INTERNATIONAL REVIEW SERVICE
ANALYSIS AND REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS
BUHR
GRAD
JV
185
C648
1957
B 1,635,741
COLONIALISM
and the
UNITED NATIONS
Edited by
A. G. Mezerik
Vol. III. No. 36
August 1957
BUIR/Grad
لان
725
IVERSITY OF MI
NIVERSITY OF MICH

THE
THE
KE
5613
1817
'LIBRARIES
CHIGAN. $5
INTERNATIONAL REVIEW SERVICE
A.G. MEZERIK Editor
PHYLLIS GREENE Associate Editor
15 WASHINGTON PLACE
NEW YORK 3 USA
UN BUREAU: ROOM 352
UNITED NATIONS NY
PLAZA 1-0833
CABLE: UNOVIRS
Reasons for Growth in Anticolonial Strength
The Asia-Africa Group in UN
Difference Among Asia-Africa Members
The Bandung Action
The USSR's Anticolonialism
The US Anticolonial Tradition
Opposition to Bomb Tests
Algeria
Cyprus
Colonial Relationships in UN ……...
The Trusteeship Council
The Non-Self-Governing Territories.
Outside the UN-Colonial Relationship
South West Africa
...
Cessation of Reports
Few Emerge to Independence
Secure Colony or Poor Country
Value of Colonies
The French Union
The British Commonwealth
....
...
.....·
...
………………
.....
.....
..
....
....
CONTENTS
...
Eurafrica and the European Common Market
Cold War Competition in Africa
Latin America
Protecting Natural Resources
Non-Intervention
The Pure and Impure Claims .....
Problems Facing UN..........
References
Appendixes
A: UN Charter Provisions (Chapters XI-XIII)
B: The International Trusteeship System
4.
………….
…………..
....
……………
British Togoland and Ghana
French Togoland
C: South West Africa
D: The Italian Colonies: Libya, Eritrea, Somaliland
E: Non-Self-Governing Territories......
F: General Assembly Resolution on Factors for Measuring
Self-Government, Adopted 27 November 1953
G: UN Action on Cyprus
H: UN Action on Indonesia
J:
West Irian (West New Guinea).
K: Bandung Conference and Excerpt from Final Communique
L: UN Action on Morocco and Tunisia
M: UN Action on Algeria
N: Treaty for the European Economic Community, Part IV: Overseas Territories
O: Countries Which Have Attained Independence Since World War II
A
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Clients may quote or reprint, crediting IRS. Others should request permission for excerpts exceeding 500 words.
IRS has no official connection with United Nations.
A. G. Mezerik 1957
इ
1
COLONIALISM AND THE UNITED NATIONS
The United Nations General Assembly is now an anticolonial body.
This was demonstrated during the 11th (1956-7) General Assembly in
many issues, including Suez, Algeria and Cyprus.
forces:
Reasons for Growth in Anticolonial Strength
There are several causes for the increase in power of anticolonial
1) The demands of colonial peoples for rapid and immediate
economic development and for national and social freedom have been
growing in intensity since the end of World War II;
2) The right of people in colonies to emerge to self-government
is increasingly recognized by the colonial countries and their people;
3) The UN Charter is essentially sympathetic to aspirations of
colonial peoples for national freedom;
4) Inside the UN General Assembly, there has been a diminution
in influence of Britain and France, due in part to their invasion of
although France had earlier lost prestige and position as a
Egypt
result of defeats in Indochina and North Africa;
5) The cold war protagonists have sought allies among the anti-
colonial peoples, and this has increased the bargaining power of the
anticolonial groups of Asia and Africa;
6) The cold war has also led to a decrease in the importance of
the UN Security Council, where colonial powers have veto power, and
2
Colonialism and the United Nations
to an increase in power in the General Assembly.
The most direct cause for the recent growth of anticolonial strength
in the General Assembly is the addition in the last two years of countries
which had until recently been colonies. All of these newly independent
countries are from Asia and Africa. They, with the countries of Asia
and Africa who preceded them to UN membership, now constitute more
than one-third of the present membership and form the largest single
group in the UN. The Asian and African countries have demonstrated
their power in bringing the Algerian and other colonial problems be-
fore the General Assembly. These states can, when united, block actions
in the General Assembly on nearly any issue.
The Asia-Africa Group in UN
The Asia-Africa group within the UN is an independently organized
body of 28 member nations. The group came into being in 1950 -- under
the leadership of India and Egypt to formulate the policy of oriental
countries on the Korean war. At that time the group had 12 participants.
At present, the Asia-Africa group consists of Afghanistan, Burma,
Cambodia, Ceylon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Japan, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Nepal, Paki-
stan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey
and Yemen.
Zealand.
M
Excluded from the group, although geographically eligible, are
Nationalist China, Israel, the Union of South Africa, Australia and New
Not all the countries in the Asia-Africa group have been colonies.
Turkey was formerly an imperial power exercising control over the
International Review Service Vol. III No. 36
3
Middle East. Japan, until recently the possessor of an empire in Asia,
became a member of the Asia-Africa group in 1956. Japan's strength
within the group is growing, challenging the position of India, which, as
the most powerful of the anticolonials, has been the leader of the group.
Differences Among Asia-Africa Members
The Asia-Africa group is not monolithic. Each country within the
group responds to different pressures. India concerned with the
possible creation of precedents which might be later used against it in
the Kashmir dispute -- has given little support to the Cypriot demand
Lack of solid Asian-African support for the
Cypriots is also, in part, due to the fact that this group identifies
colonialism with whites and is therefore not readily engaged in colonial
issues which involve whites exclusively, as in Cyprus. Religious and
ethnic ties bind the Moslem members together on North African issues.
On the same issues, other anti colonial countries do not take leading
positions.
for self-determination.
Some of the Asia-Africa nations have close ties with European
nations and with the United States. In addition to the Philippines--
where the US' grant of independence created bonds of friendship
Pakistan, Thailand, and Turkey are linked to the US by mutual defense
agreements, and Liberia and Ethiopia have close US economic ties.
New relationships between other Arab states and the US or the USSR
are crystallizing as a result of cold war concentration in the Middle
East. Britain has retained the friendship of Ceylon, India, Pakistan
and Ghana, and they have remained in the Commonwealth since gaining
independence. Laos, newly emerged from its colonial status as part
4
Colonialism and the United Nations
of French Indochina, voted with France on the Algerian issue at the 11th
(1956-7) General Assembly.
None of these factors, however, affects the basic anticolonial
character of the Asia-Africa group in UN.
The Bandung Action
The fundamental anticolonial unity of these nations was demonstrated
at the Bandung Conference in April 1955. Anticolonial countries emerged
from Bandung with increased bargaining power in the cold war. At the
Big Three Geneva conference which followed, and in the next (10th) UN
General Assembly, the US and the USSR acclaimed the Bandung princi-
ples. (See Appendix K p. 36 for details of Bandung conference and excerpt of final com-
munique.)
The USSR's Anticolonialism
S
Support for anticolonial movements is a Soviet tenet, which in
action implements the general anti-Western policy of the USSR. The
USSR has supported the anticolonial stands of the Asia-Africa group on
Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. In the Trusteeship Council, the USSR is
a non-administering member and almost always votes against the ad-
ministering members, which include all the big Western powers. In the
Security Council, the Soviet Union began to align itself actively with the
Arab countries in 1954, using its veto against Israel. In the 1956 Suez
crisis, the Soviet Union threatened to send volunteers to aid Egypt
against the UK and France. This threat was credited by many Asians
and Africans with forcing the Anglo-French evacuation of Suez. The
USSR and Czechoslovakia have furnished Egypt with weapons which are
used by Algerian nationalists against France. The Soviet Union does
International Review Service Vol. III No. 36
5
not admit to the possession of colonies.
The US Anticolonial Tradition
Anticolonialism is also the stated policy of the United States. The
US bases this position on its historical tradition as a former colony and
an anticolonial nation, a recent demonstration of which was the grant-
ing of freedom to the Phillippines in 1946 and support, expressed by
President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II, for the inde-
pendence of North African countries.
Against the wishes of some of its allies, the US endorsed and
supported the creation of the Republic of Indonesia and later opposed
France in its determination to hold Indochina. (See Appendix H p. 35
for details of UN action on Indonesia.) Asian and African belief in the
sincerity of the US position against imperialism was bolstered when
the US demanded the withdrawal of British and French troops from
Egypt in November 1956.
areas.
US Obstacles in Winning Asian-African Friendship
The efforts of the US to win the anticolonial peoples to its side in
the cold war meet many obstacles. First, the US has colonies --
Hawaii, Alaska and other territories. The closest allies of the US are
those colonial powers against whom the Asia-Africa group is organized.
Working against the US also is the discrimination against Negroes in
the US -- a situation keenly resented by Africans and Asians.
An important drawback in US relations with the anticolonial peoples
is their intense feeling against the US for using the first atom bombs
against Asians and for now conducting nuclear test explosions in Asian
Opposition to Bomb Tests
The anticolonial nations regard the bombings of Japan and the
6
Colonialism and the United Nations
subsequent bomb tests as evidence of the West's traditionally low es-
timation of the value of life in Asia.
Asian-African opposition to soviet bomb testing is not as violent as
toward the West. Similarly, Asian-African attitudes on other issues
tend to be softer toward the USSR than toward the West.
K
Asian-African Attitudes Toward USSR
India, along with other Asian and African countries, supported the
USSR when, in UN, it was charged with imperialism for crushing the
Hungarian rebellion of October 1956. India also defends the Soviet
Union against charges of colonialism in its relationship with Estonia,
Latvia and Lithuania, which were annexed and absorbed by the USSR.
In the Asia-Africa context of colonialism and the anticolonial fight
for national freedom, Hungary is not as important as is Algeria. It is
on the Algerian issue that increasing effectiveness of the enlarged Asia-
Africa group in UN has been demonstrated.
Cyprus
Algeria
Until the 11th General Assembly, 1956-7, France was successful in
keeping discussion of the Algerian issue out of UN. French objection
to UN consideration of Algeria is based on the contention that Algeria is
not and never has been a colony, but is an integral part of France. On
this ground, France maintains that any UN debate on Algeria would con-
stitute interference in the domestic affairs of France. The 11th General
Assembly brushed this argument aside, asserting its right to consider
the Algerian demand for independence. (See Appendix M p. 39 for details of UN
action on Algeria.)
