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194:8, and placed before the Interim Committee the questions on which the Commission had resolved that consultation should take place.. These were as follows : " 1. Is it open to or incumbent upon the Commission, under the terms of the General Assembly resolution of 14 November, 1947, and in the light of developments in the situation with respect to Korea since that date, to implement the programme outlined in part B of that resolution in that part of Korea which is occupied by the armed forces of the United States of America ? " 2. If not, (a) Should the Commission observe the election -of Korean representatives to take part in the consideration of the Korean question, as outlined in part A of the resolution of 14 November, 1947, provided that it has determined that elections can be held in a free atmosphere ? and (b) Should the Commission consider such other measures as may be possible and advisable with a view to the attainment of its objectives ? " The Interim Committee after some discussion answered the first question in the affirmative, although it added a rider to the effect that it was hoped that negotiations with other Korean groups — i.e., in Northern Korea —might secure the co-operation of all Koreans in the Government which would eventually be established. Following this action of the Interim Committee, the Commission decided to proceed with the task of observing the elections, which were held on 10 May, 1948. The main conclusion reached by the Commission from its observation was that — " Having taken into account the reports of its observation groups, and the conclusions noted above, and bearing in mind the traditional and historical background of the people of Korea, the results of the ballot of 10 May, 1948, are a valid expression of the free will of the electorate in those parts of Korea which were accessible to the Commission and in which the inhabitants constitute approximately two-thirds of the people of all Korea." In the second part of its report the Commission appraised the situation which had developed in the period after the May elections. The Commission came to the conclusion that the representatives elected to the National Assembly had, on the whole, discharged their constitutional responsibilities conscientiously. Further, the Government established by these elected representatives had assumed the functions previously exercised by the United States Military Government in Korea. All these developments had, however, been " overshadowed by the grim reality of a divided Korea," and the Commission stressed that " for the social, political, and economic well-being of Korea immediate unification is absolutely essential." Although efforts were made by the Korean leaders to attain this unity, such efforts had failed to achieve