony in the present situation that cannot have escaped even the most unsentimental among us. However, let me now turn to the cold legal aspects of the case. The conditions for, admission of new Members are stipulated in Article 4 of the Charter as being three. First, the applicant must accept the obligations contained in the Charter. Secondly, the applicant must be a peace-loving State. Thirdly, the applicant must be able and willing to carry out the obligations contained in the Charter.

The next name on the list of speakers is that of the representative of Hungary. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement. 20. I believe that it is the general view of all members in the Council that these three conditions are fulfilled in the case of the two applicant States, of Viet-Nam. Even so, the Charter and the provisional rules of procedure permit any member of the Security Council to cast a negative vote for reasons unrelated to the conditions of admission of appiicant States. And if one permanent member of the Council were to cast a negative vote for extraneous reasons, the applicant States could not be admitted to the United Nations. That is the correct legal position. It seems that what the Charter gives with one hand, it takes away with the other. In such a curious situation it is not possible to maintain the so-called prin-

Mr. President, I should like to extend our sincere appreciation to you, Sir, and to all members of the Security Council for giving my delegation the opp,ortunity to express our views in the course of the discussion in the Council on the question of the applications of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and the Republic of South Viet-Nam for membership in the United Nations. It is our privilege to participate in this meeting under your wise guidance. 26. I am pleased to take the opportunity, on behalf of my Government, to welcome whole-heartedly 27. The delegation of the Hungarian People’s Republic asked to be allowed to speak on this occasion of great significance not only because we followed closely the consideration of the question concerned, but for the very reason that there are warm and very friendly ties between the Hungarian and the Vietnamese people. The cause of the Vietnamese people has always been close to our heart. The Hungarian people, in the true spirit of proletariat internationalism, has consistently stood for the heroic struggle of the Vietnamese people to attain national independence, sovereignty and freedom. The Hungarian People’s Republic has done its utmost to assist the Vietnamese people in their legitimate struggle, and we shall do our best in the future as well. 28. Along with the overwhelming majority of the States Members of the United Nations, the Government of the Hungarian People’s Republic is convinced that the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and the Republic of South Viet-Nam truly and fully deserve membership in the Organization without any delay. The Governments of these countries have repeatedly expressed their readiness and willingness to fulfil their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations. 29. The delegation of the Hungarian People’s Republic is certain that the admission of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and the Republic of South Viet-Nam will definitely strengthen the United Nations and its endeavours towards international peace, security and co-operation. Thus, everybody will gain and nobody will lose. Even those countries ‘which today do not seem to realize it will gain through the admission. The victory of the Vietnamese people in their legitimate struggle for national independence has given a very significant impetus to detente in the world and in particular provides a step forward to lasting peace and security in South-East Asia, whose peoples have suffered so much in the past. 30. A great number of countries have paid their tribute to the victory of the Vietnamese people and pledged their assistance for the building up of their war-torn country. It is my privilege to confirm here again that the Hungarian people and Government fully support the friendly people of Viet-Nam in the reconstruction of their homeland. 31. It is my ‘delegation’s firm conviction that the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and the Republic

I have received a letter from the representative of Bulgaria requesting that he be invited to participate in the discussion of the question on the Council’s agenda in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the provisional rules of procedure. I propose that the Council agree, in accordance with the usual practice, to invite the representative of Bulgaria to participate in the discussion without the right to vote. In view of the limited number of seats available at the Council table; I. invite the representative of Bulgaria to take the place reserved for him at the side of the Council chamber, on the usual understanding that he will be invited to take a place at the Council table when it is his turn to address the Council. At the’ invitation of the President, Mr. Ghelev (Bulgaria) took ihe place reserved for him at the side of the Council chamber.

The next name on’the list of speakers is that of the representative of Poland. I invite him to take ‘a place at the Council table and to make his statement.

Mr. President, permit me in the. first place to congratulate you very warmly on your assumption of the presidency of this principal organ of the United Nations. Indeed, it is rewarding for a Pole to see the representative of Japan, ,with which my country maintains. friendly, relations, presiding over the Security Council. 35. I should also like to express my delegation’s gratitude to you, Sir, as well as to all the other members of the.Council for having enabled me to express the views of Poland on the important item beforeus., Furthermore, I wish, also to greet cordially here in the United Nations the Observers for, the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of ,Viet-Nam, Mr. Dinh Ba Thi and Mr. Nguyen Van Luu. 36. As the members of the Council are aware, Poland has for a number of years been a member of the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Viet-Nam. With all the memories of the Second World War, which took a toll of more than 6 million Polish lives, our representatives carried out their mission in Viet-Nam with particular sensitivity to the cause of the heroic struggle of the Vietnamese 37. With all the greater satisfaction and joy, shared by all the peoples of the world, we welcomed the end of the war in Viet-Nam, effected as it was by the victory of its brave people. We have particularly appreciated the overwhelming reaction of easiness and understanding demonstrated in this connexion by the people of-the United States. My delegation is firmly convinced that there is hardly anyone -unless deprived of human feelings and political realism-who would not wish the people of Viet- Nam every success in the construction of a peaceful life after more than an entire generation of its courageous struggle. Hence we both greet and hail the applications by the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam for admission to membership in the United Nations. Poland lends them its full and unequivocal support. In our view, these applications testify to the growing confidence of the two countries towards the world community and to the expectations they link with the Organization. To disappoint them would be tantamount to repeating the old mistakes, when resort to obsolete tactics more than once harmed the effectivness of the Organization. 38. Much to our amazement, a point has been raised lately about the so-called linkage with some other issues of the admission of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam to membership in the United Nations. My delegation does not believe that moves of that sort help to strengthen the Charter of the United Nations. Quite to the contrary, they are bound only to undermine its provisions by departing from the only correct and legal criteria for membership in the United Nations, as laid down in Article 4 of the Charter. 39. It is the considered view of the Government and the people of Poland that there is only one logical and consistent road to follow on the question we are discussing, namely, that of recommendation by the Security Council to admit the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam to the United Nations. Both of them enjoy recognition by a great number of States; they are full-fledged members of the world community and deserve admission on all grounds, be they legal or political. We are saying this also in the spirit of wellconceived universality of the Organization. In these days of growing understanding among nations, at a time of progressing detente and general rapprochement, it is all the more the duty of the family of nations to help the people of Viet-Nam in whatever way we can to restore its war-ravaged land to normal life.

The next speaker is the representative of Somalia. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement.

