 The Việt Minh never accepted ICC authority over such elections, insisting that the ICC's "competence was to be limited to the supervision and control of the implementation of the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities by both parties".Of the nine nations represented, only the United States and the State of Vietnam refused to accept the declaration.Undersecretary of state Walter Bedell Smith delivered a "unilateral declaration" of the United States position, reiterating