Press Conference by Secretary of State Dean Acheson

84 DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOR THE PRESS ARCHIVES SERVICE JANUARY 17, 1951 U.S. No. 38 At his news conference today, Secretary of State Dean Acheson made the following statement: U.S. POSITION WITH RESPECT TO UN CEASE-FIRE PROPOSAL There has been a good deal of discussion in this country regarding the latest cease-fire proposal in the United Nations and why this Government voted for it. I should like to comment briefly on this matter. First. The proposal was put forward by the Cease-Fire Committee -- The President of the General Assembly, Mr. Pearson of Canada, Sir Benegal Rau of India. It had the support of the over- whelming majority of the U.N. members. This support was founded on two principal attitudes. One was the belief of many members that the Chinese Communists might still be prevailed upon to cease their defiance of the United Nations. While we did not share this belief we recognized that it was sincerely held by many members. The second attitude was that, even though there might be little prospect of success in the approach to Peiping, the United Nations should leave no stone unturned in its efforts to find a peaceful solution. Holders of each view believed and stated to us that opposition or abstention by the United States would destroy any possibility of success which the proposal might have. Peaceful settlement is one of the cardinal purposes of the United Nations. The resort to force in Korea came from the North Koreans first and the Chinese Communists second. The United Nations has constantly demanded that this should end and that the United Nations objectives should be attained by peaceful means -- we have stood and still stand for this position. Also it has been our goal to SO act as to maintain the unity of the free nations against agression which has marked the United Nations actions in Korea. .ccordingly, we voted for the resolution to demonstrate our adherence to these basic principles even though we did not share the beliefs of other members, mentioned above, that it would achieve its purpose. Second. As to what the five principles mean: If they are accepted, first, there would be a cease-fire in Korea. Then, after the fighting has stopped, there would be negotiations among all interested parties to find a peaceful settlement of the Korean question and other outstanding problems in the Far East. The five principles contain three elements: (1) a termination of hostilities in Korea; after the cease-fire has become effective, two further steps are contemplated: (2) arrangements to ensure the achievement of United Nations objectives of an independent and democratic Korea by peaceful means and the withdrawal by appro- priate stages of all non-Korean troops; and (3) a discussion of Far Eastern problems. These principles are entirely consistent with the United Nations Charter, United Nations objectives in Korea, and United States policy. The General Assembly resolution of October 7 made it clear that United Nations forces should not remain in Korea longer than necessary to achieve United Nations objectives there.