Report, United Nations General Assembly Seventh Session, First Committee, 519th Meeting

United Nations GENERAL FIRST COMMITTEE, 519th ASSEMBLY MEETING Wednesday, 5 November 1952, at 3 p.m. SEVENTH SESSION Official Records Headquarters, New York CONTENTS Page Reports of the United Nations Commission for the Unification and Rehabili- tation of Korea (A/1881, A/2187, A/2228, A/C.1/725, A/C.1/730 and A/C.1/732) (continued) 69 Chairman: Mr. João Carlos MUNIZ (Brazil), Reports of the United Nations Commission for an armistice. He thought a compromise was possible the Unification and Rehabilitation of Korea if the other side desired an armistice also. With regard (A/1881, A/2187, A/2228, A/C.1/725, A/C.1/ to the forcible repatriation of war prisoners, his delega- 729, A/C.1/730 and A/C.1/732) (continued) tion would accept any proposal which provided that [Item 16(a)] the prisoners of war could indicate, without duress of any kind and under the supervision of a neutral com- 1. Mr. ZULUETA (Philippines) observed that there mission, whether or not they wished to return to their were two points of view-that of the joint draft reso- homes. The margin for compromise, he continued, lution (A/C.1/725), appealing to the North Korean could only be found in the procedure to rescreen the authorities to reconsider their position on the prisoners prisoners of war and not in the abandonment of prin- of war issue, and that in the proposals of the delega- ciple. He reiterated that the immediate objective of an tions of Mexico (A/C.1/730) and Peru (A/C.1/732) armistice would not be facilitated by the simultaneous in the less formal ones of Asian-African delegations, consideration of the settlement of the political aspects suggesting that a just and honourable compromise might of the Korean problem. Although his delegation desired be reached on the repatriation of prisoners of war. The an armistice, they thought that the Committee ought delegate of the Philippines believed that the conciliatory not to consider any proposal which might endanger the efforts should be considered in the light of a few basic position of the United Nations as the enemy of aggres- principles. sion, or which might indicate contempt for the sacrifices 2. First, United Nations action in Korea was the result of the soldiers of the United Nations. Peace, he con- of decisions of the Security Council and resolutions of cluded, would be too dear if bought at such a price. the General Assembly to assist the Republic of Korea to repel Communist aggression. Secondly, the General 4. Mr. CHARLONE (Uruguay) said that the respon- Assembly found the North Korean and Chinese Com- sibility for the aggression in Korea had been assessed munist régimes to be the aggressors in the Korean by the Organization, which had decided to repel that conflict. Thirdly, the United Nations, being one of the aggression. It was in this spirit that it had entrusted to parties in that conflict, should not entertain any pro- the Security Council, in accordance with Article 24 of posals tending to derogate from the integrity of that the Charter, the primary responsibility for the restora- position. Fourthly, the position taken by the United tion of international peace and security. The Council Nations Command against forcible repatriation, was had then declared on 25 June 1950 that the aggression based on accepted principles of international law and in Korea constituted a threat to international peace the laws of humanity, and though compromise regard- and security within the meaning of Article 39 of the ing the manner in which the repatriation could be Charter, and had ordered the North Koreans, as a carried out was possible, there could be no abandonment provisional measure under Article 40, to desist from any of this position. Fifthly, the immediate objective being military action. In failing to obey this order, they proved an armistice and the enforcement of a cease-fire, a beyond doubt that they were the aggressors. commission, which had been suggested, should be estab- 5. The main task of the United Nations was still the lished after the conclusion of an armistice. conclusion of an armistice based on honourable and just 3. The representative of the Philippines emphasized terms. In this connexion, Mr. Charlone said, his delega- that negotiations must rest on the assumption that all tion believed that the forcible repatriation of prisoners desired a cessation of hostilities. He affirmed that his raised a question of honour and moral responsibility. Government, and those of other Member States partici- The Unified Command, acting in accordance with the pating in the United Nations action in Korea, desired principles of the Charter which safeguarded human Indicates the item number on the agenda of the General rights, could not but reject the principle of forced re- Assembly. patriation. 1 69 A/C1./SR.519