Question of impartial investigation of charges of use by United Nations Forces of bacteriological warfare

VII. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE
706 Question of impartial investigation of charges of use by United Nations Forces of bacteriological warfare

The General Assembly, Noting that accusations have been made by certain governments and authorities charging the use of bacteriological warfare by United Nations Forces, and that the Unified Command has repeatedly denied such charges, Recalling that when the charges were first made the Unified Command had requested that an impartial investigation be made of them, Noting that the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China and the North Korean authorities have so far refused to accept an offer by the International Committee of the Red Cross to carry out an investigation, Noting that the draft resolution [1] submitted in the Security Council by the Government of the United States of America proposing an investigation of these charges by the International Committee of the Red Cross failed to carry because of the negative vote of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Desiring to serve the interests of truth,

1. Resolves that, after the President of the General Assembly has received an indication from all the governments and authorities concerned of their acceptance of the investigation proposed in the present resolution, a Commission, composed of Brazil, Egypt, Pakistan, Sweden and Uruguay, shall carry out immediately an investigation of the charges that have been made;

2. Calls upon the governments and authorities concerned to enable the Commission to travel freely throughout such areas of North and South Korea, the Chinese mainland and Japan as the Commission may deem necessary in the performance of its task and to allow the Commission freedom of access to such persons, places and relevant documents as it considers necessary for the fulfilment of its task and to allow it to examine any witness, including prisoners of war under such safeguards and conditions as the Commission shall determine: all prisoners of war who are alleged to have made confessions regarding the use of bacteriological warfare shall, prior to examination by the Commission, be taken to a neutral area and remain under the responsibility and custody of the Commission until the end of the Korean hostilities;

3. Requests the President of the General Assembly to transmit the present resolution immediately to the governments and authorities concerned, requesting them to indicate their acceptance of the investigation proposed in the present resolution;

4. Requests the President of the General Assembly to report to the General Assembly at the earliest practicable date on the results of his efforts;

5. Directs the Commission, when set up, to enlist the aid of such scientists of international reputation, especially epidemiologists, and such other experts as it may select;

6 Directs the Commission, after acceptance of the investigation proposed in the present resolution by all the governments and authorities concerned, to report to the Members of the General Assembly through the Secretary-General as soon possible and no later than 1 September 1953;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to furnish the Commission with the necessary staff and facilities.

428th plenary meeting,
23 April 1953.

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[1] See document S/2671.