Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Korea and China, Volume VII, Part 1

320/1–1351: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the United States Mission at the United Nations

secret   priority

Washington, January 13, 1951—2 p. m.

632. There are set forth below two alternate draft Res approved in Dept for use as “second stage” Res in Korean case. Only distinction between two is that first alternative contains an express finding by GA that Chi Commies have committed aggression whereas the second alternative contains a finding of illegal acts which Chi Commies have committed without using word aggression.

You are authorized to consult with other Dels on basis of either or both drafts. Depts views fol.

1. It is our position that the action of the Chi Commies does in fact constitute aggression and we do not think that GA need shrink from making an express finding of aggression.

2. At same time one of our principal objectives is to maintain maximum unity of free world and to get as large a vote as possible for the Res. We do not believe the label of aggression is paramount, what is important is that the UN face squarely the facts of what the Chi Commies have done. If therefore there would be a larger vote for the second alternative it wld be acceptable to us. The largest possible majority is important not only for the record but also in terms of the action which UN members will be willing to take in furtherance of the recommendations of the CMC.

3. As matter of tactics Dept believes that US shld not press first alternative so strongly in consultations that if it is later determined that a larger vote would result from second alternative it becomes a “defeat” for the US position. Realistically one alternative is as “strong” as the other, and we think it would be unfortunate if the word aggression became a shibboleth which determined the willingness or unwillingness of the free world to accept US leadership.

A. First Alternative

The General Assembly

Noting that the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China has rejected efforts to bring about a cessation of hostilities in Korea with a view to peaceful settlement, and that its armed forces continue their invasion of Korea and their large-scale attacks upon United Nations forces there;

Noting that the Security Council, because of lack of unanimity of the permanent members, has failed to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in regard to Chinese Communist intervention in Korea;

Finds that the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China has committed aggression in Korea;

Calls upon the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China to cause its forces and nationals in Korea to cease hostilities against the United Nations forces and to withdraw from Korea;

Affirms the determination of the United Nations to continue its action to meet the aggression in Korea;

Calls upon all States and authorities to continue to lend every assistance to the United Nations in such action;

Calls upon all States and authorities to refrain from giving any assistance to the aggressors in Korea;

Requests the Collective Measures Committee, as a matter of urgency, to consider what additional measures should now be employed to meet this aggression, and to make recommendations to the General Assembly thereon;

Affirms that it continues to be the policy of the United Nations to bring about a cessation of hostilities in Korea with a view to peaceful settlement and the achievement of United Nations objectives in Korea by peaceful means, and requests (the cease-fire group appointed in the resolution of the General Assembly of December 15 [14], 1950, or, the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary General and the President of the Security Council or another group) at any suitable opportunity to use its good offices to this end.

B. Second Alternative

The General Assembly

Noting that the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China has rejected efforts to bring about a cessation of hostilities in Korea with a view to peaceful settlement, and that its armed forces continue their invasion of Korea and their large-scale attacks upon United Nations forces there;

Noting that the Security Council, because of lack of unanimity of the permanent members, has failed to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in regard to Chinese Communist intervention in Korea;

Finds that the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China, in violation of the Charter of the United Nations, (1) has given assistance to the North Korean Authorities against the United Nations is [in?] taking action in pursuance of the Security Council’s finding of a breach of the peace; (2) has used force against the territorial integrity and political independence of Korea; and (3) has sent its armies into Korea and attacked the forces of the United Nations there;

Calls upon the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China to cause its forces and nationals in Korea to cease hostilities against the United Nations forces and to withdraw from Korea;

Affirms the determination of the United Nations to continue its action in Korea;

Calls upon all states and authorities to continue to lend every assistance to the United Nations in such action;

Calls upon all states and authorities to refrain from giving any assistance to the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China in its intervention in Korea;

Requests the Collective Measures Committee as a matter of urgency to consider what additional measures should now be employed to carry out the purposes of this resolution and to make recommendations to the General Assembly thereon;

Affirms that it continues to be the policy of the United Nations to bring about a cessation of hostilities in Korea with a view to peaceful settlement and the achievement of United Nations objectives; in Korea by peaceful means, and requests (the cease-fire group appointed in the resolution of the General Assembly of December 15 [14], 1950, or, the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary General and the President of the Security Council or another group) at any suitable opportunity to use its good offices to this end.

Acheson