Mr. President, I should like,. first of all, to thank you and, through you, the members of the Council for having allowed us to participate in the debate on the item which the Council is now considering. May I, at the outset, express my delegation’s congratulations to you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of August. I am confident that your wisdom and long experience will guide the Council in the right direction in its deliberations. 43. I should like also to express my delegation’s congratulations to your predecessor, Mr. Plaja of Italy, on the successful and skilful manner in which he conducted the business of the Council for the month of July. I should like to address the same expression to Mr. Cavaglieri, who made a positive contribution and tactfully conducted the informal and formal activities of the Council during Mr. Plaja’s absence. 44. In view of the importance of the items which the Council now has before it-namely, the applications for admission to membership in the United Nations submitted by the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam-my Government considered it necessary to request the Council, through you, Sir, to permit it to explain its views on the subject under consideration. 45. After decades of continuous aggression, devastation, bloodshed, and destruction, it is gratifying to note today that the long-frustrated aspirations of the people of Viet-Nam have been realized. The heroic and legitimate struggle of the Vietnamese people for the attainment of their birthright, national independence and sovereignty, and for the elimination of all foreign intervention in the internal affairs of their country has at last produced the desired result. This historic-and, in a way, unique-victory of the people of Viet-Nam in achieving the total liberation of their country from foreign domination can only be, and quite rightly so, attributable to their courageous and undaunted determination to become the true masters in the management of their own affairs. These long-cherished objectives have been achieved, and there is now peace throughout Viet- Nam, for the first time in almost two generations. 46. It is against this background that my delegation takes special pleasure in seeing today that the appli- 47. It has been argued that in order to consider these two applications, from the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam, respectively, a third application-submitted by the Republic of South Korea-must be also considered. My delegation considers such an argument out of context. We feel that the Council’s acceptance or rejection of one country’s application should not be a condition for the consideration of that of another. In fact, I am grateful to the representative of Guyana ‘for having quoted, this morning, in order to refresh our minds, the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on this particular point [1835th meeting, para. 93. 48. In this connexion, the Council was completely right in declining to consider the South Korean application, for it has been the normal practice of the United Nations not to consider favourably a unilateral application for membership from a Government representing a part of a divided country. This is especially true with regard to the Korean peninsula when we take into account the well-known joint communique of South and North Korea of 4 July 1972, which, among other things, provided that: The reunification of the country should be achieved independently, without reliance upon outside force or its interference; The reunification of the country should be achieved by peaceful means, without recourse to the use of arms against the other side; and great national unity should be promoted.’ It was in the light of that breakthrough that the General Assembly, in a decision adopted at its twenty-eighth session, affirmed by consensus the need to promote the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea.2 49. My delegation notes with surprise that, in spite of all these facts, the United States delegation has made it clear that it is prepared to vote in favour of the consideration of these applications only when the South Korean one is also included for consideration. In reaction to the expressed position of the United States, the Co-ordinating Committee of the Non-Aligned Countries, of which my country is privileged to be a member, on 7 August issued a declaration [S/11793] in which, among other things, it reiterated the unqualified support of the non-aligned countries for the cause of the Vietnamese people in general, and especially for their applications for admission to the United Nations, a matter it considers as being fully in conformity with the spirit and the letter of the Charter of the United Nations. 51. It will be unfortunate if, because of the declared intention of the Government of the United States of America to use its veto power, the Security Council fails to meet the requests of the two States that have applied for membership when they have fully met the conditions required by the Charter for the admission of States. It will therefore be injudicious, in the opinion of my delegation, if the United States Government links their admission to that of South Korea as a package deal. 52. It is in view of these considerations that my delegation wishes to call upon the Government of the United States to reconsider its position and go along with the rest of the members of the Council in recommending to the General Assembly the admission to membership of the two Vietnamese States, so that they can take their rightful places in the international community.

The next speaker is the representative of Cuba. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement.