Anticolonial strength in the 11th General Assembly focused on
opposition to British use of Cyprus as a military base. France and
International Review Service Vol. III. No. 36
7
Britain had launched their attack on Suez from Cyprus, which has been
the headquarters of the British Middle East command and key to their
Mediterranean defense system.
The Cyprus issue was brought to UN in 1954 and 1955, but in each
case, Britain successfully blocked UN consideration of the Cypriot
demands for self-determination. The 1956 General Assembly overrode
these British objections.
As with Algeria and other cases, the sweeping character of the
anticolonial views on Cyprus expressed in the General Assembly were
not reflected in the final resolution in order to get the two-thirds ma-
jority necessary for passage. (See Appendix G p. 34 for UN action on Cyprus.)
Colonial Relationships in UN
General Assembly consideration of Algeria and Cyprus is special
and political and is outside the regular UN system for considering the
relationships between UN members and their colonies. These relation-
ships are the concern of the Trusteeship Council and the Committee
on Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories. Through these
bodies the colonial powers stabilize their colonial possessions, and the
inhabitants get the benefit of worldwide discussion of the treatment
accorded them.
Colonial Powers Maintain Strength in UN Organs
In the Trusteeship Council and the non-self-governing territories
committee, the voices of the colonial powers are as strong as those
of the anticolonial countries, since the membership of each organ is
balanced between colonial powers and non-colonial countries. This
8
Colonialism and the United Nations
situation often creates a deadlock in favor of the continuance of the
status quo maintained by the colonial powers.
The Trusteeship Council
the Trusteeship
With the single exception of Italian Somaliland,
Council is concerned with territories inherited by the United Nations
from the League of Nations. While the UN has a degree of jurisdiction
over these trust territories, they are, in fact, in the hands of the ad-
ministering power which has sole responsibility for governing them.
The Trusteeship Council examines the activities of the administering
power and may criticize or praise them. It has no physical power to
change them.
Seven countries operate as trustees: Australia, Belgium, France,
Italy, New Zealand, UK and US. The territories over which they exercise
power had been wrested from Germany and Turkey in World War I. The
single exception is the territory of Somaliland, which was an Italian
colony before World War II and is now being administered by Italy on
an interim basis. The US acquired its trust territory of the Pacific
Islands as a result of World War II, but that territory had been a Jap-
anese mandate under the League of Nations. (See Appendix B p. 24 for
details of trusteeship system.)
HO
(Reference 1).
There are 10 trust territories. The total population is 21 million.
Although the Trusteeship Council is much more widely
known, it is the Committee on Information from Non-Self-Governing
Territories under which the largest number of people and the greatest
colonial areas have a relationship with UN.
The Non-Self-Governing Territories
About 125 million people and 55 areas--some as huge as Alaska
International Review Service Vol. III No. 36
9
and as important as the Belgian Congo
the non-self-governing territories on which reports are rendered to
UN by the colonial countries and discussed by the Committee on Infor-
mation from Non-Self-Governing Territories.
This committee deals with the educational, social and economic --
but not the political -- aspects of the territories. It did not consider
the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya and other conflicts taking place inside
colonies. The committee makes recommendations in general, as con-
cerning all territories, but has no right to pass on conditions in any
single territory. (See Appendix E p. 28 for details of non-self-governing territories.)
Netherlands
-
are included in the list of
S
Cooperation From Colonial Powers Incomplete
Reports on non-self-governing territories are called for by the
Charter, but in practice are submitted on a voluntary basis. Seven
countries -- Britain, France, US, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium,
have reported on one or more although not necessari-
ly all of their colonial possessions. Some of these countries have
serious reservations about UN's right to discuss the reports which
they submit. Belgium does not participate in UN discussions of its
reports, and the the other governments which send reports have
warned the UN to curb its action in the field of non-self-governing
territories. (Reference 2).
The first colonial powers to be admitted to UN since 1946 --
Portugal and Spain render no reports on their colonies. Neither has
complied with the standard request to do so made by the Secretary-
General to all incoming UN members.
10
Colonialism and the United Nations
Outside the UN-Colonial Relationship
Portugal keeps its colonies outside the UN framework on the con-
tention that the constitutional status of overseas provinces is absolutely
equal to the status of the European provinces. (Reference 3).
Whole categories of colonies, semi-colonies and areas without full inde-
pendence have never been reported on to UN. The US has never submit-
ted reports on Okinawa and the other Ryukyu Islands --American World
War II conquests from Japan. The protectorates of Bahrein, Kuwait, and
Qatar are oil-rich quasi-independent territories over which ultimate
power is held by Britain. The UK does not report on these protectorates.
The USSR has made no reports on any of its territorial possessions.
Some of these are distant islands such as Franz Josef Land in the
Barents Sea and the Kurils and Sakhalin in the Pacific.
South West Africa
Annexed territories are not reported on by any country. South
West Africa, which had been a German territory before the First World
War and was later mandated to the Union of South Africa has, over UN
protests, been integrated in the Union of South Africa, which refuses to
accept a UN trusteeship or report to UN on its administration.
Appendix C p. 26 or details of cessation of information.)
(See
Cessation of Reports
Some countries have been released by UN of responsibility for
rendering reports on territories to which self-government has been
granted. The General Assembly decided that Greenland is now an in-
tegral state of Denmark equal with other parts of Denmark, and reports
International Review Service Vol. III No. 36
11
on that area have ceased. The US no longer reports on Puerto Rico;
the Netherlands was given approval to stop sending in reports on Cura-
cao and Surinam. The future relationship of these areas with UN is
ambiguous, since no transition to independence and UN membership,
such as that made by other colonies, is foreseen. (See Appendix E p. 28 for
details of cessation of information.)
Council.
Few Emerge to Independence
New countries in UN which were once reported on in the Non-
Self-Governing Territories category
such as Morocco, Tunisia
and Indonesia
emerged to sovereignty by political action in the
General Assembly and not by evolution through the Committee on
Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories or the Trusteeship
Of all the trust territories, only one has so far gained independence:
British Togoland, which is now a part of the newly-independent Ghana.
The General Assembly limited the administration of Somaliland to 10
years; therefore the trust territory will get its independence in 1960.
Slowness of colonial powers in granting independence is criticized by
the anticolonial countries. They press the administering authorities to
set dates for independence. The administering authorities, almost
without exception, take the position that the territories are not yet
ready for self-government or that they have not the resources with
which to survive.
Secure Colony or Poor Country
An argument advanced for deferring independence is that a people
12
Colonialism and the United Nations
may be better off as a colony with economic security than as an inde-
pendent country struggling alone for economic existence. Liberia, an
independent country for more than 100 years, trails its non-self-govern-
ing neighbors in standard of living, literacy and other essentials.
Libya, which obtained independence in 1952 under UN aegis, de-
pends for its existence on subsidies -- received in connection with
military bases from the US and the UK. (See Appendix D p. 27 for UN action on Libya.)
When in 1960 Somaliland becomes independent, the new country
will find it difficult to survive economically.
(See Appendix D p. 27 for UN
action on Somaliland.)
The anticolonial countries reject these as arguments for deferring
self-government. They maintain that dependent peoples, lacking the
dignity of national and social freedom, cannot be well off. They hold
that inside the context of UN it should be possible to set the stage for
achieving political freedom and sufficient economic development to
make that freedom practicable.
Little UN Aid Utilized
The stated aim of the UN system for trust and non-self-governing
territories is to promote the political, economic, social and educational
advancement of the inhabitants and their progressive development
toward self-government or independence. To accomplish this goal,
the Trusteeship Council may "avail itself of the assistance of the
Economic and Social Council and of the specialized agencies'' (Reference 4),
as well as that of UN technical assistance. This aid is also available
for non-self-governing territories and includes techniques of education,
health, agriculture and public administration and the skilled manpower
International Review Service Vol. III. No. 36
13
and funds to introduce them. However, the administering powers
through whom requests for assistance must come
this battery of aids on any wide scale. (Reference 5).
have not used
Value of Colonies
with very
Colonies, whether trust or non-self-governing, have
few exceptions
values for those powers which possess or administer
them. Cyprus is regarded as an indispensible military base by the UK.
Okinawa is an important US military base. The strategic trust terri-
tory of the Pacific Islands is administered by the US under a special
arrangement made with the Security Council. Under this arrangement,
the US conducts bomb tests and other military activities in secret.
In other colonies, values are more economic and commercial.
Aden is the UK's third most important port. The Dutch petroleum re-
finery on Curacao is among the largest in the world. The oil in the
protectorates of the Persian Gulf is of the greatest importance to the
UK, as is the uranium of the Belgian Congo to Belgium which holds
its position as a leading atomic power because of this resource. The
desire of the colonial powers to hold on to values such as these trans-
cends their enthusiasm for attaining the self-government goals and
objectives of UN.
-
Limited Independence
Even when granting statehood, the colonial powers in some cases
fall short of yielding independence. France still has troops in Tunisia
and Morocco, now full-fledged states and UN members. Tunisia and
14
Colonialism and the United Nations
I
I
F
F
I
1
Morocco support Algerian independence efforts, and France -- as
pressure to bring this support to an end refuses to withdraw these
troops or to grant the new countries needed loans. The method by
which France has retained ties with Tunisia and Morroco is more flexi-
ble than that which France originally desired.
The French Union
France has sought to maintain relationships with its old dependen-
cies through the French Union. However, neither Morocco, Tunisia,
Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam
all of which have gained independence
since World War II -- has joined this union.
common market
The British Commonwealth
Britain has maintained ties with its former colonies through the
Commonwealth, keeping trading relationships, using sterling as a
common currency and cementing institutional ties such as language,
education and law. India, Pakistan and Ceylon joined the Common-
wealth and, on emerging to statehood, Ghana also affiliated. Ghana's
action is especially significant since Africa is now the main arena in
which the forces of colonialism and anticolonialism meet.
-
——
-
•
Eurafrica and the European Common Market
European colonial powers are promoting a program called Eurafrica
-- as part of the European Common Market project. Britain is not
participating in this plan, which will provide a fund of nearly $600 Mil-
lion for common investment in African territories. Each member of the
Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxemberg,
International Review Service Vol. III. No. 36
15
Netherlands will contribute to this fund. Eurafrica would also
provide reduction of tariffs to overseas territories. (See Appendix N p. 40
for text of common market plan for overseas territories.)
