result of an agreement between the delegations that eligibility for consultation in regard to the formation of a Korean government would be extended to all Korean parties and groups which signed a statement that they would uphold the Moscow agreement, cooperate with the Joint Commission, and abide by its decisions. Early in July, however, the Soviet delegation reverted to its 1946 position that Korean parties and individuals who had opposed the trusteeship provisions of the Moscow agreement were ineligible for consultation. The various proposals subsequently put forward by the U.S. delegation were not accepted by the Soviet delegation, and a stalemate resulted which prevented the two delegations even from agreeing on a joint report on the status of the deliberations of the Commission.

U.S. PROPOSAL FOR FOUR-POWER CONFERENCE

Convinced by this series of failures that the goal of a democratic and independent government for Korea could not be achieved through further negotiations within the Joint Commission, the United States proposed to the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and China on August 26, 1947, a conference of the four powers adhering to the Moscow agreement "to consider how that agreement may be speedily carried out." China and the United Kingdom accepted this proposal but the Soviet Union on September 4, 1947, rejected the suggestion of the United States on the ground that such a conference would not be within the scope of the Moscow agree

ment.

IV. Early U.N. Efforts at Unification, 1947-1950

REFERENCE OF THE KOREAN QUESTION TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Being finally convinced of the futility of further direct negotiations with the Soviet Union within the framework of the Moscow agreement and not wishing to let the inability of the two powers to reach agreement further delay the urgent and rightful claims of the Korean people to independence, the United States, on September 17, 1947, laid the whole question of Korean independence before the second regular session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. On September 23 the General Assembly voted to place the Korean question on its agenda and referred it to the Political and Security Committee for consideration and report.

THE KOREAN QUESTION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

A few days after the United States had laid the Korean situation before the United Nations, the Soviet delegation to the Joint Commission in Seoul proposed that the Soviet and United States troops in Korea be withdrawn simultaneously "during the beginning of 1948" and that the Koreans be left to organize their own government without outside assistance. The same suggestion was communicated to Secretary Marshall by the Soviet Foreign Minister in a note dated October 9. This Soviet proposal was called to the attention of the General Assembly by the United States Representative in a letter of October 16. The Secretary of State informed the Soviet Foreign Minister in a note of October 18, however, that in the opinion of the United States "the question of withdrawal of occupation forces from Korea must be considered an integral part of the solution of the problem of setting up an independent government for a unified Korea."

GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION ON PROCEDURES FOR FORMATION OF A NATIONAL KOREAN GOVERNMENT

On November 14, 1947, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proposed by the United States providing for a program for Korean independence. In the debate on this resolution the Soviet representative maintained that the Korean question did not fall within the jurisdiction of the United Nations.

The main provisions of the resolution adopted by the Assembly

were:

1. Elected representatives of the Korean people should be invited to take part in the consideration of the question of formation of a national government. In order to facilitate and expedite such participation and to insure that the Korean representatives were in fact duly elected by the Korean people, and not mere appointees of foreign military authorities in Korea, a nine-nation United Nations Temporary Commission on Korea should be established, to be present in Korea, with the right to travel, observe, and consult throughout Korea.

2. Elections should be held in Korea not later than March 31, 1948, "to choose representatives with whom the Commission may consult regarding the prompt attainment of the freedom and independence of the Korean people and which representatives, constituting a National Assembly, may establish a National Government of Korea."

3. As soon as possible after the elections, the National Assembly should convene, form a national government, and notify the Commission of its formation.

4. Upon the establishment of a national government, that government should, in consultation with the Commission, constitute its own national security forces and dissolve all military or semimilitary formations not included therein, take over the functions of government from the military commands and civilian authorities of north and south Korea, and arrange with the occupying powers for the complete withdrawal from Korea of their armed forces as soon as practicable and, if possible, within 90 days.

5. The Commission might consult with the Interim Committee of the General Assembly in the light of developments.

6. The member states concerned should afford every assistance and facility to the Commission in the fulfillment of its responsibilities.

THE U.N. TEMPORARY COMMISSION ON KOREA

The Commission established by the General Assembly's resolution of November 14, 1947, held its first meeting in Seoul on January 12, 1948. However the Soviet commander refused to receive the Commission, which thereupon cabled U.N. Secretary-General Trygve Lie asking him to request the Permanent Representative of the Soviet Union to the United Nations, Andrei Gromyko, to transmit a communication to Moscow expressing the Commission's desire to meet with the Soviet military authorities in Korea. In his reply of January 22 to the Secretary-General, Mr. Gromyko merely referred to the "negative attitude" taken by the Soviet Government toward the establishment of the Commission.