Mr. President, my delegation is pleased to greet you as President of the Security Council at a time when this body is witnessing events of an undoubted historical importance. We know that your talent and ability are dedicated to the smooth progress of our proceedings, and my delegation therefore assures you of our continued support. I also thank you for having swiftly acceded to the request of Cuba to speak, in accordance with the provisional rules of procedure, on the item on the agenda. 55. Cuba wishes without delay to express its unconditional support for the just aspiration of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam to become fully fledged Members of the United Nations. Cuba considers that the admission of the Republic of South Viet- Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam is a logical consequence-which pleases us-of the achievement by their peoples of sovereignty and independence after a lengthy and bloody struggle. 56. Cuba considers that the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam are prepared and willing and able to shoulder the responsibilities placed upon them under the Charter of the United Nations, and would therefore make a 61. Cuba is happy and proud to have present among us the representatives of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam, whom we have seen arriving in this city and at United Nations Headquarters with no show of rancour or hostility and even extending a friendly hand to the selfsame Government which so viciously committed aggression against them, despite the fact that it even refuses to participate in the tasks of reconstruction of Viet-Nam as stipulated in article 21 of the Paris Agreements.3 57. More than 80 new States have entered the United Nations since the Council considered this question in 1949. The matter was considered three times again, that is to say, in 1955, 1957 and 1958, with the same decisively negative result. 58. My delegation will comment specifically on the Korean item when the time comes and in the appropriate body. Now I wish merely to recall that it has been United Nations practice in the case of the admission of two States which share the territory of a divided country that both should express firm agreement in applying for membership. And if this were not enough, we still recall the decision adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-eighth session with the aim of encouraging the reunification of Korea into a single State.2 62. What kind of reaction have the Vietnamese representatives encountered in response to their attitude? On the part of the Government of the United States, they have encountered what might, in a sad recollection of the past, which has taught us so much, be described as an escalation of the veto. If the veto is applied, it will suffer as resounding a defeat as did the bellicose escalations of the past. If necessary, the General Assembly will speak for Viet-Nam; it will take it upon itself to defend its right and to remove the ladder from the escalation, as it were, thus transforming it into a leap into the void. My delegation proclaims that the veto will not achieve what bombs and bullets failed to win. Neither bombs nor bullets nor vetoes can hinder the work for peace and justice. 59. As regards the admission of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and the Republic of South Viet-Nam, we believe that only a distorted understanding of history and a deformed view of the recent experience of yesterday, of what is real today and of the prospects for the future would lead any State actually to carry out its threat to exercise its right of veto. The peoples of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam with infinite self-abnegation bore the cruellest and most unjust war of aggression of contemporary history. Half a million soldiers, millions of tons of bombs, incendiary napalm, impressive aerial forces, the massacres which shook the world for almost a decade did not succeed in weakening the firm will of the men and women who fought in the south and in the north. 63. Cuba once again reiterates its determined support for the admission of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and of the Democratic Republic of Viet- Nam as fullfledged Members of the United Nations. Cuba would like to recall that this position is upheld by the vast majority of Member States and progressive forces throughout the world. Cuba would like to remind everybody that there is no insurmountable difficulty for the Vietnamese people, who, even when bombs were falling on Viet-Nam, resisted and at the same time announced the building of a Viet-Nam that would be 10 times more beautiful. 60. This unrivalled sacrifice was also made for the sake of the rights of our peoples, for the sake of the rights of all peoples of the world, who see today in Viet-Nam a fruitful example of resistance to injustice and aggression, of generosity, kindliness and decency. This is the understanding of my delegation; this is also the understanding of the Governments and the peoples of the countries in the non-aligned movement, whose Co-ordinating Committee met some days ago in New York and 64. In conclusion, Cuba would like to repeat here a thought of that visionary, the heroic and immortal leader Ho Chi Minh: “Nothing is difficult. The only obstacle is the heart that does not persevere. Firm and resolute men will raze mountains and fill the seas”. 67. May I also thank you for having permitted me to participate in the discussions of the Security Council, thus providing me with an opportunity to welcome the presence in this room of the worthy representatives of the valiant peoples of Viet-Nam. My delegation considers that the time has come to welcome into our universal family the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam, and thus seek to redress the enormous and incalculable wrong that has been committed against two peoples whose only crime was to’ defy arbitrariness and injustice in order to defend the noblest concepts of dignity and justice-a just cause supported by the majority of peoples of the world. 68. Both Viet-Nams, throughout their arduous strnggle against imperialism, have continually demonstrated by the heavy sacrifices which they ‘have made, how wedded they were to peace, to justice and to freedom. Thanks to their undoubtedly difficult but ennobling combat,. the Vietnamese people in particular and Indo-China in general have scored resounding victories which today herald the total bankruptcy of the policy of imperialist and colonialist aggression in South-East Asia. 69. The victory of the Vietnamese people is the most telling example in recent days of the heroism of an underdeveloped people which, in a conflict that pitted them against an infinitely more powerful, more developed and better armed opponent, succeeded in fulfilling its legitimate, national and social aspirations, and even in making its highest contribution, that of bringing about a change in the world balance of forces in favour of the forces of progress, peace, national liberation and social transformation. Undoubtedly, this victory will prove to be the ideal example enabling us to analyse and evaluate the different types of war in all their aspects, the behaviour of international factors and of various segments of the population, the role of international public opinion and other aspects of the art of modem warfare. 70. It is particularly edifying to note that, despite the fact that the complete arsenal of sophisticated 71.’ The demarcation lines between the great and the small, the developed and the underdeveloped, have faded when we consider what is meant by the dtruggle for freedom. In this context the viCtory of Viet- Nam must be ranked among the major events of contemporary history, and in its effects it will be compared with events such as the victory of peoples over fascism, colonialism, and all forms of exploitation of man by man. We can realize quite easily, generally speaking, that the entire system which arose after the Second World War was a fragile one, that it was built without taking account of the new countries and the new force represented by the movement of those peoples struggling in order to exercise their free choice as to the way they should develop and to make a sovereign choice about their future fate. 72. The war in Viet-Nam has given rise to an international solidarity which has been shown to a country which has decided to struggle for its freedom. This solidarity did not only take the form of the material, military and political support which was given to the Vietnamese people, particularly by the socialist and non-aligned countries, a support which was reflected, most strikingly of all, in the recognition of the Revolutionary Provisional Government of South Viet-Nam by a number of States during the Fourth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Algiers. It was also embodied in the condemnation of that war by the immense majority of peoples, including the peoples of the opponent. Today, it is further confirmed by the unanimous support of non-aligned countries for the request for the admission of the two Viet-Nams. 73. For all peoples who love peace and liberty, an entire era, our era, has expressed itself through the heroic struggle of the Vietnamese people-an era which has been marked by fundamental changes of world-wide importance. We would repeat that it is high time to take further steps forward along the noble way to peace and justice. Certain arguments, which seek hypothetical victories for a lost cause, should be abandoned and reason should prevail. There is one thing which is quite certain and that is that the victory of the peoples of Viet-Nam is something which is irreversible. It may be held up, but it is something which will come about whatever the cost, because the will of the Indo-Chinese people is there, omnipresent, and can be seen on all fronts. 74.. The Indo-Chinese people, through their indomitable. courage and their fearless determination, have contributed something to the universal revolution and have provided an invaluable historical example for future generations. The Security Council is on the point of taking a decision of vast importance for the international community. The historic facts are there to show that this is the kind of decision which we venture to hope will reinforce peace and security throughout the world. In fact, in an organization which we .would like to be universal, how can we fail to admit two countries which for more than 30 years have with courage and selfsacrifice fought and paid costly ‘sacrifices to realize the ideals of freedom, justice and peace, which are after all the fundamental principles underlying the United Nations? 79. The question which is before the Council is of great importance for my country. I need hardly recount here the history of the struggle waged by the Vietnamese people, because we are all aware of the extremely painful sacrifices made by that valiant people during the past 30 years to regain its independence and freedom. The victory won by that heroic people is testimony to its ability to inspire all the peoples of the third world that are victims of colonialism and imperialism with legitimate feelings of self-confidence and trust in the value of the struggle for national liberation. This victory represents a guarantee for an era of peace, security and cooperation. It will have fat-reaching repercussions in the international community. 75. My delegation is convinced that the Security Council, whose task is to preserve peace and to ensure that justice is done, will heed the appeal of the non-aligned countries and be equal to its responsibilities and thus make it possible for the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam to join the great family of the United Nations, and thus to share with us the wealth of experience which they have acquired throughout more than a quarter of a century of heroic struggle. 80. Algeria feels deeply moved as the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam apply for membership in the United Nations, thus placing a final seal on the defeat of American imperialist aggression and ushering in an era of peace and international co-operation. It is thus difficult for us to understand the exact nature of the American manceuvres which are designed to prevent the Vietnamese people from emerging for ever from a terribly cruel war.

I should like to informe the members of the Security Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Czechoslovakia requesting that he be invited to participate in the discussion of the question on the Council’s agenda in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the provisional rules of procedure. Accordingly, I propose that the Council agree, in accordance with the usual practice, to invite the representative of Czechoslovakia to participate in the discussion without the right to vote. In view of the limited number of places available at the Council table, I would request .the representative of Czechoslovakia to take the place reserved for him at the side of the Council chamber, on the usual’understanding that he will be invited to take a place ‘at the Council table when it is his turn to address, the Council. 81. What is behind this far-fetched idea of a package deal? For some days vain attempts have been made to convince us that we should place on an equal footing the people of Viet-Nam and South Korea. How can one compare a people which has become a symbol with a caricature of a State?. Can one forget that the liberation of Viet-Nam is one of the events whose repercussions have changed the face of the world? Those who preach universality would do well to recall that China, with its human potential, its revolution and its achievements, was -long deprived of its lawful rights in the United Nations in the name of a universality manufactured by a tyrannical minority. ‘At the invitation of the President, Mr. Jachek (Czechoslovakia) took the place reserved for him at the side of the Council chamber. i 82. Algeria protests against this attempt to prevent the admission to the United Nations of the Republic 9 . . 83. Algeria is proud to have present among us the Observers far the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam. They have come without rancour and without passion to request their admission to the United Nations, because the entire Vietnamese people aspires to peace and national concord. The policy of those two countries is anti-imperialist and anti-colonialist; it is opposed to any form of domination or foreign intervention. It is necessary for the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam to become Members of the United Nations so that, side by side with us, they can contribute to making the Organization serve the cause of political, economic and social justice. The delegation of Algeria therefore whole-heartedly hopes that the General Assembly at its thirtieth session will admit the two countries to the&ganization.

