Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Far East and Australasia, Volume VI

895.00/11–548

Draft Resolution on Korea for the United Nations General Assembly¹

October 29, 1948

confidential

The General Assembly,

Having regard to its Resolution No. 112 of November 12 [14], 1947 concerning the problem of the independence of Korea;

Having considered the report of the United Nations Temporary Commission on Korea (hereinafter referred to as the “Temporary Commission”), submitted in accordance with paragraph 5 of Part II of the said Resolution, and having considered also the report of the Interim Committee regarding its consultation with the Temporary Commission;

Taking note of the fact that elections were held in Korea on May 10, 1948, in pursuance of the Resolution of November 14, 1947 and under the observation of the Temporary Commission, and that on the basis thereof the Government of the Republic of Korea has been constituted and has assumed the exercise of effective jurisdiction in that part of Korea where the Temporary Commission was in a position to observe and consult and where a majority of the Korean people reside;

Mindful of the fact that due to difficulties referred to in the report of the Temporary Commission, the objectives set forth in the Resolution of November 14, 1947 have not been fully accomplished;

(1) Approves the reports of the Temporary Commission and the Interim Committee;

(2) Resolves that the Government of the Republic of Korea is a lawful government deriving its authority from the will of the people expressed in accordance with the principles established by the Resolution of November 14, 1947; that it is the only such government in Korea; and that it is entitled in these respects to be regarded as the Government envisaged in the Resolution of November 14, 1947;

(3) Further resolves that, as a means to the full accomplishment of the objectives set forth in the Resolution of November 14, 1947, a Commission on Korea be named to continue the work of the Temporary Commission and to carry out the recommendations contained in this Resolution, with authority to travel, consult, and observe throughout Korea; and in this connection

Requests the Secretary-General [or the President of the General Assembly] to nominate a panel of member states, from among which the General Assembly may select the membership of the Commission on Korea (hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”);

(4) In furtherance of the purposes of the Resolution of November 14, 1947, and having in mind the status of the Government of the Republic of Korea as herein defined by the General Assembly;

Recommends:

(a) That the Commission seek to facilitate the removal of existing barriers between regions within Korea;

(b) That the Commission lend its good offices to bring about the participation in the Government of the Republic of Korea of the Korean people residing in those parts of Korea which were not accessible to the Temporary Commission;

(c) That the Commission seek to facilitate the integration under the authority of that Government of all Korean security forces and the dissolution of all military or semimilitary formations not so included;

(d) That the occupying Powers withdraw their armed forces from Korea as early as practicable and, if possible, within ninety days; that the Commission, as circumstances may require, either observe the actual withdrawal of such armed forces, or verify the fact of withdrawal if such has occurred; and that the Commission, if it so desires, request the assistance in this connection of military experts of the two occupying Powers;

(5) Decides that the Commission:

(a) Shall, within thirty days after the General Assembly shall have determined its membership, commence its work at Seoul, which shall be the seat of the Commission;

(b) Shall thereupon be regarded as having superseded the Temporary Commission established by the Resolution of November 14, 1947;

(c) Shall determine its own procedures;

(d) May consult with the Interim Committee (if it be continued) with respect to the application of this resolution in the light of developments;

(e) Shall render a report to the next regular session of the General Assembly and to any prior special session which may be called to consider the subject matter of this resolution, and shall render such interim reports as it may deem appropriate to the Secretary-General;

(6) Requests that the Secretary-General assign to the Commission on Korea adequate staff, including such technical advisers as the Commission may decide that it needs;

(7) Calls upon Member States concerned, the Government of the Republic of Korea, and the Korean people to afford every assistance and facility to the Commission in the fulfillment of its responsibilities;

(8) Calls upon Member States to refrain from any acts derogatory to the results achieved and to be achieved by United Nations action in the attainment of Korean independence and unity; and

(9) Recommends to Member States that they consider favorably the according of recognition to the Government of the Republic of Korea.

1. Text as of October 29 was cleared in the Department and sent in telegram Gadel A 14, November 8, to Paris (501.BB Korea/11–848).