Editorial Note
On January 11, the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly met from 3 to 6:30 p. m.; for the record, see United Nations document A/C.1/SR.422. The Cease-Fire Group presented its Supplementary Report, dealing with the principles to be laid down as a basis for possible negotiations subsequent to the establishment of a ceasefire (A/C.1/645). Secretary Acheson had already, on the same day, secured President Truman’s approval of United States acceptance of the principles (795.00/1–1151), and at the First Committee meeting Ambassador Austin stated that the United States would vote in favor of them and for their transmission to Peking for possible acceptance by the People’s Republic of China. No vote was taken, however, by the First Committee at this meeting.
The text of United Nations document A/C.1/645 read as follows:
“The objective shall be the achievement, by stages, of the programme outlined below for a cease-fire in Korea, for the establishment of a free and united Korea, and for a peaceful settlement of Far Eastern problems.
“1. In order to prevent needless destruction of life and property, and while other steps are being taken to restore peace, a cease-fire should be immediately arranged. Such an arrangement should contain adequate safeguards for ensuring that it will not be used as a screen for mounting a new offensive.
“2. If and when a cease-fire occurs in Korea, either as a result of a formal arrangement or, indeed, as a result of a lull in hostilities pending some such arrangement, advantage should be taken of it to pursue consideration of further steps to be taken for the restoration of peace.
“3. To permit the carrying out of the General Assembly resolution that Korea should be a unified, independent, democratic, sovereign State with a constitution and a government based on free popular elections, all non-Korean armed forces will be withdrawn, by appropriate stages, from Korea, and appropriate arrangements, in accordance with United Nations principles, will be made for the Korean people to express their own free will in respect of their future government.
“4. Pending the completion of the steps referred to in the preceding paragraph, appropriate interim arrangements, in accordance with United Nations principles, will be made for the administration of Korea and the maintenance of peace and security there.
“5. As soon as agreement has been reached on a cease-fire, the General Assembly shall set up an appropriate body which shall include representatives of the Governments of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and the People’s Republic of China with a view to the achievement of a settlement, in conformity with existing international obligations and the provisions of the United Nations Charter, of Far Eastern problems, including, among others, those of Formosa (Taiwan) and of representation of China in the United Nations.”