No. 448
Editorial Note
The Ad Hoc Political Committee of the United Nations General Assembly considered the Soviet complaint of aggression against the People’s Republic of China (see footnote 2, Document 347) on December 9 and 10; the text of a statement by United States Representative [Page 1036] C.D. Jackson, made in the Committee on December 9, is printed in Department of State Bulletin, December 20, 1954, pages 957–962. A Soviet draft resolution, submitted on December 9, condemned acts of aggression against China allegedly being committed by armed forces under United States control and recommended that the United States take steps to end such acts and “piratical attacks” on merchant vessels in the area. (UN Document A/AC.76/L.23) On December 10, the Ad Hoc Political Committee rejected the operative parts of the resolution by 39 votes to 5, with 5 abstentions. (Report of the Ad Hoc Political Committee; UN Document A/2871) On December 17, the Soviet Union resubmitted the draft resolution to the General Assembly in plenary session; it was rejected by 44 votes to 5, with 8 abstentions.
The Soviet complaint of violation of freedom of navigation in the area of the China seas (see footnote 3, Document 317) was considered by the Ad Hoc Political Committee December 13–15. A Soviet draft resolution, submitted on December 13, condemned “piratical raids” on merchant vessels, allegedly carried out by naval vessels based on Taiwan and under United States control, and called upon the United States to take steps to prevent such acts in the future and to free those vessels and their crews then held in Taiwan. (UN document A/AC.76/L.24) A Syrian draft resolution, submitted on December 14, called upon all concerned parties to resolve their differences by peaceful processes and called upon United Nations members to adhere to the principle of freedom of navigation on the high seas. (UN document A/AC.76/L.25) A joint draft resolution, submitted on December 15 by Cuba, the Philippines, and the United States, provided that the General Assembly would turn the matter over to the International Law Commission. (UN document A/AC.76/L.26) On December 15, the Ad Hoc Political Committee decided to give priority in voting to the joint draft resolution; it was adopted by 35 votes to 5, with 5 abstentions. (Report of the Ad Hoc Political Committee; UN document A/2882) No vote was taken on the other two draft resolutions. On December 17, the General Assembly adopted the joint draft resolution by 39 votes to 5, with 14 abstentions, as Resolution 821(IX). The text of statements made by C.D. Jackson in the Ad Hoc Political Committee and in the General Assembly, along with the text of the resolution, are printed in Department of State Bulletin, December 27, 1954, pages 996–1003.