The next speaker is the representative of Bulgaria. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement.

I wish first of all to thank you, Mr. President, and the members of the Security Council for having given me an opportunity to express the views of the delegation of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria on the important matters before the Council at its present meeting. My delegation would venture to hope, Mr. President, that under your wise and competent guidance the Council will adopt a just decision in accordance with the Charter, a decision that will be a landmark in the history of the United Nations. Both you, Mr. President, and the members of the Council are fully aware, I am convinced, of the reasons why the Bulgarian delegation feels it should speak at this time when the Council is called upon to take a decision on the requests for admission to membership in the United Nations of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and the Republic of South Viet-Nam; 86. The Bulgarian Government and people have, in effect, supported and sustained the Vietnamese people since the very outset of and throughout their heroic liberation struggle. This sacred struggle for national independence cost that people immea- , surable sufferings and sacrifices, but it led to inevi- 87. After 30 years of war imposed upon the Vietnamese people by foreign intervention, peace has finally settled upon the Vietnamese land. The entire world was relieved to learn of the end of that long cruel war that had repercussions throughout the entire world. The struggle of the Vietnamese people gave rise to an unprecedented movement of intemational solidarity and won the sympathy and admiration of all peoples. It is for me a source of legitimate pride to be able to state before this lofty intemational body that the Bulgarian people and Government have stood unrelentingly and unconditionally in the first rank of all progressive forces and all men of good will who supported that struggle and contributed to that victory. 88. In his message to the Vietnamese people, the President .of the Council of State of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, Todor Zhivkov, in paying a tribute to the Vietnamese people on the occasion of their historic victory, said, inter aliu, the following: “The just struggle of the Vietnamese people for freedom, independence and peace, and for the right to self-determination has won the sympathy and the full fraternal support of the socialist countries, headed by the Soviet Union, as well as the support of all peace-loving forces throughout the world. This struggle was crowned with a glorious victory which represents a considerable revolutionary achievement.” 89. The Security Council is now dealing with a question of prime importance. The decision to be taken on the requests for admission of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam to the United Nations will, beyond a shadow of a doubt, be of exceptional importance; undoubtedly it will be a historic event. This decision will symbolize the deep aspirations of peoples to freedom and independence, to their right to choose their own way of development and their own social system. There can be no doubt that these two countries have every right to be admitted as fullfledged Members of this world organization. They have won that right through their heroic struggle during which they have proved their devotion to the cause of peace and justice-in other words, their devotion to the most sacred principles of the Charter of the United Nations. 90. The Bulgarian delegation sincerely hopes that this afternoon the Security Council, in its collective 96. Czechoslovakia firmly supports the applications for membership of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam, which have clearly expressed their desire to become Members of the United Nations so that they may make a contribution to the struggle for peace, independence and the development of friendship among peoples. The friendship between the peoples of Czechoslovakia and Viet-Nam has old traditions. That friendship has been shown throughout the lengthy struggle of the Vietnamese people for national liberation and against aggression. This friendship and brotherly co-operation will develop further during the process of rebuilding their countries. 91. The United Nations and the cause of peace have everything to gain and nothing to lose if such a decision is taken. Moreover, no one can deny that if they are admitted the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam will make an important and extremely constructive contribution to the activities of the United Nations. 92. A number of delegations have already referred to the inadmissibility of attempting to establish a link between the question of the admission of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and the Republic of South Viet-Nam and other questions which quite clearly have nothing to do with what is being discussed by the Council now, and to make the one hinge upon the others. We associate ourselves entirely with the pertinent arguments that have been adduced by a great number of delegations on this point. 97. The people of Czechoslovakia are side by side with the Vietnamese people. They rejoice in their historic victory against the imperialist forces. Czechoslovakia is proud that the Observers for the two Vietnamese States are here with us. We sincerely extend our cordial greetings to Mr. Dinh Ba Thi and Mr. Nguyen Van Luu, who are here with us and have been waging a struggle which is supported by the overwhelming majority of the States Members of the United Nations. 93. Before concluding, may I be allowed to address to the Observers for the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and the Republic of South Viet-Nam the warmest, most cordial fraternal greetings of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, and to tell them how happy and proud we are to see them with us in this room. I should like to assure them, on behalf of my delegation, that the entire Bulgarian people and Government are, Andy will remain, at their side, and that we shall spare no effort to ensure the triumph of their just cause and the rebuilding of their country in conditions of peace and independence, just as we stood with them, throughout their long and glorious armed struggle and throughout the difficult days of the liberation war. 98. My delegation wishes to express its profound satisfaction and complete support for the declaration which was issued on 7 August by the Co-ordinating Committee of the Non-Aligned Countries, containing a resolute condemnation of all manceuvres intended to prevent the admission of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam to the United Nations. 99. The admission of the two Vietnamese States, after the liquidation of the hotbeds of war in Viet- Nam, will, in the opinion of my delegation, represent a considerable contribution to the improvement of the international atmosphere and the strengthening of peace, and will be a historic step towards the universality of the Organization. My delegation is resolutely opposed to any attempt to link the admission of the two Vietnamese States to a question totally different in nature. My delegation firmly believes that the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam will be admitted to the United Nations by the General Assembly at its thirtieth session as full-fledged Members, on the recommendation of the Security Council.

The next speaker is the representative of Czechoslovakia. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement.

Sr, my delegation wishes to .congratulate you most sincerely on the occasion of your assuming the lofty post of President of the Security Council. It is a pleasure for my delegation to see you, an eminent representative of a country with which Czechoslovakia has friendly relations, presiding 101. My delegation therefore supports the applications of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam for admission to the United Nations and will vote in favour of the nine-Power draft resolutions, in which the Security Council would recommend to the General Assembly that the Republic of South Vie&Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam be admitted, respectively, to membership in the Organization. The Government of Japan believes that the admission of these two States would assuredly constitute a significant step towards the strengthening of the United Nations and contribute in a significant way to the restoration of friendly relations among the nations in the area as well as to the stability of the area. My Government is confident that this would prove a positive element in enhancing international peace and security. 102. Japan, as an Asian nation, attaches great importance to the admission of the two Viet-Nams to the United Nations. In view of its ties with other Asian countries, Japan welcomed the end of the long and tragic war in Viet-Nam and the restoration of peace in the area, which enabled the Vietnamese States to seek membership in the United Nations. The Government of Japan, in accordance with one of the basic principles of its foreign policy, which is to develop friendly relations with all States, established on 12 September 1973 diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam. On 7 May 1975, Japan recognized the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Viet-Nam. 103. We are confident that, with the diligence and hard work of their peoples, both of these States will be able to overcome difficulties in the task reconstruction and development of their countries and that they will soon be able to make important contributions to the international community. The Government and the people of Japan look forward to increasingly friendly relations with the two States. 104. As regards the application of the Republic of Korea for membership in the United Nations, which the Security Council could not consider at this time,’ it is the sincere hope of my delegation that the Council will be able to address itself to the application of that country at the earliest appropriate occasion. 105.. Now, in my capacity as PRESIDENT of the Council, I shall proceed to put to the vote the two draft resolutions before the Council. First, I shall put to the vote the nine-Power draft resolution contained in document S/l 1795, relating to the application of the Republic of South Viet-Nam. A vote was taken by show of hands. In favour: Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, China, France, Guyana, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Mauritania, Sweden, Union of. Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Tanzania. Against: United States of America. Abstaining: Costa Rica. The result of the vote was 13 in favour, I egainst, and I abstention. The draft resolution was not adopted, one of the negative votes being that of a permanent member of the Council.

I now put to’ the vote the nine-Power draft resolution in document S/l 1796, relating to the application of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam. A vote was taken by show of hands. In favour: Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, China, France, Guyana, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Mauritania, Sweden, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Tanzania. Against: United States of America. Abstaining: Costa Rica. The result of the vote was 13 in favour, I against, and I abstention.

As the Security Council has failed to adopt either of the draft resolutions before it, I should like to remind members of the Council that, in accordance with the provisions of the third paragraph of rule 60 of the provisional rules of procedure, the Council must submit a speciai report to the General Assembly on this matter. Therefore, before calling upon the next speaker, I would request the Secretariat to proceed at once with the preparation of a brief factual report, which I would venture to hope could be approved by the members of the Council in the course of the present meeting. Thus the Council would be in a position to act speedily in reporting to the General Assembly on the matter. 112. What ;in the end changed our mind was the decisions of the Security Council taken on 6 August [1834th meeting]. It became absolutely clear on that occasion that the Council, far from being prepared to support the principle of universal membership, was denying to one applicant even the right to have its case considered. Never before has the Council gone so far as to refuse even to consider the application of an entity so widely regarded as a State as to have been accepted as a member of numerous specialized agencies and also, on four separate occasions in the past, to have been proposed for membership by a clear majority of this same Council. 108. A number of representatives are inscribed on my list to speak after the vote on the two draft resolutions. I shall now call upon them. 113. The Council may recall what I said speaking for my Government, on 6 August [ibid.]. I said that the United States had made it clear that we were prepared to vote for the admission of each and all of the three applicants then before us, which is to say that the United States would have voted for the admission of the Republic of South Korea, the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Viet-Nam, and I should like to take this occasion to welcome the representatives of those countries to this Council chamber.

Mr. President, in a happy display of unanimity today, I am only the most recent representative to express to you congratulations on your assumption of the important and distinguished position of President of the Security Council and gratitude for the distinction with which you have carried forth your difficult duties in this present affair. Also I should like to join my predecessors in expressing admiration, bordering at times on awe, at the durability and energy and flexibility of your predecessors, Mr..Plaja and Mr. Cavaglieri. 114. Earlier that day, 6 August, a State Department spokesman had indicated that the United States would be equally willing to vote for the admission of North Korea as well. We would have done so in plain pursuit of the principle of universality. But the State Department spokesman said then, and I repeat it now, that we would have and we will have nothing to do with selective universality, a principle which in practice admits only new members acceptable to the totalitarian States. I said on that day that the action of the Security Council that day foreclosed the admission of these new applicants for the coming session of the General Assembly. 110. Mr. President the United States today has, for the first time, vetoed the admission of a new member to the United Nations. The veto was repeated a second time. This is an action my country had hoped it would never take. As far back as 1948, in a draft resolution sponsored by the United States representative Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg, who had served as a United States representative to the first session of the General Assembly, the United States Senate especially called on our Executive to forswear use of the veto in all questions involving the admission of new members. In 1949, the Executive Branch undertook to do just that. And so it is no small matter for us that we have felt forced to break with our practice of 30 years. The American people, and possibly peoples and Governments elsewhere, will desire an explanation. 115. We clearly stated that we were prepared, to act in favour of the admission of all three States were the Council prepared to adhere to the principle of universality. The Council was not so prepared; indeed, the principle of universality ?seems gravely imperilled by what took place here on 6 August. 111. This is not difficult to provide. If our specific actions today are at variance with 30 years’ practice, we none the less continue to act in support of the same principle-that of universal membership in the United Nations. What has changed is our judgement that if the United States acts in an open and accepting manner as applications for member- 116. The United Nations should be as near as DOSsible to universal in membership. As new nations are formed, they should be seen as having a presumed right to membership, given their fealty to the Charter. It is just that principle that has brought us from an original membership of 51 to the present membership of 138. It is just that principle that will take