Latin America
Cold War Competition in Africa
The US and the USSR are also increasingly involved in the com-
petition for the allegiance of Africa's non-white peoples.
The US interest in Africa is new. It was highlighted by Vice
President Richard M. Nixon's trip to Africa in February 1957. On his
return to the US, Mr. Nixon said, "The course of (Africa's) develop-
ment...could well prove to be the decisive factor in the conflict between
the forces of freedom and international communism... The communist
threat underlines the wisdom and necessity of our assisting the countries
of Africa to maintain their independence and to alleviate the conditions
of want and instability on which communism breeds". (Reference 7).
USSR envoys have also been seeking adherents in Africa, offering
aid and trade to independent countries such as Liberia, Libya, the
Sudan and on a large scale -- to Egypt.
MO
The accent of the USSR and the US in Africa is on economic de-
velopment, an approach used successfully in Latin America by the US.
On the whole, Latin America is not a colonial area. Only small
pockets the Guianas, British Honduras and some Caribbean and
South Atlantic islands -- remain colonial possessions, and complaints
arising from ownership of these colonies have been voiced in UN. The
16
Colonialism and the United Nations
Panama Canal Zone is in US hands. Panama has, since the invasion of
Suez, challenged the US position on the canal. The Suez invasion
hardened anticolonial feeling in Latin America and strengthened ties be-
tween Latin American delegations and the Asia-Africa group in the UN.
The Latin American countries are especially sympathetic to Asia-
Africa on economic issues. This is due to Latin American fear that
economic penetration may lead to political control and the fact that
many Latin American natural resources have been owned in the US and
Europe.
Protecting Natural Resources
along
Oil, rubber, bananas, uranium, iron and copper ores are
with waterways such as the Panama Canal
among the natural re-
sources in colonies and in small independent countries which are owned
and developed by foreign powers. Anticolonial countries have attempted
to get a definition of the rights of peoples to these natural resources
written into the UN Human Rights covenants.
The Push Toward Freedom
When UN came into being, the founding countries endorsed the
principle of self-determination. The great colonial powers United
Kingdom, France, Belgium and the Netherlands also expressed their
approval of the goal of self-government. The smaller countries and
the colonies, hopeful of winning independence, welcomed this acceptance.
This encouragement of colonial peoples toward political freedom
was greatly stimulated in 1948 when the Declaration of Human Rights
was adopted by UN. This declaration extends social and economic
S
International Review Service Vol. III No. 36
17
rights to inhabitants of dependent territories as well as to independent
peoples, and its influence has been tremendous.
Recognition of Anticolonial Strength
While colonial powers continue to maintain that the General
Assembly has no authority to intervene, their actions indicate a
recognition that the power of the General Assembly is increasing.
With the admission of Spain and Portugal, all the colonial powers
are in UN. The strength of this group will therefore not grow but
probably will decrease as new anticolonial countries become members
of the UN.
ment.
In the light of these circumstances, colonial powers sometimes
seek to divest themselves of their relationship with UN in connection
with specific colonies. To effect this separation, the colonial powers
invoke the UN precedent which allows a colonial power to stop sending
information on a territory when that territory achieves self-govern-
Non- Intervention
=_
General Assembly Reluctant to Accept Self-Government Claims
Anticolonial countries have examined every proposal of this type
as a possible device by which a colonial power can obtain cessation
of UN review of a territory which, under the guise of self-government
or union, may continue to be subjugated.
The right of the General Assembly itself to take jurisdiction on
colonial questions has not been recognized by most colonial powers.
The French, the Dutch and the British have maintained
in every
18
Colonialism and the United Nations
1
case where political discussion has been asked for in the General Assem-
bly on a colonial question -- that UN has no jurisdiction since the re-
lationships between these territories and themselves is purely a domestic
affair.
These countries rest their refusal to discuss colonial matters on
Article 2, Paragraph 7, of the UN Charter, which reads: "Nothing con-
tained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to inter-
vene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction
of any state...
The Pure and Impure Claims
Colonial powers have made a vigorous defense of their motives and
have, in fact, challenged the motives of anticolonial countries and big
powers which support them. Colonial powers maintain that many of the
drives with which they are and have been confronted are not genuine
efforts at self-determination but manipulations of their dependent peoples
by other powers seeking to annex for themselves by political means
what they could not hope to win by physical means. In the case of Algeria,
France charged that in the name of self-determination, more than one
country was presenting itself as a champion of human freedom, when in
fact it had shown little regard for such values within its own borders.
(Reference 8).
Problems Facing UN
Colonial and anticolonial claims and counter claims have created
a situation which calls for UN to define interference with internal
affairs of a country as well as to construct a scale on which to weigh
International Review Service Vol. III No. 36
19
the validity of claims made in the name of anticolonialism. UN is also
posed with the problem of providing economic aid as colonial areas,
devoid of the resources necessary for viability, attain sovereignty.
Full Citizenship in the International Community
Anticolonial powers in UN are pushing for development and capital
aids which would help somewhat to answer the economic need brought
into being by the fragmentation of large colonial areas into many small
sovereign units which are less viable.
UN has already fulfilled a political need for nations newly emerging
from colonialism. UN and its related organizations have been impor-
tant factors in the process of according international recognition to
new governments and in integrating therr within the international
community. This accordance of full citizenship to all countries, whatever
their size, has played an important role in giving the anticolonial group
in the General Assembly a sense of equality and strength.
########
A
REFERENCES
1. "Report of the Trusteeship Council to the General Assembly Covering the Period
from 23 July 1955 to 14 August 1956," General Assembly Official Records: 11th
Session, Supplement No. 4; (A/3170).
2. "A Sacred Trust," United Nations, New York; UN Sales Publication No. 1956.I.17.
3. "Statement Made by the Representative of Portugal at the 616th Meeting of the
Fourth Committee on 30 January 1957;" (A/C.4/347).
4. United Nations Charter Article 91. (Reprinted here, Appendix A.)
5. "Annual Report of the Technical Assistance Board to the Technical Assistance
Committee for 1956," Economic and Social Council Official Records: 24th Session;
(E/TAC/REP/103 or E/3965).
6. New York Times, 5 May 1957.
7. "Text of Vice President Richard M. Nixon's Report to President Eisenhower on His
Recent Trip to Africa," New York Times, 7 April 1957.
8. "Provisional Verbatim Record of the 529th Plenary Meeting," General Assembly:
10th Session, 30 September 1955; (A/PV.529).
9. "Yearbook of the United Nations 1947," United Nations, New York; UN Sales
Publication No. 1947.1.13.
10. General Assembly Resolutions 558 (VI) of 18 January 1952, 752 (VIII) of 9 December
1953, 858 (IX) of 14 December 1954 and 1064 (XI) of 26 February 1957. (Target
dates for self-government or independence)
11. "Future of the Trust Territory of Togoland Under French Administration," General
Assembly: 11th Session; (T/1290).
12. General Assembly Resolution 1046 (XI) of 23 January 1957 (French Togoland).
13. "Everyman's United Nations," United Nations, New York; UN Publication No.
1956.1.13.
14. General Assembly Resolutions 289 (IV) A, B & C of 21 November 1949 (Italian
colonies).
15. General Assembly Resolution 390 (V) A & B of 2 December 1950 (Eritrea).
16. General Assembly Resolution 617 (VII) of 17 December 1952 (Eritrea).
17. General Assembly Resolution 442 (V) of 2 December 1950. (Includes trusteeship
agreement for Italian Somaliland.)
18. General Assembly Resolution 334 (IV) of 2 December 1949 (Cessation of Information).
19. "Verbatim Record of the 847th Meeting of the First Committee," General Assembly:
11th Session, 18 February 1957; (A/C.1/PV.847).
20. Speech by Foreign Secretary Selwyn Lloyd at Barry, Wales, 7 July 1956; as quoted
in the New York Times, 8 July 1956.
21. "Question of Cyprus: Report of the First Committee," General Assembly: 11th
Session, 25 February 1957; (A/3559).
22. General Assembly Resolution 1013 (XI) of 26 February 1957 (Cyprus).
- 20 -
REFERENCES, continued
I
;
23. "Unofficial Summaries of the European Common Market and Nuclear Energy Pool
Treaties," reprinted in the New York Times, 26 March 1957.
24. "Yearbook of the United Nations 1948-49," United Nations, New York; UN Sales
Publication No. 1950.1.11.
25. "Verbatim Record of the 857th Meeting of the First Committee," General Assembly:
11th Session, 23 February 1957; (A/C.1/PV.857).
26. Statement by Dr. Sudjarwo Tjondronegoro of Indonesia in the First Committee of the
General Assembly: Ninth Session, 24 November 1954.
27. Statement by Daniel J. Ballusek of the Netherlands in the First Committee of the
General Assembly: Ninth Session, 24 November 1954.
28. "Verbatim Record of the 858th Meeting of the First Committee," General Assembly:
11th Session, 25 February 1957; (A/C.1/PV.858).
29. "The Final Communique of the Asian-African Conference," Press Release issued
by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the Un.
30. "Yearbook of the United Nations 1951," United Nations, New York; UN Sales
Publication No. 1952.1.30.
31. "Yearbook of the United Nations 1952," United Nations, New York; UN Sales
Publication No. 1953.1.30.
32. "Yearbook of the United Nations 1953," United Nations, New York; UN Sales
Publication No. 1954.I.15.
33. "Yearbook of the United Nations 1955," United Nations, New York; UN Sales
Publication No. 1956.1.20.
34. "Verbatim Record of the 730th Meeting of the Security Council," 26 June 1956;
(S/PV.730).
35. "Verbatim Record of the 833rd Meeting of the First Committee," General Assembly:,
11th Session, 5 February 1957; Statement of U Pe Kin, Representative of Burma;
(A/C.1/PV.833).
36. "Verbatim Record of the 830th (and 831st) Meeting of the First Committee," General
Assembly: 11th Session, 4 February 1957; (A/C.1/PV.830-31).
37. General Assembly Resolution 1012 (XI) of 15 February 1957 (Algeria).
??
