ELECTIONS IN KOREA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26707, 28 February 1948, Page 7

ELECTIONS IN KOREA

DIRECTIVE TO COMMISSION LITTLE ASSEMBLY’S ORDER Rec. 11 p.m. NEW YORK, Feb. 26. The United Nations Little Assembly to-day approved the American resolution calling on the Korean Commission to hold “national” elections in Korea in spite of the Soviet-North Korean zone’s refusal to co-operate. The vote was 31-2, with Australia and Canada opposing and Afghanistan, Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, Iraq, Norway, Panama, Saudi-Arabia, Sweden, Syria, and Venezuela abstaining. Explaining Australia’s views during the debate, Mr Ralph Harry said Australia considered that the terms of the General Assembly’s resolution on Korea did not authorise the Korean Commission to hold national elections in South Korea, and the Little Assembly,had no discretion in the matter. Australia also saw a grave risk of rival authorities being created in North and South Korea, both claiming to represent the Korean people. Only the General Assembly was empowered to take such a step as ordering national elections, he said. Mr Lester Pearson (Canada) considered that the Little Assembly, whose birth had been surrounded by so much uneasiness and suspicion, should be extremely cautious and avoid even an appearance, of giving instructions to the Korean Commission. He questioned whether it was necessary for the Little Assembly to pass the resolution at all, inasmuch as its advice to the Commission would not be binding. A report alone might be sufficient giving majority and minority views. Canada would have to vote against the American resolution as unconstitutional and incorrect.