Mr. President, permit me also, before explaining our position, to join those of our colleagues who have preceded me in offering our congratulations on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August. It is in no way a mere formality if I take the liberty to say that my delegation considers that, with you as its President, the Council has very promising leadership. All of us who have known you have great confidence and respect for your rich experience in diplomacy. The sense of impartiality and dedication with which you have impressed us have indeed clearly been demonstrated in the course of the important informal consultations that have taken place preceding the Security Council’s formal consideration of the questions before us. Your faithful reflection of the result of these consultations at the meeting of the Council last Wednesday [ibid.] is a further testimony to your impartiality and has served to reinforce our confidence and respect for your presidency. May I also add that my delegation, whose country enjoys very warm relations with yours, wishes to continue in the same spirit of friendship and cooperation with your delegation in the Council, and to work closely with you for the successful discharge of your duties. 118. Allow me also to congratulate your predecessor, Mr. Plaja of Italy, on his successful fulfilment of his responsibilities during the month of July. His was also one of the difficult months when the Council, under his presidency, was threatened with the possible dramatic deterioration of the Middle East situation. Through his tact, diplomatic skill, and selfless devotion to the search for the neces-. sary solution to that situation, he made it possible for the Council to achieve successful results. Our gratitude also goes to Mr. Cavaglieri for the active role he himself has played. 119. My delegation, like those of other non-aligned States members of the Council, has been actively involved in support of the admission to membership in the Organization of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam. We were also sponsors, together with eight other members of the Council, of the two draft resolutions so eloquently introduced this morning by the representative of Guyana, Mr. Jackson-draft resolutions which have just been vetoed by the United States. For us it was both an honour and a 120. The United Republic of Tanzania has been privileged to identify ‘itself with this struggle, and in fact we considered it our own. But our active support for the admission of the two Viet-Nams is not merely a logical extension of our identification with the noble cause of the heroic Vietnamese people. It is more than that. It stems from our conviction that the international community urgently needs their membership in the United Nations so that the Vietnamese can impart to us their great and rich experience in the search for a better and just intemational order. 121. Thus, depriving the two Viet-Nams of membership in the Organization is not only doing serious injury to the sacred principle of universality which is so essential for the over-all effectiveness of the United Nations, but above all, taking into account the special circumstances of the Vietnamese people’s struggle, its untold sacrifices and indomitable resistance, such a denial of membership robs the Organization of an extraordinary contribution which could in more ways than one enrich the United Nations in its quest for freedom, justice, peace and security, international understanding and cooperation. 122. No words are sufficient to recount and do justice to the struggle and accomplishments of that valiant people who for 20 years have been wrongly subjected to the mightiest military Power in the world, and yet managed not only to survive-no mean feat in itself-but indeed to emerge victorious. For 20 years an attempt was made to deny the Vietnamese people permanently the rights and just aspirations to which it was entitled, and which are cherished by the United Nations. That was an attempt which, if successful, would have doomed the hope of any other peoples ot be free and live in peace. It would have imposed on all of us the bizarre rule of the jungle that might is right and that might overrides any right no matter how firmly held by the world community. It would in practice have nullified all our efforts to fulfil the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. No Member of the United Nations could consider itself free if that happened. 123. By sheer determination and conviction of the justice of its cause, the Vietnamese people exposed the illusion of military might and forced the most powerful imperialist forces out of Viet-Nam. In so doing, the Vietnamese people has not only retrieved its freedom from the claws of imperialism, but also inspired all peace-loving peoples and strengthened their faith in the ultimate triumph of the ideals and goals of the Organization. “The Co-ordinating Committee condemns all manceuvres aimed at preventing the admission to the United Nations of the Republic of South Viet- Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam. “In this connexion, the Co-ordinating Commitee protests the position of the United States Government, which aims to impede the admission to the United Nations of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet- Nam. Such an action runs counter to the clearly expressed will of the great majority of world opinion.” [S/11793.] 125. The Vietnamese victory, inspiration and example are an inestimable contribution to the aspirations and efforts of the Organization. What the Vietnamese fought for it is the very duty of the United Nations to work for. It is the total realization of the right of all people on our planet to enjoy peace, security and prosperity in dignity and equality. 130. Members of the. Council are only too aware of the many flimsy, extraneous and erroneous excuses that have been made in an effort to rationalize the manmuvres calculated to frustrate the admission to the United Nations of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam. An attempt has been made to introduce an extraneous condition for the admission of the two Vietnamese States. The “out of the blue” application fo the regime in South Korea for membership soon after it was learned that the Vietnamese States had made their application was part of this scheme. This application was to be used as an obstacle to the applications of the two Vietnamese States. It was flimsily sought to tie the admission of the two Vietnamese States to that of the regime of South Korea-knowing very well that, for very legitimate and obvious reasons, the Council could not accept the application of that regime. 126. It was, therefore, the great hope and indeed the expectation of all peace-loving Members of the Organization that the victorious Vietnamese States would this year be welcome among us to bring into the United Nations their wealth of experience, the torch of inspiration and symbol of hope for the Organization. For the Vietnamese are a shining contemporary example of love for peace, freedom . and the other ideals of the Charter of the United Nations. Thus-and I wish to emphasize this-it is not surprising that not a single Member of the United Nations, indeed not a single member of the Security Council, has even attempted to find fault with the qualifications of the Vietnamese States for membership in the United Nations. Yet, the will and expectations of the overwhelming majority of the world community have already been trampled underfoot. The mighty veto has once again been used to sustain the position of a minority-and in this case a rather absolute minority. 131. The Charter is very clear on the conditions for admission of new Members; those conditions are exhaustive. The exhaustive nature of the conditions laid down in the Charter was unequivocally affirmed by two organs of the United Nations. First, the International Court of Justice in 1948 gave an advisory opinion4 to the effect that the conditions laid down in Article 4, paragraph 1, of the Charter for admission of new Members are exhaustive and that therefore the admission of an applicant could not be conditional upon the admission of another applicant. Secondly, the General Assembly on 8 December 1948 adopted resolution 197 (III), calling for the strict application of Article.4, paragraph 1, of the Charter and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice in all subsequent cases. 127. We have in the past expressed our serious concern at the continued misuse of the veto by some permanent members of the Security Council to defend injustice and sustain lost causes. The most recent example was the triple veto, last June, on the question of Namibia. Now once again the veto has been cast, thereby confounding the clearly expressed wishes of the international community, wishes that transcend political and ideological affiliation-as has been so eloquently expressed during the debate in the Council-wishes to welcome at last those two members of the world community into the United Nations family. 128. The veto has thus run roughshod over the legitimate right of two sovereign States to join the United Nations. The veto has been utilized effectively to defy the principle of universality of the Organization. This improper and arbitrary use of the veto cannot but attract the dismay of all peaceloving Members of the Organization. 132. In the light of attempts to make the admission of the two Viet-Nams dependent on the admission of the regime in South Korea, it is pertinent to recapitulate what the advisory opinion, endorsed by the General Assembly, stipulated the following: and that “in particular, a Member of the Organization cannot, while it recognizes the conditions set forth in that provision to be fulfilled by the State concerned, subject its affirmative vote to the additional condition that other States be admitted to membership in the United Nations together with that State.“4 133. It has been said that the Security Council has nevertheless on a number of occasions departed from the Charter and relevant resolutions of ‘the General Assembly. In the first place, all those departures were illegal-and no illegal act can justify subsequent illegal acts. Whoever were parties to such illegal practices, those of us who joined the United Nations later cannot be subjected to such extraordinarily bad precedents. We entirely reject practices which lead to the denial of rights of prospective members and so undermine the Charter of the United Nations. We unequivocally reject the so-called package deals concept. 134. Secondly, the era in which such practice took place was during the so-called coldest days of the cold war. A lot has been and is currently being said about detente and its implications. We are told that gone are the days of the cold war. How can one interpret attempts to reintroduce the discredited methods and practices of the cold war in an era when detente is so prominently emphasized? What have the applications of the Vietnamese States to do with that of the regime in South Korea? 135. Some of our colleagues here have used the expression “non-discrimination” in an attempt to rationalize the manmuvres against the admission the Vietnamese States. This is a totally fallacious application of that principle. Have the two Vietnamese States discriminated against anybody to deserve a veto of their applications? Where is the justice? Is it not a fact that the Vietnamese States are now the subject of gross discrimination? The invoking of the principle of non-discrimination by those who have determinedly sought to frustrate the admission of the two Viet-Nams is, to say the least, a desperate distortion of that principle. We submit that no amount of word juggling can provide the slightest smokescreen for such unfortunate manoeuvres. 136. Similarly, it is a ridicule of the principle of universality of the,Organization to invoke that prinlj7. The issue of Korea is a totally ‘extraneous and different problem. That problem is currently under consideration in the General Assembly. South Korea, as the Organization knows and recognizes, is an entity carved out of what the Korean people know and maintain is one Korea. Neither the Korean people nor the Organization has accepted the permanency of two Koreas, artificially divided by external forces. Indeed, in spite of the adverse situation, the two sides of -Korea affirmed the inadmissibility of two Korea when they jointly stated in their communique of 4 July 1972 that they would both work peacefully towards the reunification of their country. That communique was warmly welcomed by the Organization in a General Assembly decision of 19732 and in General Assembly resolution 3333 (XXIX). The resolution and the decision are not only a recognition of the need to respect the wishes of the Korean people for the reunification of Korea, but also actions intended to promote and assist the efforts at reunification. 138. Consequently, the act of the South Korean regime in applying for membership in the Organization-which, in effect, is an attempt to ask the Organization to recognize the existence of two separate Korean States-is clearly contrary to the spirit of the decisions adopted by the General Assembly in 1973 and 1974; these were decisions which were adopted by consensus and which can certainly be considered as promoting the just struggle of the Korean people for national reunification. It would have been highly irresponsible for the Security Council to entertain such an application. While of course every member of the Council is free to act in accordance with its Government’s directives, the Council certainly demands an explanation as to why it should so suddenly defy the General Assembly and disregard the joint communique and the wishes of the Korean people. We have not received that explanation, and there can be none that. would justify such an act by the Council. 139. An explanation for the championship of the South Korean application by those of our Council colleagues who have tried to link this with the applications of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam does exist, and it is conspicuous. It is simply an excuse, and a lame one, to prevent the two Vietnamese States from joining the United Nations. It is indeed a deplorable tactic which is devoid of even the semblance of logic. 140. This has ‘not .been a moment of triumph for the United Nations. The absolute disregard of what 145. Nevertheless, a majority of the Council agreed to reject ad portas the application of one nation, which, in our opinion, at least had the right to the same treatment as the other two until at the present meeting of the Council we had completed the procedure indicated in the Charter and the provisional rules of procedure. Here, at this final stage we are not disputing the right of every member of the Council to approve or reject a given application. 141. There has been a lot of misrepresentation -more often than not, deliberately contrivedregarding the so-called tyranny of the majority. We have maintained, and continue to do so, that such allegations are as unfounded as they are mischievous. We have always argued, and we shall continue to do so, in favour of co-operation and accommodation. But the sine qua non for that is that the minority, which has often in the past wanted to impose its way, should change that attitude. That remains our firm position, and it is a matter of profound regret to my delegation that in the veto cast by the United States, thus blocking the membership of the two Viet-Nams, we have what we can consider a classic example of the perpetuation of the tyranny of the minority in the Organization. And we submit that this imposition is in total defiance of all logic and legality. We fervently hope that the United States will reconsider its attitude on this question, as we certainly hope that this is not a preview of things to come. 146. In other words, without passing judgement on what the tinal result should be, my delegation felt itself committed from the start to promoting the three applications for membership, as long as the same procedural treatment was afforded each of them. But since the Council refused to consider one application, we felt that we were no longer committed to the other two applications because, may I repeat, we can never go along with a one-sided discriminatory approach to universality which distorts its very essence.

At the Security Council meeting of 6 August [ibid.], the Chinese delegation made a statement in explanation of our vote on the question of the agenda. In view of the result of the vote on the substantive question at today’s meeting, and in view of the fact that the representatives of certain countries have again spoken in defence of the socalled application of South Korea and a so called package deal, we deem it necessary to reiterate our position on the related questions.

My delegation deems it appropriate to.explain the reasons why we abstained in the votes just held. What is known as the principle of universality of .the Organization has always had the warm support of Costa Rica. My delegation’s policy has been to have an open mind towards any application by a nation -that considers itself qualified for United Nations membership. If a nation believes that it meets the requirements laid down by the Charter and submits an application to be admitted as a Member of the Organization, the least that may be expected is that its request will be submitted to all the procedures established in the Charter and in the provisional rules of procedure of the Council, up to the final stage. 148. We have consistently held that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the sole legal sovereign State of the Korean nation. The Park Chung Hee clique of South Korea is not qualified at all to apply for membership in the United Nations. 143. Without prejudice to an examination of the merits of each applicant, we consider that the principle of universality must be applied even-handedly and equally in any given situation, such as the one which arose recently in the Council when several applications, for membership were simultaneously submitted to it. A correct understanding of the facts is rendered impossible when, instead, in such a situation, the principle of universality is interpreted as favouring some nations and not others. My delegation does not feel that it can give its support to this type of interpretation. 149. Meanwhile, it is known to all that, in the case of the applications of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and the Republic of South Viet-Nam for membership in the United Nations, the two sides had prior agreement between t’:emselves. The same is true of the admission of the two German States to membership in the United Nations. 150. The case of Korea, however, is completely different. It is the common aspiration of the entire Korean people to realize the peaceful reunification of their fatherland at an early date. The North and South joint communique agreed upon in 1972 affirmed the three principles for the independent 144.. We cannot overlook the fact that the matter before the Council today originated with a procedure 151. This time, when the Security Council is considering the application of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and the application of the Republic of South Viet-Nam, the United States Government, brushing aside all this, has arbitrarily tried to link them up with the completely irrelevant question of the admission of South Korea into the United Nations for a so-called package deal. This is not only in complete violation of the explicit provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant resolution of the General Assembly, but also in glaring contradiction with the principle agreed upon between North and South Korea that “great national unity should be promoted “first of all as one nation, transcending the differences of ideology, ideal and system. This is simply designed to consolidate and perpetuate the division. of Korea. That of course is absolutely unacceptable to the entire Korean people and all the justice-upholding countries and peoples throughout the world. It is only natural that the unreasonable idea of a so-called package deal has been rejected by the Council. 152. In his five-point proposition put forward in June 1973, President Kim I1 Sung pointed out that the North and the,South should not enter the United Nations separately and that if they want to enter the United Nations before, reunification of the country is achieved, they should. enter it as one State at least under the name of. the Confederal Republic of Koryo after the, confederation is enforced. The Chinese Government firnily supports this just and reasonable position. 153. The 3000-1-i expanse of Korean territory is an integral whole. The Korean people’s determination to reunify their fatherland is firm and unshakable. We are deeply convinced that the Korean people wilI certainly triumph in their just struggle for the independent peaceful reunification of their fatherland.

