Captive Nations Resolution, July 23 1959

This Post contains:

1. Proclamation by Eisenhower, July 21

2. News Conference with Eisenhower, July 22

3. Resolution of the Congress, July 23

4. Questions

July 21 Eisenhower issued Proclamation 3303 designating a weeklong "Captive Nations Week" after a joint congress passed it.  Eisenhower later recalled that he would have preferred to postpone the resolution several days. 

This act of Congress in 1959 saw President Eisenhower sign into law Captive Nations Week, an annual public awareness campaign carried on since 1953.  The origins of Captive Nations were in a group formed in 1953-54, the Assembly of Captive European Nations, made up of citizens/former citizens of 9 Eastern European nations dominated by the USSR after WWII (leaders and cultural figures from Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania). They produced written material (reports, resolutions, info-pamphlets, books, correspondence [they replied to every letter received], met with heads of state, participated in conferences, did public speaking). In 1959 they promoted Captive Nations Week, which was adopted by many in US government and found its way to the Congress and President.

Kennan opposed the campaign, which effectively makes US policy to overthrow the governments in these countries, and tried to dissuade Kennedy from renewing it.  Dictator Khrushchev opposed it and expressed doubts whether Vice-President Nixon should still visit the USSR (as part of a diplomatic visit by high-level figures from both countries) and Pravda denounced it.  Communists worldwide saw it as hurting US-Soviet relations.  

1. Proclamation by Eisenhower

A PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS many nations throughout the world have been made captive by the imperialistic and aggressive policies of Soviet communism; and

WHEREAS the peoples of the Soviet-dominated nations have been deprived of their national independence and their individual liberties; and 

WHEREAS the citizens of the United States are linked by bonds of family and principle to those who love freedom and justice on every continent; and 

WHEREAS it is appropriate and proper to manifest to the peoples of the captive nations the support of the Government and the people of the United States of America for their just aspirations for freedom and national independence; and 

WHEREAS by a joint resolution approved July 17, 1959, the Ante,p.2i2. Congress has authorized and requested the President of the United States of America to issue a proclamation designating the third week in July 1959 as "Captive Nations Week," and to issue a similar proclamation each year until such time as freedom and independence shall have been achieved for all the captive nations of the world: 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate the week beginning July 19, 1959, as Captive Nations Week.

I invite the people of the United States of America to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities, and I urge them to study the plight of the Soviet-dominated nations and to recommit themselves to the support of the just aspirations of the peoples of those captive nations. 

I N WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed. 

D O N E at the City of Washington this seventeenth day of July in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-nine, [SEAL] and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and eighty-fourth. 

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER 

By the President: 

DOUGLAS DILLON,
Acting Secretary of State.

F I R E PREVENTION W E E K, 1959 BY THE P R E S I D E N T
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION WHEREAS experience has shown that effective community fireprevention programs can save thousands of lives each year and millions of dollars in property values; and WHEREAS increased fire losses during the past year emphasize the need for increased care, responsibility, and community action on the part of all of the American people:



2. News Conference with Eisenhower, July 22

This is the beginning of this interview.  After these exchanges, questions not related to the Soviet Union were asked.

THE PRESIDENT. Please sit down.

Good morning. Ready for the questions.

Q. Marvin L. Arrowsmith, Associated Press: In Warsaw yesterday Premier Khrushchev professed to be puzzled about why Vice President Nixon is going to Russia and he apparently linked this puzzlement with criticism of your proclamation on the captive nations. Do you see this attitude as a sort of strike against the Nixon visit even before it starts?

THE PRESIDENT. Well, no. I wouldn't think of it in that way. The Nixon visit was of course proposed quite awhile back, and it's really an exchange of visits between Mr. Kozlov and Mr. Nixon. It's a good will gesture and we wanted to have a prominent American to officiate at the opening of our exhibit.

Now, as far as the resolution about the captive nations, this was a resolution by the Congress, asked me to issue a proclamation, which I did; and asked the United States to conduct ceremonies in memory of the plight of such peoples. 

