Evening star., 1947-12-18
Partition Of Korea
Seen # Reds Reject
Plan for Elections
BY the Associated Press

bAhE SUCCESS, Lee. lo.-lQe
political fate Of Korea may be de-
cided next month after a United
Nations commission In Seoul asks
the Russians to help carry out a
U. N. decision calling for country
wide elections leading to establish
ment Of an independent Korean
government.
If the Russian answer is unfavor-
able, the alternative conceivably
could be course leading to parti-
ton Of Korea.
The Russians, firmly entrenched
as occupying power in the northern
half Of Korea, are expected to re-
ject all overtures for their sanction
Of an election or permission for
U. N. observers to cross into Soviet
held territory. Such moves were
forecast here last month when Dep
uty Foreign Minister Andrei Y.
vishinsky described the Assembly's
decision as illegal" and said his
country would not cooperate.
The Soviet boycott took tangible
form when the Soviet Ukraine, one
OF the nine nations elected to the
commission, refused to serve. The
body thus will function with dele
gates from eight nations: Australia,
Canada, China, Ell Salvador, France,
India, Syria and the Philippines.
U. S. to Cooperate.
The United States, which occu-
pies the southern half of Korea
sponsored the Assembly step and
naturally is ready to cooperate.
The commissions secretariat of
about rs, beaded by Assistant Secre-
tary General Victor Hoo of China,
will leave New York January 2 by
Chartered plane. Stops will be
made in San Francisco, Honolulu
and Tokyo. The first commission
is scheduled for Seoul. in
the United States sector, on jan
uary 8.
Present plans call for the COM
mission to begin negotiations there
Immediately with American and
Russian military authorities. If the
Russians decline to permit the U. N.
body to oversee elections in the
north, the U. N. will be confronted
with a decision on whether to 90
ahead with balloting in the south
alone and establish a government
there. Such a step would mean dl-
vision OF Korea, perhaps perma-
nently, with the Russians left alone
In the north to evacuate their
troops when and as they please and
tree to establish regime in North
ern Korea.
Resolution Recalled.
The key section of the assembly's
Korean resolution-adopted 43 to O
with the Soviet six-country bloc
refusing to vote or abstain on the
record-provides that the U. N. COM
mission shall have the right to
travel, observe and consult
throughout Korea"
The decision also calls for elec-
lions no later than March 81 to be
followed by consultations with
elected representatives and forna-
lion Of an all-Korean government.
Soviet and American troops then
would be withdrawn as soon as pos
sible. = asHj - *
About two-thirds of Korea's 49,
100000 residents tive In the south,
Which Is principally agricultural.
The north is mainly industrial. The
country was divided temporarily for
occupation purposes as an after
n1ath OF the victory over Japan and
the two powers have been unable to
agree on elections and withdrawal
of troops.
U. N. Rejected Plan.
Secretary of State Marshall took
The issue to the U. N. in efforts to
end the impasse and the Russians
Immediately countered with a sug-
sestion that both sides get their
,roops out of Korea next month.
The U. N. rejected this plan on the
grounds that the Russians had Or
5anlzed and trained a large army
n their zone and withdrawal of
roops prior to establishment of a
government would create a vacuum
U. N. plans call for the commits
ion to remain in Korea up to
ear. 1t has $685., ,280 for expenses.
dr. Hoo is expected to return here
'fter a short period, probably as
oon as the election date has been
ct, and staff supervision will be
AIKEN over by Patrus j. Schmidt OF |
The Netherlands. principal secle-
ary.