UNP files, lot 59 D 237, “Membership”
Memorandum by Elizabeth Brown of the Office of United Nations Political and Security Affairs
Membership Problems in WHO Regional Committee for Western Pacific: Korea and Indochina
the problem
If the USSR sends a delegation, it might propose, possibly at the opening session, that representatives of the North Korean and/or Viet Minh regimes (“People’s Democratic Republic of Korea” and “Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam”) be invited to participate in some capacity, and that the Delegations from Viet-Nam, Laos, Cambodia and from the Republic of Korea, be excluded.
united states position
1. The United States Delegation should take the position that any such proposals are out of order on the grounds (a) that neither of these two regimes have any status whatsoever in the WHO or any other organization in the United Nations system and are consequently not entitled to participate in the meetings in any capacity, and (b) that the Republic of Korea, Viet-Nam, Laos and Cambodia, as WHO members, are fully entitled to participate.
If it appears that proposals contemplated in the “Problem” above might be made, the Delegation should consult in advance with other friendly Delegations to secure broad support for an out-of-order position.
2. However, if for any reason an out-of-order position is not successful and any of the proposals contemplated in the “Problem” above [Page 1014] are put to the vote, the United States Delegation should vigorously oppose and vote against them.
background
- 1.
- Korea—The United Nations General Assembly, on December 12, 1948 adopted a resolution recognizing the Government of the Republic of Korea as the only lawful government in Korea. The Assembly subsequently reaffirmed this resolution. The Government of the Republic of Korea has been recognized by more than 30 nations, including the United States. The Republic of Korea has been admitted to 6 specialized agencies of the United Nations, including WHO. It has also been determined qualified for United Nations membership by the United Nations General Assembly, and would be a United Nations member now were it not for the Soviet veto in the Security Council. The Communist puppet regime in North Korea, which is a convicted aggressor against the United Nations, has never been a lawful government. It has no status whatsoever in the United Nations or any specialized agency. The United Nations Security Council, in 1949, decided not even to consider a communication purporting to be a membership application from this regime.
- 2.
- Indochina—The three Associated States of Indochina (Viet-Nam, Laos and Cambodia) have each been admitted to a number of specialized agencies, including WHO, and each has been recognized by over 30 countries, including the United States. These three countries have also been determined qualified for United Nations membership by the General Assembly and have been excluded solely by the Soviet veto in the Security Council.
The Viet Minh regime is a Communist-led rebellion against the recognized authority and is not a lawful government. It has no status whatsoever in any UN specialized agency and a Soviet proposal to give this regime membership in the United Nations in 1952 was opposed by every member of the Security Council except the USSR.