########
38. Provisional Agenda of the 12th Regular Session of the General Assembly: Item
Proposed by Afghanistan, Ceylon, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi
Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, (Burma)," UN Document A/3617 and
A/3617/Add.1.
- 21 -
APPENDIX A: UN CHARTER PROVISIONS RELATING TO TERRITORIES (Chapters XI-XIII)
CHAPTER XI
DECLARATION REGARDING
NON-SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES
Article 73
Members of the United Nations which have
or assume responsibilities for the administra-
tion of territories whose peoples have not yet
attained a full measure of self-government
recognize the principle that the interests of
the inhabitants of these territories are para-
mount, and accept as a sacred trust the ob-
ligation to promote to the utmost, within the
system of international peace and security
established by the present Charter, the well-
being of the inhabitants of these territories,
and, to this end:
a. to ensure, with due respect for the
culture of the peoples concerned, their
political, economic, social, and educational
advancement, their just treatment, and
their protection against abuses;
b. to develop self-government, to take
due account of the political aspirations of
the peoples, and to assist them in the
progressive development of their free po-
litical institutions, according to the particu-
lar circumstances of each territory and its
peoples and their varying stages of ad-
vancement;
c. to further international peace and se-
curity;
d. to promote constructive measures of
development, to encourage research, and
to cooperate with one another and, when
and where appropriate, with specialized
international bodies with a view to the
practical achievement of the social, eco-
nomic, and scientific purposes set forth in
this Article; and
e. to transmit regularly to the Secretary-
General for information purposes, subject
to such limitation as security and constitu-
tional considerations may require, statis-
tical and other information of a technical
nature relating to economic, social, and
educational conditions in the territories for
which they are respectively responsible
other than those territories to which Chap-
ters XII and XIII apply.
Article 74
Members of the United Nations also agree
that their policy in respect of the territories
to which this Chapter applies, no less than
in respect of their metropolitan areas, must
be based on the general principle of good-
neighborliness, due account being taken of
the interests and well-being of the rest of
the world, in social, economic, and commer-
cial matters.
CHAPTER XII
INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEESHIP
SYSTEM
Article 75
The United Nations shall establish under
its authority an international trusteeship sys-
tem for the administration and supervision of
such territories as may be placed thereunder -22-
——
by subsequent individual agreements. These
territories are hereinafter referred to as trust
territories.
Article 76
The basic objectives of the trusteeship sys-
tem, in accordance with the Purposes of the
United Nations laid down in Article 1 of the
present Charter, shall be:
a. to further international peace and se-
curity;
b. to promote the political, economic,
social, and educational advancement of the
inhabitants of the trust territories, and their
progressive development towards self-gov-
ernment or independence as may be ap-
propriate to the particular circumstances
of each territory and its peoples and the
freely expressed wishes of the peoples con-
cerned, and as may be provided by the
terms of each trusteeship agreement;
c. to encourage respect for human rights
and for fundamental freedoms for all
without distinction as to race, sex, lan-
guage, or religion, and to encourage recog-
nition of the interdependence of the peo-
ples of the world; and
d. to ensure equal treatment in social,
economic, and commercial matters for all
Members of the United Nations and their
nationals, and also equal treatment for the
latter in the administration of justice, with-
out prejudice to the attainment of the fore-
going objectives and subject to the provi-
sions of Article 80.
Article 77
1. The trusteeship system shall apply to
such territories in the following categories
as may be placed thereunder by means of
trusteeship agreements:
a. territories now held under mandate;
b. territories which may be detached
from enemy states as a result of the Sec-
ond World War; and
c. territories voluntarily placed under
the system by states responsible for their
administration.
2. It will be a matter for subsequent agree-
ment as to which territories in the foregoing
categories will be brought under the trustee-
ship system and upon what terms.
Article 78
The trusteeship system shall not apply to
territories which have become Members of
the United Nations, relationship among
which shall be based on respect for the prin-
ciple of sovereign equality.
Article 79
The terms of trusteeship for each territory
to be placed under the trusteeship system,
including any alteration or amendment, shall
be agreed upon by the states directly con-
cerned, including the mandatory power in the
case of territories held under mandate by a
Member of the United Nations, and shall be
approved as provided for in Articles 83 and
85.
APPENDIX A, continued
Article 80
1. Except as may be agreed upon in indi-
vidual trusteeship agreements, made under
Articles 77, 79, and 81, placing each territory
under the trusteeship system, and until such
agreements have been concluded, nothing in
this Chapter shall be construed in or of itself
to alter in any manner the rights whatsoever
of any states or any peoples or the terms of
existing international instruments to which
Members of the United Nations may respec-
tively be parties.
2. Paragraph 1 of this Article shall not be
interpreted as giving grounds for delay or
postponement of the negotiation and conclu-
sion of agreements for placing mandated and
other territories under the trusteeship system
as provided for in Article 77.
Article 81
The trusteeship agreement shall in each
case include the terms under which the trust
territory will be administered and designate
the authority which will exercise the adminis-
tration of the trust territory. Such authority.
hereinafter called the administering author-
ity, may be one or more states or the Or-
ganization itself.
Article 82
There may be designated, in any trustee-
ship agreement, a strategic area or areas
which may include part or all of the trust
territory to which the agreement applies,
without prejudice to any special agreement
or agreements made under Article 43.
Article 83
1. All functions of the United Nations re-
lating to strategic areas, including the ap-
proval of the terms of the trusteeship agree-
ments and of their alteration or amendment,
shall be exercised by the Security Council.
2. The basic objectives set forth in Article
76 shall be applicable to the people of each
strategic area.
3. The Security Council shall, subject to
the provisions of the trusteeship agreements
and without prejudice to security considera-
tions, avail itself of the assistance of the
Trusteeship Council to perform those func-
tions of the United Nations under the trustee-
ship system relating to political, economic,
social, and educational matters in the strate-
gic areas.
Article 84
It shall be the duty of the administering
authority to ensure that the trust territory
shall play its part in the maintenance of in-
ternational peace and security. To this end
the administering authority may make use of
volunteer forces, facilities, and assistance
from the trust territory in carrying out the
obligations towards the Security Council un-
dertaken in this regard by the administering
authority, as well as for local defense and
the maintenance of law and order within the
trust territory.
Article 85
1. The functions of the United Nations
with regard to trusteeship agreements for all
areas not designated as strategic, including
the approval of the terms of the trusteeship
agreements and of their alteration or amend-
ment, shall be exercised by the General As-
sembly.
2. The Trusteeship Council, operating un-
der the authority of the General Assembly,
shall assist the General Assembly in carrying
out these functions.
CHAPTER XIII
THE TRUSTEESHIP COUNCIL
Composition
Article 86
1. The Trusteeship Council shall consist
of the following Members of the United Na-
tions:
a. those Members administering trust
territories;
b. such of those Members mentioned by
name in Article 23 as are not administering
trust territories; and
c. as many other Members elected for
three-year terms by the General Assembly
as may be necessary to ensure that the
total number of members of the Trustee-
ship Council is equally divided between
those Members of the United Nations
which administer trust territories and those
which do not.
2. Each member of the Trusteeship Coun-
cil shall designate one specially qualified
person to represent it therein.
Functions and Powers
Article 87
The General Assembly and, under its au-
thority, the Trusteeship Council, in carrying
out their functions, may:
a. consider reports submitted by the ad-
ministering authority;
b. accept petitions and examine them in
consultation with the administering au-
thority;
-
c. provide for periodic visits to the re-
spective trust territories at times agreed
upon with the administering authority;
and
d. take these and other actions in con-
formity with the terms of the trusteeship
agreements.
Article 88
The Trusteeship Council shall formulate a
questionnaire on the political, economic, so-
cial, and educational advancement of the in-
habitants of each trust territory, and the ad-
ministering authority for each trust territory
within the competence of the General Assem-
bly shall make an annual report to the Gen-
eral Assembly upon the basis of such
questionnaire.
Voting
Article 89
1. Each member of the Trusteeship Coun-
cil shall have one vote.
2. Decisions of the Trusteeship Council
shall be made by a majority of the members
present and voting.
Procedure
Article 90
1. The Trusteeship Council shall adopt its
own rules of procedure, including the method
of selecting its President.
2. The Trusteeship Council shall meet as
required in accordance with its rules, which
shall include provision for the convening of
meetings on the request of a majority of its
members.
Article 91
The Trusteeship Council shall, when ap-
propriate, avail itself of the assistance of the
Economic and Social Council and of the spe-
-23- cialized agencies in regard to matters with
which they are respectively concerned.
APPENDIX B: THE INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEESHIP SYSTEM
The International trusteeship system was established under
the United Nations Charter for the administration and supervision
of three types of territories: 1) those which were held under
League of Nations mandate, 2) those detached from the enemy in
World War II and 3) other territories voluntarily placed under the
system.
Eleven territories were placed under UN trusteeship with
administering powers as follows:
Nauru and New Guinea
Ruanda-Urundi Belgium
Cameroons and Togoland - France
Somaliland
Western Samoa
Italy
New Zealand
Cameroons, Tanganyika and Togoland
-
Australia
"
United Kingdom
(The trusteeship for British Togoland terminated
in 1957).
Pacific Islands (Marshalls, Marianas, Carolines)
United States
All these territories, except Italian Somaliland, had been
League of Nations mandates. They are administered today under
the same government as under the mandate system. Nauru,
mandated to the British Empire, is administered in the UN system
by Australia in behalf of Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
Somaliland is the only territorial conquest of World War II which
has been turned over to UN trusteeship. The Pacific Islands
trust, administered under UN by the United States, had been a
Japanese mandate under the League of Nations. The Ryukyus,
Bonins and other Japanese islands won by the US in World War II
have not been put under the UN system, though the US-Japanese
peace treaty provides that this transfer can be made. No other
territories have become trusts since UN was created, although at
the Second (1947) General Assembly, India proposed a resolution
expressing the hope that the powers administering non-trust ter-
ritories would place some or all of them under UN trusteeship.
The resolution was rejected, 24 to 24, with one abstention.
(Reference 9).
