IO Files: SD/A/C.1/327

Position Paper Prepared in the Department of State

secret

A Program of United Nations Action To Stop Aggression

(Prepared for and used in US–UK–French official discussions prior to September Foreign Ministers’ Meeting)1

discussion

The forthcoming General Assembly session will open at a critical moment in the history of the United Nations. Through the accident of Soviet absence from the Security Council, and with an impetus stemming principally from the United States, the Organization, with the unanimous support of the free world, has faced up to aggression in a manner hardly believed possible by its strongest supporters. In September, for the first time since hostilities began in Korea, the entire membership of the United Nations will meet to consider its future policy. The Assembly may seize the opportunity to capitalize on recent developments by strengthening the United Nations’ capacity and reaffirming its determination to cope with aggression; or it may shrink from this task and lose a unique chance to consolidate its newly found strength. As it was at the outset of the Korean affair, the attitude of the United States can be decisive.

[Page 328]

It is submitted that the United States, in its own national interest as well as in the interest of the Organization, should press vigorously for adoption by the General Assembly of a program of united action to stop aggression. It should do so with the support and joint action of the British and French wherever possible, but should not be deterred by hesitancy on the part of one of them if broad approval for United States proposals can be obtained from the Assembly’s membership as a whole.

recommendation

That the United States support, in the General Assembly and in the discussions with other delegations prior thereto, the adoption of a resolution by the General Assembly along; the following lines:

Recognizing the obligations of Members of the United Nations with respect to the maintenance of international peace and security as set forth in the Charter,

Recalling its Resolution 290 (IV) entitled “Essentials of Peace”, and in particular the second and third paragraphs of that Resolution in which the General Assembly called upon all nations “to refrain from threatening or using force contrary to the Charter” and “to refrain from any threats or acts, direct or indirect, aimed at impairing the freedom, independence or integrity of any State, or at … subverting the will of the people in any State”,

Conscious that failure of the Security Council to discharge its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security on behalf of all the Member States in no way relieves Member States from their obligations under the Charter, and

Mindful of the role of the General Assembly and the importance of its contribution in the field of international peace and security in order to carry out the principles and purposes of the Charter,

—A—

Resolves

1.
That if the Security Council, because of the veto, fails to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in case of a breach of the peace or an act of aggression, the General Assembly shall consider the question immediately with a view to making appropriate recommendations to the Members for collective action, including the use of armed force, to restore international peace and security;
2.
That for this purpose the General Assembly shall, if not in session at the time, meet in special emergency session which shall be called by the Secretary-General and convened within 24 hours of the receipt of a request from:
a.
any seven members of the Security Council;
b.
any Member of the United Nations, concurred in by a majority of the Members; or
c.
The Interim Committee
3.
That notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in its rules of procedure, the General Assembly when meeting in special emergency session shall proceed to consideration of the subject for which the session has been convened immediately upon election of the President;

—B—

The General Assembly

Establishes a General Assembly Peace Reconnaissance Commission composed of Representatives of (9 Members) for the purpose of ensuring immediate and independent observation in and reporting from any area in which international conflict or serious international tension develops;

Authorizes and requests the Interim Committee of the General Assembly to dispatch the Commission or a subcommission thereof or observers to be selected by the Commission to any area where the Interim Committee deems their presence useful, upon the invitation or with the consent of the State into whose territory the Commission would go.

In the performance of its duties under the present Resolution, the Interim Committee shall act in accordance with its terms of reference as set forth in Resolution 295 (IV) except that its decisions shall be made by a majority of members present and voting;

Recommends to all governments and authorities that they cooperate with the Commission and assist in the implementation of the present Resolution;

Requests the Secretary General to provide the necessary staff and facilities utilizing where appropriate the United Nations Panel of Field Observers envisaged in Resolution 297 (IV) B.

—C—

The General Assembly

Invites each Member of the United Nations to survey its resources in order to determine the nature and scope of the assistance it may be in a position to render in accordance with any United Nations action for the restoration of international peace and security;

Recommends to the Members of the United Nations that, pending the creation of the armed forces provided for under Article 48 of the Charter, each Member designate within its national armed forces a United Nations Unit or Units, to be so trained and equipped as to be available for prompt service on behalf of the United Nations upon determination by the Security Council or recommendation by the General Assembly;

Appoints _____ as United Nations Military Coordinator to consult on its behalf with the Member States who wish to establish such units and to assist them in the organization, training and equipping of such Units;

Establishes an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of representatives of _________ to study and report to the General Assembly on means which the United Nations might employ through collective action—including the use of armed force—in order to carry out the purposes and principles of the Charter;

[Page 330]

Directs the Ad Hoc Committee in particular to study the questions of (a) measures not involving the use of armed force which might be taken by United Nations Members collectively, and (b) methods for the collective use of United Nations Units established or to be established by Member States;

Authorizes payment of the Coordinator’s salary and expenses from the regular budget of the United Nations; and

Requests the Secretary General to furnish the Coordinator and to the Ad Hoc Committee the staff and assistance necessary for the effective accomplishment of their respective tasks.

  1. This paper in this form and with the date of September 1 constituted an instruction to the United States Delegation to the Fifth Regular Session of the General Assembly, scheduled to convene in New York on September 19. It is not clear when the paper was actually drafted, and it may have been at hand for the discussions with the British and the French on August 21 and August 28 and so then could have become available to the British and French Governments for study. For the September meetings with the British and French, see the editorial note, infra.