Being denied access to Soviet-occupied north Korea, the Commission decided to consult with the Interim Committee of the General Assembly as to whether in the light of the developments in north Korea it was "open to or incumbent upon" the Commission to implement the Assembly's program in south Korea.

RESOLUTION OF THE INTERIM COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The opinion of the delegates on the Interim Committee was predominantly to the effect that the recommendations of the General Assembly were clear and that if existing conditions made it impossible to hold elections for a national government in both north and south Korea it would nevertheless be possible to hold such elections in south Korea. The conclusions of the Interim Committee were embodied

in a resolution adopted February 26, 1948, which stated that the program set forth in the General Assembly's resolution of November 14, 1947, should be carried out and that, as a necessary step toward this end, the U.N. Temporary Commission on Korea should proceed with the observance of elections in all of Korea or, if that were impossible, in as much of Korea as was accessible to it.

THE ELECTIONS OF 1948 IN SOUTH KOREA

On March 1, 1948, the U.S. commander in Korea issued a proclamation to the people of Korea in which he announced that an election of representatives of the Korean people, under the observance of the U.N. Temporary Commission on Korea, would be held in south Korea on May 9, 1948. (The date was later postponed 1 day to May 10.) On March 17, 1948, the Commission addressed a letter to the U.S. commander containing recommendations as to actions to be taken by him in order that the elections should be held "in a free atmosphere wherein the democratic rights of freedom of speech, press and assembly would be recognized and respected." Every effort was made to carry out these recommendations, many of which had already been put into effect.

The U.N. Temporary Commission on Korea planned and carried out a comprehensive program of observation in the entire election area from April 5 to May 11, which covered both registration and voting. On the basis of these observations the Commission on June 25, 1948, adopted a resolution declaring that "the results of the ballot of May 10, 1948, are a valid expression of the free will of the electorate in those parts of Korea which were accessible to the Commission and in which the inhabitants constituted approximately two-thirds of the people of all Korea.”

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

The representatives elected by the Korean people convened as a National Assembly on May 31, 1948. Seats proportionate in number to the population—about one-third-were left vacant for the later participation of the people of the northern zone. In a resolution of June 12, 1948, the National Assembly appealed to the people of north Korea, urging them to hold free elections for representatives to the National Assembly who could then join with the representatives from the southern zone in establishing an independent Korean government.

The major work of the National Assembly was the discussion and drafting of a constitution for the Republic of Korea. After consid

erable debate and discussion a constitution was adopted by the Assembly on July 12. The National Assembly elected Syngman Rhee as President of the Republic of Korea on July 20, and on August 15 the Government of the Republic of Korea established in accordance with the constitution was formally inaugurated. On the same date the American military government in Korea was terminated. To implement the transfer of authority an agreement providing for the assumption by the new Korean government of jurisdiction over the security forces, including police, constabulary, and coast guard, was signed on August 24, and a property and financial settlement was reached on September 11, 1948.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECOGNITION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

At its third session the General Assembly of the United Nations, on December 12, 1948, adopted a resolution declaring that "there has been established a lawful government (the Government of the Republic of Korea) having effective control and jurisdiction over that part of Korea where the Temporary Commission was able to observe and consult . . . and that this is the only such Government in Korea."

The resolution of December 12 also recommended that the occupying forces be withdrawn as soon as possible and that a permanent U.N. Commission on Korea be established with much the same scope as the original temporary commission.

Following the adoption of this resolution, the United States extended de jure recognition to the Government of the Republic of Korea on January 1, 1949. Similar action was subsequently taken by some 37 countries.

The Republic of Korea applied for membership in the United Nations on January 19, 1949. On April 8, 1949, the Security Council voted on the Republic's application with nine in favor and two against; because of the negative vote of the Soviet Union no recommendation for admission could be made to the General Assembly. All subsequent proposals to admit the Republic of Korea to membership in the United Nations have also been vetoed by the U.S.S.R., the most recent such veto having been exercised on December 9, 1958.

THE COMMUNIST REGIME IN NORTH KOREA

At almost the same time that the Republic of Korea assumed authority in the southern zone, another regime was brought into being in the northern zone. This regime, the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea," was proclaimed on September 9, 1948, by a "Supreme