§ 4.6 p.m
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (VISCOUNT ADDISON)My Lords, my right honourable friend the Prime Minister has just made in another place a Statement on the proceedings on the Resolution on Korea which was passed by the Political Committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations at Lake Success. My right honourable friend has furnished me, for your Lordships' information, with a copy of the Statement, which runs as follows: "I welcome the opportunity to draw the attention of the House to the United States Resolution on Korea passed on Tuesday by the Political Committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
"I said, on January 23, in my reply to the right honourable gentleman, the Leader of the Opposition, that His Majesty's Government wished to explore every possibility of a negotiated settlement, whilst fully recognising the facts of the situation in Korea and the nature of the Chinese intervention there. We did not believe, however, that the time had yet come to consider the adoption of further measures. It was for this reason that we could not have supported the United States Resolution in its original form.
134 "Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 8 of the Resolution in their unamended form were not acceptable to His Majesty's Government. Paragraph 2 noted that the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China had rejected all United Nations proposals to bring about a cessation of hostilities in Korea. Paragraph 3 requested a Committee to consider additional measures to be employed to meet the aggression in Korea. It was the view of His Majesty's Government that it was not correct to say that the Chinese Government ' had rejected ' all United Nations proposals, and as regards Paragraph 8 it was our view that it was premature to consider additional measures until the Good Offices Committee established under Paragraph 9 of the Resolution, had reported.
"After exchanges of view with the Commonwealth Governments and the United States and other Governments, these paragraphs were amended. Paragraph 2 was amended to read that the Chinese Government 'had not accepted United Nations proposals' instead of 'had rejected all United Nations proposals,' and in the case of Paragraph 8 an important addition was made. The effect of this addition was to defer consideration by the Assembly of further measures in the event of the Good Offices Committee reporting progress. Thus the essential principle is maintained that the United Nations will continue its efforts to arrange for a peaceful settlement, and that there can be no question of the United Nations' proceeding to further measures until it has become apparent that those efforts have failed.
"I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT copies of the Resolution in its unamended and in its amended form.
"I would especially call the attention of the House to the final paragraph in the Resolution which affirms that it continues to be the policy of the United Nations to bring about a cessation of hostilities in Korea, and the achievement of U.N. objectives there by peace-ful means, and requests the President of the General Assembly to designate forthwith two persons who would meet with him at any suitable opportunity to 135 use their good offices to this end. It seemed to us that the Resolution in its amended form offered the best hope in existing circumstances of obtaining a settlement by negotiation, and accordingly our representative was instructed to vote in favour of it.
"From the close and constant contact which we have maintained with many of the Governments supporting the Resolution, it is clear that they share our view of the importance and urgency of the task entrusted to the Good Offices Committee, and wish to see it begin its work as soon as the resolution has been approved by the Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly.
"The attitude of the United States Government as sponsor of the Resolution is of particular importance. In this connection, let me recall the statement made by the President of the United States on January 25 in Washington, when he is reported to have said: 'Let me stress again that the American Resolution contains, as all our proposals have contained, a method of bringing about a cease-fire and opening the way for a peaceful settlement of outstanding issues.'
"In the light of that statement, and as a result of the close contact which has been maintained between our two Governments, we feel confident that the United States Government will give every assistance to the Good Offices Committee in its efforts to promote a peaceful solution.
"The United Nations has pointed the way and shown the will for peace. China has much to gain by co-operation and much to lose by withholding it. It is my earnest hope that the Central People's Government of China will respond to any efforts which may be made by the Good Offices Committee to bring about a cease-fire and a negotiated settlement in the Far East."
§ Following are the original and amended Resolutions referred to: