Editorial Note
The item “Observance in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Rumania of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom” was included on the agenda of the Fifth Session of the United Nations General Assembly, held at Lake Success, New York, September 19–December 15, 1950. From October 2 to 5, the Ad Hoc Political Committee discussed the question. On October 5, the Committee approved the amended text of a resolution submitted by the Australian Delegation and supported by the United States Delegation. The resolution condemned the refusal of Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania to fulfill their treaty obligations which had been confirmed by the International Court of Justice, noted the continuance of serious accusations against the three governments, and invited member nations to submit to the Secretary-General any evidence which they might have on the question. For the text of a statement on the agenda item made before the Committee on October 2 by Benjamin V. Cohen, United States Alternate Representative to the General Assembly, see Department of State Bulletin, October 23, 1950, pages 666–670. For the official record of the debate in the Ad Hoc Political Committee, see United Nations, Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifth Session, Ad Hoc Political Committee, pages 7–38.
The resolution approved by the Ad Hoc Political Committee was considered by the General Assembly at its 302d and 303d Meetings, November 3. The General Assembly adopted the resolution (385 (V)) [Page 60] at the conclusion of its 303d Meeting by a vote of 40 (including the United States) to 5 (Soviet bloc), with 12 abstentions. For the official record of the debate, see United Nations, Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifth Session, Plenary Meetings, pages 348–369. For the text of the approved resolution (U.N. doc. A/1486), see Department of State Bulletin, November 27, 1950, page 872, or American Foreign Policy, Basic Documents, 1950–1955, pages 2080–2081.