The Joint Resolution (S.J. Res. 111), designating the third week of July as "Captive Nations Week," is Public Law 86-90 (73 Stat. 212). On July 17 the President issued Proclamation 3303 "Captive Nations Week, 1959" (24 F.R. 5773), urging the people of the United States "to study the plight of the Soviet-dominated nations and to recommit themselves to the support of the just aspirations of the peoples of those captive nations."

But I don't think there is any specific relationship between the two things.

Q. Merriman Smith, United Press International: In the same connection, sir, what do you think, quite aside from the Nixon visit, of the proposition of the Russians through Pravda, in a three-column article this morning, and through statements by Khrushchev, literally criticizing the proclamation by you of a week of prayer for the captive people?

What do you think of their basic criticism of you for proclaiming a week of prayer?

THE PRESIDENT. Well, of course they don't admit there are any captive nations. They have their own propaganda. They present a picture to their own peoples, including the world, so far as they can, that we know is distorted and is untrue.

This, to our way of thinking, is quite important not only because it is a matter of simple justice and human concern for all these people, but when you come down to it this country is made up of a great many of those people. We have relatives and people of the ethnic derivation of all those captive nations, and it becomes sort of a personal thing with us and would be almost unusual for us to be silent all the time and just acquiesce, presumably in their right to express themselves in the form of their government.

Q. Ray L. Scherer, NBC News: Do you see any danger that continued stalemate at Geneva might bring about an erosion in the Western position, in the effort to get something settled?

THE PRESIDENT. Once in a while you see such hints, because there is implied that there is a weakening of the strength of will of our delegation.

Well, knowing Mr. Herter and some of the others, I'm quite certain, on his part, at least, that this is not taking place, and I'm confident with respect to the others and the allies. So that while these things are very wearing, and sometimes physically wearing as well as mentally, intellectually, I think there need be no fear that they are standing firmly on principle.

But I do insist always, we are ready, they are ready, to undertake any negotiation on any suggestion or any offer that, recognizing our basic rights as the starting point, still offers some promise to easing what we call world tensions....

3. Captive Nations resolution of the U.S. Congress(PUBLIC LAW 86-90)

Resolution

Whereas the greatness of the United States is in large part attributable to its having been able, through the democratic process, to achieve a harmonious national unit of its people, even though they stem from the most diverse of racial, religious, and ethnic backgrounds; and

American diversity in 1959.

Whereas this harmonious unification of the diverse elements of our free society has led the people of the United States to possess a warm understanding and sympathy for the aspirations of peoples everywhere and to recognize the natural interdependency of the peoples and nations of the world; and

Whereas the enslavement of a substantial part of the world's population by Communist imperialism makes a mockery of the idea of peaceful coexistence between nations and constitutes a detriment to the natural bonds of understanding between the people of the United States and other peoples; and

Whereas since 1918 the imperialistic and aggressive policies of Russian communism have resulted in the creation of a vast empire which poses a die threat to the security of the United States and of all the free people of the world; and

Note the USSR empire to that point.  Since 1918?  Why does it treaten the US and free peoples?  How does it do so?  With weapons or with idealistic promises or with shady tactics?

Whereas the imperialistic policies of Communist Russia have led, through direct and indirect aggression, to the subjugation of the national independence of Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Ukraine, Czechoslovakia, Latvia, Estonia, White Ruthenia, Rumania, East Germany, Bulgaria, mainland China, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, North Korea, Albania, Idel-Ural, Tibet, Cossackia, Turkestan, North Viet-Nam, and others; and

Detail each.  

Whereas these submerged nations look to the United States, as the citadel of human freedom, for leadership in bringing about their liberation and independence and in restoring to them the enjoyment of their Christian, Jewish, Moslem, Buddhist, or other religious freedoms, and of their individual liberties; and

Examples of this actually happening; people looking to the US and the US providing the enjoyment of these listed activities.

