Evening star., 1947-10-01
Vandenberg Defends
Move Placing Korean
Question Before u. N.
Senator Gives Strong Case
On Right Of Assembly
To Consider Issue
By David Laurence

To Consider Issue
By David Laurence
Senator Vandenberg, chairman
Of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, has written this cor
respondent q letter defending the
action Of the United States delega-
ton at the United Nations in bring
ing the Korean independence ques-
ton before the Assembly.
Although the Senator did not
request publication, his letter Is SO
revealing, especially as to some
aspects, hitherto unpublished, of
what went on at the San Francisco
Conference when the Charter was
written, that the letter might well
be placed on record. The Senator
makes strong case for the right Of
the Assembly to discuss the Korean
question, even though it be one of
those growing out of the war agree
ments-a position to which ex-
ception was recently taken in these
dispatches on the ground that the
issue had not reached the stage
where it should be formally con-
fessed that diplomacy had failed
or that the peace of the world Is
being threatened
Senator Vandenberg writes:
In your newspaper column of
September Is you question our
justification in asking the United
Nations General Assembly to con-
slider the question of Korean in
dependence You suggest that the
question be appraised in the light
Of the solemn pledges given by the
American delegation at San Fran
cisco when the U. N. Charter was
being written You particularly
state the following:
at was definitely understood,
and Senator Vandenberg affirmed
1t publicly, that questions concern
ing the peace treaties and the settle
ment of questions concerning the
ending Of the war were not to be
within the jurisdiction of the United
Nations Charter
Important to Clarity.
"I think it is important to clarity
the final action taken at San
Francisco, because l am one OF
those who believe in scrupulous
regard for every obligation the
United States has assumed.
The problem involves the proper
Interpretation of Article XIV of the
Charter. In final form this article
in essence reads as follows:
1.-The General Assembly may
recommend measures for the peace
full adjustment of any situation,
regardless of origin, which it deems
likely to impair the general well
fare or friendly relations among
nations, including situations re-
sulting from violation of
the Charter setting forth the prin-
ciples and purposes of the United
Nations
This language was the result
of long debate. My own original
proposal spelled out the revision OF
treaties and of prior international
decisions as part of this necessary
formula If the Charter was not to
become a 'strait-jacket - = to police
a rigid world My original proposal
explicitly emphasized the indispen-
sable necessity for machinery to
correct exigent errors in the peace
making lest they be frozen in per-
manent statutes never again to be
changed except by international re-
bellion which we agree to help
suppress
"At San Francisco, the general
objective was quite universally ap-
proved. But the specific identiflca-
ton of authority to revise treaties
was attacked as general principle
on the ground that it could be con-
strued as undermining the sanctity
Of treaties as such. 1t was said this
would be tantamount to violating
the sovereign rights of signatory
states In a public statement or
-sMay 8, 1945, at San Francisco ]
agreed that the sanctity of treaties
and the dependability of interna-
tional engagements is at the bottom
of all hope for collective security.
I agreed that we must not under
mine treaties as such. But I in
sisted that we must deal with sit
uations.' as distinguished from
treaties, in the best manner to
serve justice and peace I said that
our proposal dealt with other sub
jects' and other situations than
the general revision of treaties.
categorically included situations
arising as a result of the vast area
of war decisions which may not
have been answered, under the pres
sure of expediency, in the best man.
ner to serve justice and peace
Reference Struck Out.
The specific reference to 'the
revision of treaties, etc. was strick-
en- out with our consent. In its
place went the language regard
ing the peaceful adjustment of any
situation regardless of origin, etc.
believe our American delegation
considered this to be broader author
ity than would have been embraced
within any specific definitions.
certainly did-and I have repeatedly
said so. Regardless of origin de-
scribes any situation which i'm
pairs the general welfare or friendly
relations among nations according
to its own language 1t necessarily
includes situations affected by
treaties. The General Assembly has
no authority to alter or amend these
treaties. The treaties are sovereign
But it has a right to recommend
to the signatory powers whatever
changes in situations regardless
of origin, may be deemed necessary
to peace, general welfare, friendly
relations, or the maintenance oi
the principles and purposes of the
United Nations. This Is not an at.
tack on treaties as such ever
though 1t may involve them. This
is an attack on. dangerous 'situa-