Nations in the execution of this resolution and to refrain from assisting the North Koreans. The Soviet Union was not present when this resolution was passed, having absented itself from meetings of the Security Council since January, when it had claimed that the participation of the Chinese Nationalist representative was illegal. The next day the Commission on Korea reported more fully. It observed that all the evidence at its disposal, far from justifying the northern allegations that hostilities had been begun by South Korea, pointed to a calculated and co-ordinated northern attack, prepared and launched with secrecy. In another message*, it expressed the view that, judging from the actual progress of operations, the northern attack was a well-planned, full-scale invasion, which took the South Korean forces, deployed on a wholly defensive basis, completely by surprise. At noon on 27 June the President of the United States issued a statement f pointing out that the northern troops, in defiance of the Security Council, were pressing their attack. Mr. Truman announced that he had ordered the United States air and sea forces to give the Korean Government troops cover and support. The President said that he had at the same time directed the United States fleet to prevent any attack on Formosa and had given orders that military assistance to the Philippines Government and the forces of France and the Associated States in Indo-China should be accelerated. When the Security Council met three hours later it noted from the report of the Commission on Korea that the North Korean forces had neither ceased hostilities nor withdrawn to the parallel, and that urgent military measures were required to restore international peace and security. A second was accordingly adopted, in the continued absence of the Soviet Union, by 7 votes to 1 (Yugoslavia), with 2 abstentions (India and Egypt). This resolution recommended that the members of the United Nations furnish such assistance to the Republic of Korea as might be necessary to repel the armed attack and to restore international peace and security in the area. India later notified its support for the resolution. An overwhelming majority of the members of the United Nations endorsed the action of the Security Council, which was opposed only by the Soviet bloc. Immediate assistance was given by the United States, which informed the Secretary-General on 30 June and on 6 July that, in addition to the naval and air support already provided, the President had offered certain supporting ground units. Moreover, the President had authorized the United States air forces to conduct missions on specific targets in North Korea and a naval blockade of the whole Korean coast had been ordered. The United Kingdom and other members of the British Commonwealth were also swift to respond with military aid. British and

* Appendix V.

f Appendix VI.

% Appendix VII.

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