Whereas it is vital to the national security of the United States that the desire for liberty and independence on the part of the peoples of these conquered nations should be steadfastly kept alive; and

Whereas the desire for liberty and independence by the overwhelming majority of the people of these submerged nations constitutes a powerful deterrent to war and one of the best hopes for a just and lasting peace; and

How the Soviets might use them to war rather than their own wishes for peace.

Whereas it is fitting that we clearly manifest to such peoples through an appropriate and official means the historic fact that the people of the United States share with them their aspirations for the recovery of their freedom and independence:

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That:

The President of the United States is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation designating the third week in July 1959 as "Captive Nations Week" and inviting the people of the United States to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. The President is further authorized and requested to issue a similar proclamation each year until such time as freedom and independence shall have been achieved for all the captive nations of the world.

4. Questions

Does anyone know what happened during Captive Nations Week in 1959 or 1960?

Hungarian Revolution, Oct. 23 1956

Oct. 30 1956 3000 Hungarian revolutionists fought Soviet tanks out of Budapest into the countryside, using Molotov cocktails and machine pistols, and took control of government.  Nov. 1 Soviets gave (false) assurances they would not invade.  Hungary declared neutrality, withdrew from the Warsaw Pact and requested the UN defend Hungary's neutrality.  Nov. 3 a delegation of Hungarian politicians were invited to a negotiation for Soviet withdrawal at the Soviet Command and were arrested at around 12 midnight.

Nov. 4 USSR sent (Warsaw Pact joint force) 150 000 soldiers and 2500 tanks and crushed the uprising.  The Soviets chose a leader to replace Hungary's coalition cabinet.  21 000 Hungarians were imprisoned, 13 000 interned, and 230 executed after trial, including legal Prime Minister Nagy (executed 1958).  Hungary was administered from Russia until it was contained, after which a general amnesty was given to prisoners.  By 1957 all public opposition had ceased.  Public discussion of the revolution was suppressed (until the 80's).

After WWII the USSR had occupied Hungary.  Hungary became a Soviet Satellite.  100 000 Hungarians were imprisoned and 2000 executed.  1948-56 350 000 Hungarians were purged.  600 000 were deported to Soviet labor camps (200 000 died).

During WWII Hungary had sided with Germany and attacked deep into Russia.  When the Soviets turned the tide, they advanced and took Budapest, where they remained militarily until they purged the last of the Germany-supporting Hungarians.  In elections 1945 Communists won 17% of the vote, and the Independent Smallholders 57%.  The Soviet commander did not allow the Smallholders to form a government, instead establishing a coalition with some key positions given to Communists.  The Hungarian monarchy was abolished and a Republic of Hungary announced.  The gradual takeover by Communists resulted in 1949 in the People's Republic of Hungary.  Soviet troops remained as part of a "mutual assistance treaty."

The uprising was triggered by a day of what began as peaceful demonstrations.  20 000 protesters convened at a statue of a Hungarian hero and listened to a manifesto of desires and sang a censored protest song.  At 6 p.m. that day 200 000 gathered at Parliament.  At 8 p.m. the government broadcast a condemnation of the students' demands--including withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact and joining the UN.  Some protesters hauled down a statue of Stalin. A delegation of students entered Radio Budapest to announce their demands.  They were detained inside and when demonstrators outside demanded their release police fired on them.  Violence erupted.  Hungarian troops sent to relieve political police sided with the Hungarians.  News of these events led to Budapest-wide outbreaks, then to Hungary-wide militias.  Government collapsed and local workers councils took over office.

1956 Melbourne Olympics Spain, Netherlands, and Switzerland boycotted the Olympics because of the USSR's handling of Hungary.  Norway declined an invitation to the Bandy World Championship in 1957 because the USSR was also invited.  Worldwide Communist parties became split over whether or not they viewed Hungarians as counter-revolutionaries and thousands of members left Communist parties in non-communist countries, sometimes over policies of supporting Soviet actions by their local party.  Intellectuals and writers criticized the Soviets.

Eisenhower and the UN did not intervene in Hungary, although they had in Korea in 1950-53.