S
Trusteeship Agreements
The UN trusteeship system, like the League of Nations man-
date system before it, is based on the concept by which a country
governs a territory as a "sacred trust" in behalf of the inhabi-
tants. Called administering authorities, these governing powers
administer the trust territories under trusteeship agreements with
UN. The agreements -- except for Italian Somaliland
drafted by the administering authorities and, after minor altera-
tions, approved by the General Assembly. The agreement for the
US' Pacific Islands trust is the only one not to be approved by the
were
S
G
-24-
APPENDIX B, continued
Because of its strategic character, it was ap-
General Assembly.
proved by the Security Council.
The trusteeship agreements grant certain rights to the ad-
ministering authorities, among them powers of legislation, ad-
ministration and jurisdiction; the right in some cases to administer
the territories as integral parts of their own territories and to
use the territories and inhabitants for defense purposes. These
latter two provisions prompted the opposition of the Soviet Union,
which voted against all the agreements except those for Somali-
land and the Pacific Islands.
Strategic Trusteeship
The Pacific Islands trust territory is administered by the US
under a special arrangement with UN, provided for in the Charter,
for strategic areas. Strategic trust areas come under the juris-
diction of the Security Council rather than the General Assembly.
UN administration and supervision is, in these cases, limited, ac-
cording to the Charter, by "security considerations", giving the US
the right to bar entrance of areas of the trust territory.
The Trusteeship Council
The General Assembly has the ultimate responsibility for all
trust territories except the strategic trust of the Pacific Islands.
The Trusteeship Council carries out UN functions in behalf of the
General Assembly.
Pu
The Trusteeship Council is composed of the administering
authorities, (Australia, Belgium, France, Italy, New Zealand, UK,
US); the permanent members of the Security Council who are not
administering authorities (China, USSR); other countries elected by
the General Assembly for three-year terms in a number sufficient
to equalize the membership of the council between the administering
and non-administering nations (in 1957; Syria, Burma, Guatemala,
Haiti, India).
The Trusteeship Council can examine every aspect of the ad-
ministration of the trust territories economic, educational, so-
cial and political. It does this mainly through three means:
reports submitted by the administering authorities, petitions sub-
mitted in writing or presented orally by the inhabitants and re-
ports of visiting missions, consisting of Trusteeship Council and
other UN members, sent to the trust territories. Action on these
by the council is recommendatory.
Target Dates for Self-Government or Independence
The overriding objective of the trusteeship system is evolu-
tion toward self-government or independence. Only one trust
S
-25-
APPENDIX B, continued
territory British Togoland -- has achieved independence from
its administering authority.
- -
A date for independence for Italian Somaliland - 1906
was fixed in the trusteeship agreement between UN and Italy.
Four General Assembly resolutions have requested administering
authorities to estimate dates when their territories would achieve
self-government. (Reference 10). No administering authority has as
yet complied.
British Togoland and Ghana
British Togoland is now a part of the newly-independent
Ghana, formerly the British Gold Coast Colony. The trusteeship
of British Togoland terminated after the inhabitants of the ter-
ritory voted, in a UN-administered plebiscite in 1955, to join the
Gold Coast rather than to amalgamate with French Togoland or to
become independent. The consolidation of the Gold Coast and
Togoland took place when Ghana came into existence on 6 March
1957. The new country was admitted to UN two days later.
French Togoland
France, at the 11th General Assembly, asked for termina-
tion of the trusteeship agreement for French Togoland, stating
that the territory having become an autonomous republic as a re-
sult of a statute decreed on 24 August 1956, the objectives of the
trusteeship system had been attained. The General Assembly
doubtful over the authenticity of the autonomy granted did not
comply with France's request, and it was withdrawn. (Reference 11).
The assembly decided instead, on 23 January 1957, to
dispatch a committee to French Togoland to study the practical
application of the new statute. This move was approved by France
and opposed by the Soviet and Middle East states. The commit-
tee -- comprising Canada, Denmark, Guatemala, Liberia, the
Philippines and Yugoslavia will report on its findings to the
Trusteeship Council which will, in turn, submit a report to the
12th (1957) General Assembly. (Reference 12).
APPENDIX C: SOUTH WEST AFRICA
-
All League of Nations mandates -- which had not become
independent were placed under UN trusteeship, with the single
exception of the former German territory of South West Africa.
The mandatory power, the Union of South Africa, at the outset
in 1946 based its refusal to transfer South West Africa to UN
trusteeship on the contention that a majority of the inhabitants of
the territory wanted the Union of South Africa to incorporate
-26-
-
APPENDIX C, continued
South West Africa. The Union changed its position in 1947, in-
forming UN that it would continue to administer South West Africa
in the spirit of the League of Nations mandate system. (Reference 13).
On 11 July 1950, the International Court of Justice, in an
advisory opinion requested by the General Assembly, said that
mandatory powers are not obliged to place their territories under
UN trusteeship but that South Africa "continues to have interna-
tional obligations" under the League of Nations Covenant and
Mandate. (Reference 13).
The General Assembly has consistently, since 1946, recom-
mended that South West Africa be put under UN trusteeship.
On 13 December 1950, the General Assembly set up its own
committee on South West Africa and annually considers reports
submitted by this committee, which in 1957, consisted of Brazil,
Ethiopia, Finland, Mexico, Pakistan, Syria, Thailand, US and
Uruguay.
The Union of South Africa objects to UN discussion of South
West Africa - a matter the Union claims is outside UN's juris-
diction. In pursuance of this position, the Union withdrew its
delegation from the 11th (1956-7) General Assembly.
C
South West Africa has been, in effect, integrated with the
Union of South Africa.
APPENDIX D: THE ITALIAN COLONIES
Libya
Italy, as a defeated power in World War II, renounced all
claims to its former African colonies. The Italian peace treaty,
signed in Paris on 15 September 1947, left the disposal of these
colonies to France, UK, US and USSR. In the event that the
treaty powers could not come to an agreement, the treaty pro-
vided that the problem be referred to the General Assembly which
was given the right to make a binding decision. One year later
the four powers turned the matter over to the General Assembly.
The Italian colonies concerned were Libya, Eritrea and
Italian Somaliland. The UK had temporary administration of all
but Fezzan one of the three areas of Libya which was con-
trolled by France.
A decision was not reached in UN until 21 November 1949,
when the Fourth General Assembly decided the Libya
M
S
-27-
-
APPENDIX D, continued
comprising Cyrenaica, Tripolitania and the Fezzan should become
an independent and sovereign state, not later than 1 January 1952.
(Reference 14). A UN-appointed commissioner (Adrian Pelt) and a com-
mittee of six UN members helped the Libyans draw up a constitution.
Libyan independence was proclaimed on 24 December 1951 by King
Idris I.
Eritrea
Italy advocated independence for the former Italian colony of
Eritrea, Ethiopia, however, claimed that Eritrea was an integral
part of Ethiopia. On 2 December 1950, the Fifth General Assembly,
empowered by the Italian Peace Treaty to rule on the disposition
of the former Italian colonies, decided that Eritrea would, as an
autonomous unit, be federated with Ethiopia under the sovereignty
of the Ethiopian crown. A UN commissioner was appointed to
draft a constitution. (Reference 15). The federation was formally
recognized by the Seventh General Assembly on 17 December 1952.
(Reference 16).
Italian Somaliland
On 21 November 1949, the Fourth General Assembly decided
that Italian Somaliland would become a UN trust territory admin-
istered by Italy then not a member of UN. (Reference 14). The
subsequent trusteeship agreement stipulated that it would terminate,
and Somaliland become independent, at the end of 10 years. This
agreement was drawn up -- unlike any of the other trusteeship
agreements by the Trusteeship Council, rather than by the ad-
ministering authority, and approved by the Fifth General Assembly
on 2 December 1950. (Reference 17).
APPENDIX E: NON-SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES
A
The Italian Somaliland agreement is also unique in that it
contains a statement that the Somali people are sovereign and pro-
vides that UN be represented in the territory by an advisory
council composed of Columbia, Egypt and the Philippines.
(Reference 17).
S
Under Chapter XI of the Charter, governments owning ter-
ritories "recognize the principle that the interests of the inhabit-
ants of these territories are paramount and accept as a sacred
trust the obligation to promote to the utmost...the well-being of
the inhabitants", including the development of self-government.
Part of this obligation, the Charter specifies in Article 73e, is
the transmission to the UN of reports containing technical infor-
mation on economic, social and educational conditions in each ter-
ritory.
S
-28-
APPENDIX E, continued
In 1946, eight member governments sent information to the
UN on 74 territories. With the attainment of various degrees of
self-government in some of these territories the number of ter-
ritories reported on had by 1956 decreased to 55. Whether other
territories on which UN receives no information should be re-
ported on has been debated; but in effect the decision rests with
the administering government.
The information transmitted to the UN by the administering
powers follows an outline, or "standard form", approved by the
General Assembly. One category of information asked for in the
standard form that of a political nature is optional, though
the question of whether it should be made mandatory has been an
issue in the General Assembly.
The Committee on Information from NSGT
The Charter provides for the transmission of information on
non-self-governing territories, as differentiated from trust terri-
tories, to the Secretary-General, by whom summaries are placed
before the General Assembly annually. Some governments sub-
mitting information -- and in particular Belgium objected at the
outset to General Assembly discussion of these reports, maintain-
ing that Charter obligations were fulfilled once reports were sub-
mitted. In 1947, however, the General Assembly set up a com-
mittee to report on the information received. A committee of
this type has met annually since 1948. It was established on a
three-year basis in 1949 and renewed for three-year periods in
1952 and 1955 as the Committee on Information from Non-Self-
Governing Territories.
G
Australia - Papua
Belgium
Belgian Congo
France French Equatorial Africa, French Somaliland,
French West Africa, Madagascar, Comore,
New Hebrides (condominium with UK)
K
-
This committee, like the Trusteeship Council, is evenly
balanced between members which submit information and those
which do not. In 1957, the membership of the committee was
Australia, Belgium, France, Netherlands, New Zealand, United
Kingdom, United States (members transmitting information) and
Ceylon, China, Guatemala, India, Iraq, Peru, Venezuela (non-
administering members). The committee's recommendations re-
late to functional fields in general educational, economic and
social and not to conditions in individual territories.
-
20
Non-Self-Governing Territories in 1956
The countries submitting information in 1956 and their ter-
ritories are
S
-
-
-29-
APPENDIX E, continued
Netherlands Netherlands New Guinea
New Zealand - Cook Island, Niue Island, Tokelau Islands
United Kingdom - Aden, Bahamas, Barbados, Basutoland,
Bechuanaland, British Guiana, British Honduras,
British Somaliland, Brunei, Cyprus, Dominica,
Falkland Islands, Federation of Malaya, Fiji,
Gambia, Gibraltar, Gilbert and Ellice Islands,
Grenada, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Kenya, Leeward
Islands, Mauritius, New Hebrides (condominium
with France), Nigeria, North Borneo, Northern
Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Pitcairn Island, St. Helena
and Depend., St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Sarawak,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon
Islands, Swaziland, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda,
Zanzibar
United States
-
Virgin Islands, Alaska, American Samoa,
Guam, Hawaii
-
Cessation of Information
Before they achieved independence and UN membership,
Morocco, Tunisia, Indonesia (Netherlands East Indies) and Ghana
(Gold Coast Colony) had been reported on in the non-self-governing
territory category.
Administering powers have interpreted Article 73e as mean-
ing that when a territory has attained self-government, it need no
longer be reported on to UN. On this basis, the UK ceased send-
ing information on Malta after the first report (1946-47); France,
after 1946, stopped submitting reports on the overseas departments
of Guadeloupe, Guiana, Martinique and Reunion declaring them
equal to the metropolitan departments of France and on the
overseas territories of New Caledonia, French Settlements in
Oceania and St. Pierre et Miquelon stating that they already
enjoyed extensive political rights and had similar governments to
those of the French overseas departments or the departments of
metropolitan France. The US did not send reports on the Panama
Canal Zone after 1946, because Panama contested the classification
of the Canal Zone as a non-self-governing territory.
J
-
At the 1949 (Fourth) session, the General Assembly, over the
opposition of the colonial powers the US abstaining decided,
"It is within the responsibility of the General Assembly to express
its opinion on the principles which have guided or which may in
future guide the members concerned in enumerating the territories
for which the obligation exists to transmit information under
Article 73e of the Charter." (Reference 18). This resolution prompted
the establishment of a Committee on Factors Which Should Be
Taken Into Account in Deciding Whether Any Territory Is or Is
Not a Territory Whose People Have Not Attained a Full Measure
-30-
APPENDIX E, continued
of Self-Government.
The list of factors submitted by this committee
was adopted by the Eighth General Assembly, on 27 November 1953,
as a guide in determining whether a territory had become self-govern-
ing (Resolution and factors reprinted below.) At the same time, the
assembly voted itself competent to decide, on this basis, whether
reports on non-self-governing territories should continue or cease.
Since then, the assembly has approved the cessation of re-
ports on Puerto Rico (US), Surinam and Curacao (Netherlands)
and Greenland (Denmark). In each case, however, the adminis-
tering government had, previous to General Assembly action, an-
nounced that the transmission of information on these territories
would cease.
Governments submitting reports on non-self-governing ter-
ritories have consistently challenged the General Assembly's
competence to pronounce on the attainment of self-government by
any territory.
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APPENDIX F: GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION ON FACTORS FOR MEASURING SELF-
GOVERNMENT
742 (VIII). Factors which should be taken into
account in deciding whether a Territory is or
is not a Territory whose people have not yet
attained a full measure of self-government
The General Assembly,
Bearing in mind the principles embodied in the Dec-
laration regarding Non-Self-Governing Territories and
the objectives set forth in Chapter XI of the Charter,
Recalling the provisions of resolutions 567 (VI)
and 648 (VII), adopted by the General Assembly on
18 January and 10 December 1952 respectively, indi-
cating the value of establishing a list of factors which
should be taken into account in deciding whether a
Territory has or has not attained a full measure of
self-government,
Having regard to the competence of the General
Assembly to consider the principles that should guide
the United Nations and the Member States in the im-
plementation of obligations arising from Chapter XI
of the Charter and to make recommendations in con-
nexion with them,
Having examined the report of the Ad Hoc Com-
mittee on Factors (Non-Self-Governing Territories)
set up by resolution 648 (VII),
1. Takes note of the conclusions of the report of the
Ad Hoc Committee on Factors (Non-Self-Governing
Territories);
2. Approves the list of factors as adopted by the
Fourth Committee;
་
3. Recommends that the annexed list of factors
should be used by the General Assembly and the
Administering Members as a guide in determining
whether any Territory, due to changes in its consti-
tutional status, is or is no longer within the scope of
Chapter XI of the Charter, in order that, in view of
the documentation provided under resolution 222 (III)
of 3 November 1948, a decision may be taken by the
General Assembly on the continuation or cessation of
the transmission of information required by Chapter
XI of the Charter;
4. Reasserts that each concrete case should be con-
sidered and decided upon in the light of the particular
circumstances of that case and taking into account the
right of self-determination of peoples;
5. Considers that the validity of any form of asso-
ciation between a Non-Self-Governing Territory and
a metropolitan or any other country essentially depends
on the freely expressed will of the people at the time.
of the taking of the decision;
6. Considers that the manner in which Territories
referred to in Chapter XI of the Charter can become
fully self-governing is primarily through the attain-
ment of independence, although it is recognized that
self-government can also be achieved by association
with another State or group of States if this is done
freely and on the basis of absolute equality;
7. Reaffirms that the factors, while serving as a
guide in determining whether the obligations as set
forth in Chapter XI of the Charter shall exist, should
in no way be interpreted as a hindrance to the attain-
ment of a full measure of self-government by a Non-
Self-Governing Territory;
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8. Further reaffirms that, for a Territory to be
deemed self-governing in economic, social or educa-
tional affairs, it is essential that its people shall have
attained a full measure of self-government;
9. Instructs the Committee on Information from
Non-Self-Governing Territories to study any documen-
tation transmitted hereafter under resolution 222 (III)
in the light of the list of factors approved by the
present resolution, and other relevant considerations
which may arise from each concrete case of cessation
of information;
10.
Recommends that the Committee on Informa-
tion from Non-Self-Governing Territories take the
initiative of proposing modifications at any time to
improve the list of factors, as may seem necessary in
the light of circumstances.
459th plenary meeting,
27 November 1953.
ANNEX
List of Factors
FACTORS INDICATIVE OF THE ATTAINMENT OF INDE-
PENDENCE OR OF OTHER SEPARATE SYSTEMS OF SELF-
GOVERNMENT
First part
FACTORS INDICATIVE OF THE ATTAINMENT OF INDEPENDENCE
A. International status
1. International responsibility. Full international responsi-
bility of the Territory for the acts inherent in the exercise of
its external sovereignty and for the corresponding acts in the
administration of its internal affairs.
2. Eligibility for membership in the United Nations.
3. General international relations. Power to enter into direct
relations of every kind with other governments and with in-
ternational institutions and to negotiate, sign and ratify inter-
national instruments.
G
4. National defence. Sovereign right to provide for its na-
tional defence.
B. Internal self-government
1. Form of government. Complete freedom of the people
of the Territory to choose the form of government which they
desire.
2. Territorial government. Freedom from control or inter-
ference by the government of another State in respect of the
internal government (legislature, executive, judiciary, and
administration of the Territory).
3. Economic, social and cultural jurisdiction. Complete
autonomy in respect of economic, social and cultural affairs.
Second part
FACTORS INDICATIVE OF THE ATTAINMENT OF OTHER SEPARATE
SYSTEMS OF SELF-GOVERNMENT
A. General
1. Opinion of the population. The opinion of the population
of the Territory, freely expressed by informed and democratic
processes, as to the status or change in status which they desire.
2. Freedom of choice. Freedom of choosing on the basis of
the right of self-determination of peoples between several pos-
sibilities, including independence.
3. Voluntary limitation of sovereignty. Degree of evidence
that the attribute or attributes of sovereignty which are not
individually exercised will be collectively exercised by the
larger entity thus associated and the freedom of the population
of a Territory which has associated itself with the metropolitan
country to modify at any time this status through the expression
of their will by democratic means.

APPENDIX F, continued
4. Geographical considerations. Extent to which the relations
of the Non-Self-Governing Territory with the capital of the
metropolitan government may be affected by circumstances
arising out of their respective geographical positions, such as
separation by land, sea or other natural obstacles; and extent
to which the interests of boundary States may be affected,
bearing in mind the general principle of good-neighbourliness
referred to in Article 74 of the Charter.
5. Ethnic and cultural considerations. Extent to which the
populations are of different race, language or religion or have
a distinct cultural heritage, interests or aspirations, distinguish-
ing them from the peoples of the country with which they freely
associate themselves.
6. Political advancement. Political advancement of the pop-
ulation sufficient to enable them to decide upon the future
destiny of the Territory with due knowledge.
B. International status
1. General international relations. Degree or extent to which
the Territory exercises the power to enter freely into direct
relations of every kind with other governments and with inter-
national institutions and to negotiate, sign and ratify inter-
national instruments freely. Degree or extent to which the
metropolitan country is bound, through constitutional provisions
or legislative means, by the freely expressed wishes of the
Territory in negotiating, signing and ratifying international
conventions which may influence conditions in the Territory.
2. Change of political status. The right of the metropolitan
country or the Territory to change the political status of that
Territory in the light of the consideration whether that Ter-
ritory is or is not subject to any claim or litigation on the part
of another State.
3. Eligibility for membership in the United Nations.
C. Internal self-government
1. Territorial government. Nature and measure of control or
interference, if any, by the government of another State in
respect of the internal government, for example, in respect of
the following:
Legislature: The enactment of laws for the Territory by an
indigenous body whether fully elected by free and democratic
processes or lawfully constituted in a manner receiving the free
consent of the population;
Executive: The selection of members of the executive branch
of the government by the competent authority in the Territory
receiving consent of the indigenous population, whether that
authority is hereditary or elected, having regard also to the
nature and measure of control, if any, by an outside agency on
that authority, whether directly or indirectly exercised in the
constitution and conduct of the executive branch of the govern-
ment;
Judiciary: The establishment of courts of law and the selec-
tion of judges.
2. Participation of the population. Effective participation of
the population in the government of the Territory: (a) Is there
an edequate and appropriate electoral and representative system?
(b) Is this electoral system conducted without direct or in-
direct interference from a foreign government?
3. Economic, social and cultural jurisdiction. Degree of
autonomy in respect of economic, social and cultural affairs, as
illustrated by the degree of freedom from economic pressure as
exercised, for example, by a foreign minority group which, by
virtue of the help of a foreign Power, has acquired a privileged
economic status prejudicial to the general economic interest of
the people of the Territory; and by the degree of freedom and
lack of discrimination against the indigenous population of the
Territory in social legislation and social developments.
Third part
FACTORS INDICATIVE OF THE FREE ASSOCIATION OF A TERRITORY ON
EQUAL BASIS WITH THE METROPOLITAN OR OTHER COUNTRY AS
AN INTEGRAL PART OF THAT COUNTRY OR IN ANY OTHER FORM
A. General
1. Opinion of the population. The opinion of the population
of the Territory, freely expressed by informed and democratic
processes, as to the status or change in status which they
desire.
2. Freedom of choice. The freedom of the population of a
Non-Self-Governing Territory which has associated itself with
the metropolitan country as an integral part of that country
or in any other form to modify this status through the ex-
pression of their will by democratic means.
3. Geographical considerations. Extent to which the relations
of the Territory with the capital of the central governmen
may be affected by circumstances arising out of their respective
geographical positions, such as separation by land, sea or other
natural obstacles. The right of the metropolitan country or the
Territory to change the political status of that Territory in the
light of the consideration whether that Territory is or is no
subject to any claim or litigation on the part of another State
4. Ethnic and cultural considerations. Extent to which the
population are of different race, language or religion or have
a distinct cultural heritage, interests or aspirations, distinguish
ing them from the peoples of the country with which they
freely associate themselves.
5. Political advancement. Political advancement of the pop
ulation sufficient to enable them to decide upon the future des
tiny of the Territory with due knowledge.
6. Constitutional considerations. Association by virtue of a
treaty or bilateral agreement affecting the status of the Ter
ritory, taking into account (i) whether the constitutional guar
antees extend equally to the associated Territory, (ii) whethe
there are powers in certain matters constitutionally reserved
to the Territory or to the central authority, and (iii) whethe
there is provision for the participation of the Territory on
basis of equality in any changes in the constitutional systen
of the State.
B.
Status
1. Legislative representation. Representation without dis
crimination in the central legislative organs on the same basi
as other inhabitants and regions.
2. Participation of the population. Effective participation o
the population in the government of the Territory: (a) Is ther
an adequate and appropriate electoral and representative sys
tem? (b) Is this electoral system conducted without direct o
indirect interference from a foreign government?
3. Citizenship. Citizenship without discrimination on th
same basis as other inhabitants.
4. Government officials. Eligibility of officials from th
Territory to all public offices of the central authority, by ap
pointment or election, on the same basis as those from othe
parts of the country.
C. Internal constitutional conditions
1. Suffrage. Universal and equal suffrage, and free periodi
elections, characterized by an absence of undue influence ove
and coercion of the voter or of the imposition of disabilities o
particular political parties.
2. Local rights and status. In a unitary system equal right
and status for the inhabitants and local bodies of the Territor
as enjoyed by inhabitants and local bodies of other parts of th
country; in a federal system an identical degree of self-gov
ernment for the inhabitants and local bodies of all parts of th
federation.
3. Local officials. Appointment or election of officials in th
Territory on the same basis as those in other parts of th
country.
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4. Internal legislation. Local self-government of the sam
scope and under the same conditions as enjoyed by other part
of the country.
5. Economic, social and cultural jurisdiction. Degree o
autonomy in respect of economic, social and cultural affairs, a
illustrated by the degree of freedom from economic pressure a
exercised, for example, by a foreign minority group which
by virtue of the help of a foreign Power, has acquired
privileged economic status prejudicial to the general economi
interest of the people of the Territory; and by the degree o
freedom and lack of discrimination against the indigenous pop
ulation of the Territory in social legislation and social develop
ments.
APPENDIX G: UN ACTION ON CYPRUS
The island of Cyprus is a British colony whose Greek in-
habitants have been fighting actively for freedom from British rule
since 1951. The case of the rebelling Cypriots is promoted by Greece,
which brought the question to UN in 1954. Greece's interest is based
on the fact that the vast majority of the island's population is Greek by
language and religion. Greece seeks a plebiscite in which Cypriots
would decide between British and Greek rule or for independence.
Greece had earlier advocated enosis, or Cypriot union with
Greece. In 1956, Greece, denying that enosis would mean an-
nexation of Cyprus rather than Cypriot self-government, changed
the formulation of its case. At the 1956-7 (11th) General As-
sembly, the Greek foreign minister, Evangeles Averoff-Tossizza,
said, "Greece has officially declared that it will respect the result,
whatever it may be, of a plebiscite even if, for example, the
people should decide to continue as a British colony...or to form
a totally independent state, which is not out of the question. "
(Reference 19).
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The British strongly resist separation from Cyprus. Since
the evacuation of the Suez base, Cyprus has been the headquarters
of the British Middle East defense system. The British position
was expressed by Foreign Secretary Selwyn Lloyd on 7 July 1956:
"Our country's industrial life and that of Western Europe depends
and will depend for many years to come, on oil supplies from the
Middle East. If those resources were to be in peril, we should
have to defend them. The facilities we have in Cyprus are part
of that defense. We cannot therefore accept any doubt about their
availability.'" (Reference 20).
Turkey opposes Greece on the Cyprus issue, holding that it
does not believe Greece will accord justice to the Turkish popu-
lation of the island. Twenty percent of the cypriots are Turkish,
and the island is 40 miles from the Turkish port of Iskenderun.
-
British and Turkish opposition blocked discussion of Cyprus
in the General Assembly in 1954 and 1955 (Ninth and 10th Assem-
blies). At the 1956-7 (11th) General Assembly, two Cyprus items
were discussed: one introduced by Greece, calling for "Applica-
tion, under the auspices of the United Nations, of the principle of
equal rights and self-determination of peoples in the case of the
population of the Island of Cyprus", and the other, introduced by
the UK, complaining against "Support from Greece for Terrorism
in Cyprus". (Reference 21). The assembly did not accept resolutions
endorsing either the Greek or British cases but, on 26 February
1957, unanimously adopted a resolution expressing "the earnest
desire that a peaceful, democratic and just solution will be found
in accord with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the
United Nations, and the hope that negotiations will be resumed and
continued to this end". (Reference 22).
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APPENDIX H: UN ACTION ON INDONESIA
The Netherlands East Indies was proclaimed the independent
republic of Indonesia on 17 August 1945 by Dr. Soekarno and Dr.
Hatta, later president and vice president of the independent nation.
More than four years of fighting between the Dutch and the In-
donesians followed.
The issue of the war in Indonesia was brought to the UN Se-
curity Council by Australia and India on 30 July 1947. The council
called for a ceasefire and subsequently set up a good offices com-
mittee (Australia, Belgium and the US) to help settle the dispute.
(Reference 9). On 28 January 1948, the Security Council, repeating its
calls for a ceasefire, recommended the establishment of a federal,
independent and sovereign United States of Indonesia at the earliest
possible date, but not later than 1 July 1950. (Reference 10).
-
The Indonesian war came to an end in late 1949, when a
charter transferring complete sovereignty over the Netherlands
East Indies to the Republic of Indonesia was drawn up -- with the
help of the UN Commission for Indonesia -- at the Hague Round
Table Conference. The transfer of sovereignty was effected on
29 December 1949. Indonesia became a UN member on 28 Septem-
ber 1950.
APPENDIX J: WEST IRIAN (WEST NEW GUINEA)
Indonesia gives the name West Irian to the Western half of
the island of New Guinea, which is held by the Netherlands. (The
eastern section is administered by Australia as a UN trust ter-
ritory.) The disposition of this territory was left unsettled by the
1949 Hague negotiations which culminated in the Dutch grant of
independence to the Republic of Indonesia.
-
The Indonesian view was that all territories which had formed
part of the Netherlands East Indies should be part of Indonesia.
The Netherlands "felt that it would be unjustifiable to hand over
the Netherlands part of the island of New Guinea to the Republic of
the United States of Indonesia, because this island, inhabited by
Papuans, a people entirely different from Indonesians and having
no racial, no cultural, no religious and especially no national af-
finity with them could not by any stretch of the imagination be said
to belong to the Indonesian people.'' (Reference 25).
---
The charter which gave Indonesia independence left West New
Guinea in the hands of the Netherlands, but provided that within a
year the political status of the territory should be negotiated.
These negotiations having ended without agreement, Indonesia
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APPENDIX J, continued
brought the issue to UN in 1954, asking the Ninth General Assem-
bly to call for the resumption of negotiations.
In the UN, Indonesia claims that West Irian "is a problem of
freedom against colonialism", while the Dutch charge that Indo-
nesia is asking UN's help in "promoting the annexation of Nether-
lands New Guinea". (References 26 & 27).
Chief support for the Netherlands comes from Australia,
which states that "New Guinea has been shown to represent the
very key to Australia's defense." (Reference 28). The Soviet and Asia-
Africa blocs vote with Indonesia. The US has abstained from voting
and has not participated in the debate.
The General Assembly has discussed West Irian each year
since 1954 but has not taken the action sought by Indonesia.
APPENDIX K: THE BANDUNG CONFERENCE AND EXCERPT FROM FINAL
COMMUNIQUE
The Bandung Conference formally called the Asian-African
Conference took place at Bandung, Indonesia, from 18-24 April
1955. It was attended by 29 nations, invited by the sponsoring
governments: India, Indonesia, Burma, Pakistan and Ceylon.
final communique issued by the conference included this stand on
The
colonialism:
"The Asian-African Conference discussed the problems
of dependent peoples and colonialism and the evils arising
from subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination
and exploitation. The Conference agreed:
First, in declaring that colonialism in all its manifes-
tations is an evil which should speedily be brought to an end;
Second, in affirming that the subjection of peoples to
alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a
denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the
Charter of the United Nations and is an impediment to the
promotion of world peace and cooperation;
GRO
Third, in declaring its support of the cause of freedom
and independence for all such peoples; and
Fourth, in calling upon the powers concerned to grant
freedom and independence to such peoples." (Reference 29).