The Soviet delegation cannot fail to express its deepest regret at the fact that a negative vote has been cast by a permanent member of the Security Council and, therefore, the draft resolutions sponsored by the nine States members of the Security Council on the admission to the United Nations of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam, which received 13 votes, were not adopted. Those who today blocked the admission to the United Nations of the two new States failed to heed the majority of the members of the Security Council and the United Nations membership and have ignored the realities of the present-day world; It is to be regretted that by their negative .vote they. showed their scorn and lack of respect for the people of Viet-Nam and their courage ,and the tremendous sacrifices paid by that people in the struggle for their national independence and liberty. 156. .,In order to justify to the outside world this negattve position on the question of the admission to membership of. these fw.o States, they invented an invalid and completely~baseless pretext-that is, trying to link. the question of the admission of these two Vietnamese peoples with the Korean matter, the question of.the possible admission of South Korea to membership in the Organization. 157. As our delegation stated at the meeting held on 6 ,August [183&h meeting]-and this is a position that was also echoed by a number o other members of the Security Council-the admission of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam to membership in the. United Nations has absolutely no relation to the Korean problem or the question of the possible admission of South Korea to membership in the United Nations. 159. We all know what the differences are between the two Koreas on becoming Members of the United Nations. North Korea is in favour of the further relaxation of international tensions on the Korean peninsula and of ensuring that the necessary conditions are brought about for the democratic development of the country so that a united Korea can become part of the international community and a Member of the United Nations. 160. Nor can we fail to note the fact that those who today blocked the admission of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam to membership in the United Nations have in fact, in their words, spoken out in favour of dialogue between North and South Korea in order to bring about a peaceful reunification. That is, at least, what appears in the official joint communiquC of the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Japan published recently in the American press subsequent to the visit of the Prime Minister of Japan to the United States. But in reality, insistence upon the separate admission of Korea to the United Nations has the single aim of furthering the dismemberment of Korea. One thing is being said while another is being done. 161. The nosition of the Soviet Union on this auestion is weliknown. It has frequently been expouhded at sessions of the General Assembly and at meetings of the Security Council, including the last meeting of the Council. We shall not repeat it here. We shall say only one thing: that linking questions that are essentially different is a deliberate step that does not strengthen the United Nations but on the contrary helps to undermine it. 162. Those who put barriers in the way of the admission of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam to the United Nations speak a great deal about the universality of the United Nations. They allege they are in favour 163. We all know that, because of such a policy and practice, for almost 10 years after the founding of the United Nations hardly a single new Member was admitted. It has been recalled here that the party that used the veto had never done so before when voting on draft resolutions on the admission of new Members to the United Nations. But back in those days there was no need for them to use their veto. At that time I myself was in the Security Council, representing’ my country, and the situation was ,as follows. There were 18 applications for membership before the Council. The first came from Albania. I alone voted in favour of that application, whereas 10 members abstained. And so there was no need to use the veto. It was enough to abstain, and the necessary number of votes for the admission of a socialist State were not to be found. So the veto was not used. Now, of course, the situation has changed. A new majority has emerged in the United Nations that assumes a correct posture on questions of admission to membership in the United Nations. Therefore those who were against the admission of socialist States to the United Nations-in this case, the two Vietnamese States-now have to apply the veto for the first time in the history of the United Nations. 164. In those days, our country was willing to find a way out of the deadlock, and an attempt was made to get out of the situation that had arisen. There arose the idea of admitting to membership in a package deal those who wanted to become Members of the United Nations. I happen to have some notes here on one such meeting in the Security Council. In 1948, at the 204th meeting of the Council, the representative of Poland submitted a draft resolution for the simultaneous admission of five States-Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Italy and Romania. What did Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom do? They voted against it, and the main argument put forward in their statements at the time was that the question of their admission should be taken up separately for each State, one at a time, and not in a “package”. 165. Here is a second example. In 1949, at the 428th meeting of the Council, the representative of the Soviet Union submitted a draft resolution for the joint admission of 12 States, which seemed at the time to be the only answer to the problem facing the Council. When it came to the vote on a socialist State being accepted for membership in the United Nations, we witnessed a conspiracy of 166. However, with the passage of time, actually, with the passage of 10 years’ time, justice has finally triumphed and reigns supreme. History shows that obstructionist policy does not yield the desired results. In the final analysis, it simply damages those who uphold such a policy. We are certain that the just cause of the Republic of South Viet-Nam and the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam will triumph, and in the end the Security Council will recommend to the General Assembly that it admit to membership in the United Nations these two sovereign socialist States. The sooner that is done, the better it will be for the good name of the Security Council and the United Nations as a whole.

The list of speakers has now been exhausted. I should therefore like to revert to the subject I mentioned earlier relating to the 168. Does any member of the Council wish to make any comment or observation on the draft special report to the General r Assembly? If not there being no objection, I shall take it that the Security Council approves the special report to the General Assembly called for in rule 60 of the. provisional rules of procedure.s It was so decided. The meeting rose at 6.20 p.m. Notes ’ See Offlciai Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27, annex I. 2ibid., Twenty-eighth Sessioti, Supplement No. 30. p. 24, item 41. 3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 935, p. 16. ’ Admission of a State to the United Nations,(Charter, Art. 4). Advisory Opinion: I.C.J. Reports 1948. p. 57. 5 Offcial Records of the General Assembly, Thirtieth Session, Annexes, agenda item 22, document A/10179. HOW TO OBTAIN UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATIONS Ilnited Nations publications may be obtained from bookstores and distributors throughout the world. Consult your bookstore or write to: United Nations. Sales Section. New York or Geneva. COMMENT SE PROCURER LES PUBLICATIONS DES NATTONS UNIES Les publications dcs Nations Units sent en vente dans les librairies et les agences dipositaires du mondc entier. Informer-vous aupres de votre libraire ou adressez-vous a : Nations Unies, Section des ventes, New York ou Gcneve. COMO CONSEGUIR PUBLICACIONES DE LAS NACIONES UNIDAS Las publicaciones de las Naciones Unidas estan en venta en librerias y casas distribuidoras en todas panes del mundo. Consulte a su librero o dirijase a: Naciones Unidas. Seccibn de Ventas. Nueva York o Gmebra. Litho in United Nations, New York 00400 82-61202-November 1983-2,200