Evening star., 1950-08-27


cow signed neither of the state.
ments made by those who were
then at war with Japan.
| Moscow did formally commit
itself to the establishment of Ko-
rean independence on at least two
later occasions, however.
When the Kremlin declared wal
on Japan on August s, 1945, So
Wet Foreign Commissar Vyache-
slav M. Molotov read statement
to the japanese Ambassador in
Moscow saying. among other
things, "The Soviet Government
has joined in the declaration
of the Allied powers of July 26, y
that is, the Potsdam declaration
pledging that "the Cairo declara-
ton shall be carried out"
The Soviets committed them
selves again on this point at the
Moscow Foreign Ministers Con-
ference of December, 1945. The
text of an agreement given out by
the ministers on December q
read. in part, as follows:
With view to the re-estab-
lishment of Korea as an inde-
pendent state. the creation of
conditions for developing the
country on democratic principles
and the earliest possible liqui-
dation of the disastrous results of
the protracted Japanese domi-
nation of Korea, there shall be
set up a provisional Korean
democratic government which
shall take all the necessary steps
for developing the industry
transport and agriculture oi
Korea and the national culture
of the Korean people"
The U. N. has laid at least four
further obligations on it's men,
bers to help establish a free and
unified Korea. The General AS
sembly has passed three resolu-
tions creating such obligations
and the Interim Committee-the
so-called Little Assembly'-has
passed fourth.
Free Elections Urged
In the first of these resolutions
adopted November IA, 1947, the
General Assembly called for free
elections throughout Korea to
choose the members of a national
government, and provided that a
temporary u. N. commission be
created to supervise the elections
and work with the National AS
sembly in setting up a govern
ment. q
The General Assembly specifi-
caliy stipulated that "the COM
mission shall facilitate and
expedite the fulfillment of the
foregoing program for the at
tainment of the national inde-
pendence of Korea and the
withdrawal of occupying forces.
THE General Assembly
calls upon member states con-
cerned to afford every assistance
and facility to the commission in
the fulflllment of it's responsible
ties" the resolution of November
IA, 1947. also provided, and calls
upon members of the United Ma
tions to refrain from interfering
in the affairs of the Korean people
during the interim period prepar-
atory to the establishment of
Korean independence, except in
pursuance of the decisions OF
the General Assembly; and there
after to refrain completely from
any and all acts derogatory to
the independence and sovereignty
of Korea"
This first General Assembly
resolution is the cornerstone OF
the argument that U. N. members
are legally obliged to help estab-
lish a free and unified Korea
Two further General Assembly
resolutions provide additional
support for the argument, Off
cials here contend.
Assembly's Actions
One of these was adopted De-
cember IL, 1948, after the South
Korean government had been set
up in accordance with the Cen
eral Assembly's recommendations
of November IA, 1947. This Sec
ond resolution states, in part:
THE General Assembly
declares that there has been estab-
lished a lawful government (the
government of the Republic OF
Korea), having effective control
and jurisdiction over that part OF
Korea where the Temporary Com
mission was able to observe and
consult and in which the great
majority of the people of all Ko-
lrea reside; that this government
is based on elections which were
a valid expression of the free will
OF the electorate of that part o1
Korea and which were observed
by the Temporary Commission
and that this is the only such
government in Korea"
This resolution also provided
for the creation of a permanent
commission to represent the u. N
in Korea and stipulated that the
duties of the new commission
would be, "in particular" to
lend its good Offices to bring
about the unification of ali
Korea"
The General Assembly sought
to accomplish these same genera,
purposes in still a third resolu.
ton which it adopted Octobe,
Il. 1949, reaff1rming it's previous
statements on Korea and appeal
ing yet another time to all mem
bers to help bring about the uni
f1cation and independence of the
country.
The Soviets defied all these
adjurations. They also ignored
a fourth resolution, adopted Feb
ruary 2, 1948. by the Little AS
sembly," re-emphasizing the ne
loAees%x, 80