Poznan Uprising, Poland, June 28 1956

A 100 000-strong protest that began over working conditions became violent, after which Poles seized various government buildings.  The next day 10 000 troops armed with tanks paraded and surrounded Poznan.  Detainments began.  The events were censored from all media.

Hundreds were arrested and coerced to testify that Western secret services had provoked them, which they did not testify.  The Polish Communist government recognized the need for reforms, since the demands were not mainly of a political but of an economic nature, and replaced their head with a more moderate statesman.

Communists Allege US Use of Germ Warfare, 1951, Feb. 22 1952

These claims have been confirmed and disconfirmed by various parties since 1951.  The most recent (and generally accepted claim is a 1998 disconfirmation by two historians at the Woodrow Wilson Center's Cold War International History Project who, supplying a cache of Chinese and Soviet documents, show that the allegations were an elaborate disinformation campaign.  The Soviets ended the campaign a year after Stalin's death.

In 1951 the claims were vague.  In early 1952, after a smallpox outbreak and several dozen soldiers contracting cholera and plague, China and North Korea suspected America.  Feb. 22 1952 the North Korean Foreign Ministry made formal allegations that US planes had dropped infected insects onto North Korea.  IRC and WHO found no evidence, and China arranged a further investigation by the World Peace Council (originated in 1950 from the Soviet Union's Cominform), which confirmed the allegations.

China Enters the Korean War, Oct. 25 1950

There had been signals relayed from China to the US through diplomatic channels (India, who was acting as a conduit in this) that China would not tolerate a US presence close to their borders or any troops other than ROK elements crossing the 38th Parallel, and that they would send troops if these events took place.  The US did not verify these warnings.  And MacArthur, a current US hero, stated that China would not intervene in any large numbers, even after CCF attacks at Unsan and in northeastern Korea.  While the Far Eastern Command listed total Chinese troops in the theater as 35 000, over 300 000 had already moved into Korea.

MacArthur was convinced that he could reunify all of Korea.  Regarding China, MacArthur was aware of some danger, but disregarded it, sure that allied air and firepower would disable China's ability to attack.  The Chinese army was considered weak, partly because they were poorly supplied.

The Americans had been winning the war, had pushed into North Korea (Sept. 27), and were trying to end the war "by Christmas."  After the entry of the Chinese into the war (first battle Oct. 25, 100 000's of CCP troops ordered into North Korea Nov.), which was a surprise to America and her allies, the entire UN army was brought to near disaster, pushing them back across the 38th.  The UN army recovered, and the war settled into a stalemate that lasted two years until the peace treaty was signed dividing Korea again into North and South (early 1951 until July 27 1953), followed by failed peace talks between China and the US.

Truman Press Release Statement on Korea, June 27 1950

Press Release by President Truman Announcing Military Assistance to Indochina, 27 June 1950. This statement is also called "Statement by the President on the Situation in Korea."

During the Allied war conferences, the USSR had agreed to enter the war against Japan (as the Allies agreed to the Soviet "buffer zone") and were occupying North Korea (which had been a Japanese colony) to the 38th Parallel as agreed a month earlier.

1949 50-70 000 North Korean PLA veterans of the Chinese Civil War returned from aiding the victorious Communists, with their weapons.  China promised to aid North Korea in the event of a war with South Korea.

The Communist government in China took a hostile stance to America and the West, who they named as the biggest threat to China's national security.  The government's foreign policy was to actively promote Communist revolutions throughout Asia.

On both sides, there had been government/police crackdowns on demonstrations and jailings of political dissidents.  There had been frequent skirmishes on the 38th Parallel.  Both sides had held elections which produced the party wanted by the region's benefactor, leaving seats open for the other region to join, and hoping for a unified Vietnam.

1950 the Soviets had detonated their nuclear bomb, the Americans were withdrawn from South Korea, the US had not intervened in the Chinese Civil War.  North Koreans had got support from the USSR and from China to go to war with the South.  North Korea was armed with Soviet tanks, artillery, and aircraft, and was rigorously trained.  The Soviets allowed the North Korea to start a war after they gained Mao's commitment to send reinforcements if they became needed.

June 25 1950 US forces and South Korea were unprepared when, after a battle along the 38th Parallel, the North Korean army which had moved to the border attacked, routing the South Koreans, who had no tanks, anti-tank weapons, or heavy artillery.  Both sides began massacring civilians.  Seoul was taken June 28.  A few days later, South Korea's 95 000 man army was down to 22 000.

American News was reporting the attack within five hours.  As the attack progressed, Acheson informed Truman who was resting for the weekend.  Truman likened the attack to Pearl Harbor and the Secretary-General likened it to the Invasion of Norway (Apr. 9 1940).  Truman resolved to act immediately to prevent escalation.  The South had ammunition for 10 days only, and the assistance of the UN and USA were requested.

Truman ordered the military (based in Japan) to prepare ships for the evacuation of Americans from Korea, send military-escorted supplies and ammunition to Pusan to support South Korea, send a survey team into the country, and mobilize the navy for movement to the region.


IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

IN KOREA the Government forces, which were armed to prevent border raids and to preserve internal security, were attacked by invading forces from North Korea. The Security Council of the United Nations called upon the invading troops to cease hostilities and to withdraw to the 38th parallel. This they have not done, but on the contrary have pressed the attack. The Security Council called upon all members of the United Nations to render every assistance to the United Nations in the execution of this resolution. In these circumstances I have ordered United States air and sea forces to give the Korean Government troops cover and support.

The attack upon Korea makes it plain beyond all doubt that communism has passed beyond the use of subversion to conquer independent nations and will now use armed invasion and war. It has defied the orders of the Security Council of the United Nations issued to preserve international peace and security. In these circumstances the occupation of Formosa by Communist forces would be a direct threat to the security of the Pacific area and to United States forces performing their lawful and necessary functions in that area.

Accordingly I have ordered the 7th Fleet to prevent any attack on Formosa. As a corollary of this action I am calling upon the Chinese Government on Formosa to cease all air and sea operations against the mainland. The 7th Fleet will see that this is done. The determination of the future status of Formosa must await the restoration of security in the Pacific, a peace settlement with Japan, or consideration by the United Nations.

I have also directed that United States Forces in the Philippines be strengthened and that military assistance to the Philippine Government be accelerated.

I have similarly directed acceleration in the furnishing of military assistance to the forces of France and the Associated States in Indochina and the dispatch of a military mission to provide dose working relations with those forces.

I know that all members of the United Nations will consider carefully the consequences of this latest aggression in Korea in defiance of the Charter of the United Nations. A return to the rule of force in international affairs would have far-reaching effects. The United States will continue to uphold the rule of law.

I have instructed Ambassador Austin, as the representative of the United States to the Security Council, to report these steps to the Council.

UN Resolution 83, June 27 1950

This Resolution says that, having called on North Korea to withdraw and North Korea not doing so, the UN will assist South Korea to repel the invasion by what means are necessary.

The Resolution was adopted 7 votes to 1 (Yugoslavia), with Egypt and India present but not participating in the vote and the USSR absent.

After Resolution 82 (June 25) was passed deciding that North Korea was at fault for beginning a war, the US contacted the Kremlin to use their influence to compel North Korea to comply, but the USSR denied this.  

UNSC met again to discuss how to address the conflict.  The resolution was for "assistance necessary" (military action).  Armies were moved to South Korea.

The Resolution:

The Security Council,

Having determined that the armed attack upon the Republic of Korea by forces from North Korea constitutes a breach of the peace,

Having called for an immediate cessation of hostilities,

Having called upon the authorities in North Korea to withdraw forthwith their armed forces to the 38th parallel,

Having noted from the report of the United Nations Commission on Korea that the authorities in North Korea have neither ceased hostilities nor withdrawn their armed forces to the 38th parallel, and that urgent military measures are required to restore international peace and security,

Having noted the appeal from the Republic of Korea to the United Nations for immediate and effective steps to secure peace and security,

Recommends that the Members of the United Nations furnish such assistance to the Republic of Korea as may be necessary to repel the armed attack and to restore international peace and security in the area.