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APPENDIX L: UN ACTION ON MOROCCO AND TUNISIA
The North African nationalist movement for independence
from France was brought to UN in behalf of Morocco in 1951 and
Tunisian in 1952. Both cases were based on the same premise:
While the agreements by which Morocco and Tunisia became French
protectorates left the sovereignty of the countries intact and gave
France authority only in limited areas, France had gradually taken
over direct administration. The agreement with Tunisia was the
Treaty of Bardo of 1881, and with Morocco, the Treaty of Fez of
1912.
Morocco
In 1951, armed conflict broke out in Morocco, and Egypt,
Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen asked the Sixth
General Assembly to take up "Violation of the principles of the
Charter and of the Declaration of Human Rights by France in Mo-
rocco". The request was refused, France claiming that UN dis-
cussion would constitute interference in its domestic affairs.
(Reference 30).
Tunisia
Tunisia brought its own case to UN in January 1952. In 1950,
France and Tunisia had begun negotiations for Tunisian internal
autonomy. Tunisia decided that the dispute was impossible to set-
tle by these direct negotiations because of the position taken by
France, which included a demand for the participation of French
residents (colons) in the Tunisian political institutions. (Reference 31).
In the United Nations, Tunisia was backed by Asian and Af-
rican nations, which in April 1952 requested a meeting of the Se-
curity Council, stating that the Tunisian situation had become a
threat to peace.
In the council debate on whether or not to con-
sider the issue, the French representative maintained that the
dispute which had been only a domestic difference between the
French Resident General and several ministers no longer
existed. The Bey of Tunisia had, he said, recently consented to
the new French program of reforms. Pakistan, speaking for
Tunisia, replied, charging that the Bey had consented to the new
reforms only after French troops had surrounded his palace. Since
the time that Tunisia had appealed to the Security Council, he said,
France had arrested hundreds of persons, including the Tunisian
Prime Minister, all nationalist newspapers had been suppressed
and martial law had been applied. (Reference 31).
On 14 April 1952, the Security Council voted against consid-
ering the Tunisian question. Vote: 5 Yes, 2 No (France, UK),
4 Abstain (Greece, Netherlands, Turkey, US). (Reference 31).
Asian and African delegations on 20 June 1952 requested UN
to convene a special session of the General Assembly to consider
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APPENDIX L, continued
the situation in Tunisia on an emergency basis. This proposal
also failed of adoption. (Reference 31).
First UN Action; Seventh General Assembly
The first full discussions in UN on the North African issues
were in the 1952 regular session (Seventh) of the General As-
sembly when Morocco and Tunisia were both placed on the agenda.
France refused to participate in the debate and said it would not
heed any resolution passed. The French refusal to participate
in UN discussion and resistance to negotiations persisted for the
next year and a half.
Before withdrawing from the debate, France reiterated its
position that UN had no jurisdiction. France stated that it was
pushing development of self-government in Tunisia and Morocco
but that "it would be a serious mistake if territories still im-
perfectly developed were set up as independent states before they
were able to meet the heavy responsibilities which that would
imply. Premature independence would imperil the legitimate
interests of France and of others which France had undertaken
to safeguard, as well as the further development of those ter-
ritories." (Reference 31).
After completion of the debate, the General Assembly called
for continuation of negotiations toward self-government for Tunisia
and toward developing the free political institutions of the people of
Morocco. (Tunisian resolutions adopted 17 December 1952.) Bel-
gium, Luxembourg and the Union of South Africa voted against both
resolutions. (Reference 31).
1953-1956
—
The issues of Tunisia and Morocco were brought to the Se-
curity Council on 3 September 1953. Once again the council
failed to vote approval for consideration. Vote: 5 Yes, 5 No
(Colombia, Denmark, France, UK, US), 1 Abstain (China).
(Reference 32).
The Eighth (1953) General Assembly did consider the
Moroccan and Tunisian questions, although not adopting resolutions
which supported self-government for Morocco and independence
for Tunisia. (Reference 32).
In July 1954, the French government led by Premier Pierre
Mendes-France began negotiations with Tunisia. These were con-
tinued under the government of Premier Edgar Faure. On 3 June
1955 the negotiations concluded with a grant of self-government.
Negotiations between Morocco and France began in 1955. Morocco
became independent on 2 March 1956, and Tunisia, on 20 March
S
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APPENDIX L, continued
1956. The two countries
mitted to UN on 12 November 1956.
sponsored by France
APPENDIX M: UN ACTION ON ALGERIA
were ad-
Algeria has been a possession of France for more than 120 years.
Unlike Morocco and Tunisia, it has been governed not as an overseas
territory, but as a group of departments of Metropolitan France. Re-
sistance to French rule had been going on since World War I, breaking
out in full-scale armed rebellion on 1 November 1954.
C
On 5 January 1955, Saudi Arabia brought the "grave situation in
Algeria' to the attention of the Security Council without asking for
action. On 29 July 1955, 14 Asian and African states requested that
the Algerian situation be considered by the 10th (1955) General Assem-
bly. The assembly decided to consider the item, overriding French
objections that Algeria was a domestic situation outside the competence
of the UN. This action led France to withdraw its delegation from the
General Assembly session. Seven weeks later, the assembly voted to
delete the item from its agenda, and no debate took place.
In July 1956, nations of the Asia-Africa group asked for Security
Council consideration, asserting that the Algerian conflict had "as-
sumed the proportions of a full-scale civil war" which threatened in-
ternational peace. This request won the support of only two council
members the Soviet Union and Iran and was not granted. (Reference 34).
French Position
First UN Action - 1956
Full debate on the Algerian rebellion took place at the 11th (1956-7)
General Assembly -- at the request of 15 Asian-African nations. At
this session, France offered no resistance to the idea of UN discussion,
though still asserting that UN had no right to interfere.
-
The case presented in behalf of the Algerian nationalists was
that the Algerian people were being denied "their fundamental liberties,
notably the right to decide their own future", 9 million Algerians
having only the same number of representatives as the 1 million French,
Spanish, Maltese, Jewish and other non-Moslem minorities in Algeria.
(Reference 34). The Asian-African countries asked the General Assembly
to endorse "Algeria's right to be free in or out of direct association
with France." (Reference 35).
France held that the Algerian rebellion was in the main due to the
actions of "terrorist groups which have gradually been organized with
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APPENDIX M, continued
the support and on the instructions of foreign powers." The foreign
powers cited were Egypt and the Soviet Union. (Reference 36). In contrast
to the cases of Morocco and Tunisia, France said, French evacuation
of Algeria would leave the country without a political structure to
govern it and would leave destitute the large European community in
Algeria. French Foreign Minister Christian Pineau, speaking to the
11th General Assembly, said, "If today France were to hand over her
powers to the rebels, they would not only be incapable of governing the
country, but, in the growing anarchy and poverty which would ensue,
they would very soon render life intolerable for the minority of Euro-
pean origin." (Reference 36).
M. Pineau said that the French answer to Algerian demands was
not independence but the granting of more equality of rights, economic
aid and some measure of autonomy. (Reference 36).
The final resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 15 Feb-
ruary 1957 was a compromise designed to win approval from all
countries. The resolution expressed the hope that, in a spirit of coopera-
tion, a peaceful, democratic and just solution will be found, through
appropriate means, in conformity with the principles of the Charter of
the United Nations."(Reference 37). The resolution passed unanimously,
with France not voting.
12th General Assembly
September 1957
On 16 July 1957, 22 Asian-African members asked to have the
Algerian question placed on the agenda of the 12th General Assembly
(opening 17 September 1957), stating, "There has been no indication to
the United Nations from its member states that any progress has been
made towards the achievement of the purposes of the resolution (passed
by the 11th General Assembly). On the contrary, the suffering and loss
of human life in Algeria continue and increase; and the course of events
in Algeria has not moved toward a peaceful, democratic and just solu-
tion in conformity with the principles of the Charter. Should the present
trend continue with its accompaniment of violence and animosity, it is
bound to make such a solution more remote than before." (Reference 38).
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APPENDIX N: PART IV OF THE TREATY FOR THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC
COMMUNITY: OVERSEAS TERRITORIES
-
The overseas territories of the member states are to be associ-
ated with the common market. They are defined as French West Africa
including Senegal, the Sudan, Guinea, the Ivory Coast, Dahomey, Maure-
tania, the Niger and the Upper Volta; French Equatorial Africa includ-
ing the Middle Congo, Oubangui Chari, Tchad and Gabon; the French
territories of St. Pierre and Miquelon, the archipelago of the Comores,
Madagascar, the French coast of Somaliland, New Caledonia, the French
Islands in Oceania, the Republic of Togoland, the trustee area of the
CA
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APPENDIX N, continued
··
Cameroons; the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi; the Italian
trustee territory in Somaliland and Dutch New Guinea.
The association of these areas with the European common mar-
ket is to take place through reduction of tariffs in the European market
and in the overseas territories, except for tariffs needed to protect
local overseas industries, and by gradual increase of import quotas;
and through participation by the European states in investments for
public works in the territories.
A special protocol covering the first five years of the treaty pro-
vides for a common investment fund for overseas territories amounting
to $581,250,000 to which France and West Germany would contribute
$200,000,000 each, Belgium and the Netherlands $70,000,000 each,
Italy $40,000,000 and Luxembourg $1,250,000. Within the five years
the French overseas territories would receive from the fund
$511,250,000, the Belgian territories $30,000,000, the Dutch territories
$35,000,000, the Italian $5,000,000.
The reduction of tariffs in overseas territories for the benefit of
the six European states will apply to the difference between duties levied
on goods from the ruling European country and those levied on goods
from other states.
At the end of the five-year period the Council of Ministers will
decide regarding renewal of this agreement for the overseas terri-
tories. (Reference 23).
S
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APPENDIX 0: COUNTRIES W.CH HAVE ACHIEVED INDEPENDENCE SINCE
WORLD WAR II
1. Members of UN
2.
Present Country
Burma
Cambodia
Ceylon
Ghana
India
Indonesia
Israel
Jordan
Laos
Lebanon
Libya
Morocco
Pakistan
Phillippines
Sudan
Syria
Tunisia
Former Authority
North Vietnam
South Vietnam
North Korea
South Korea
United Kingdom
France
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Netherlands
United Kingdom
(as part of
Palestine)
United Kingdom
France
France
Italy
France
United Kingdom
United States
United Kingdom-
Egypt
France
France
Non-Members of UN
France
France
Japan
Japan
Present form
of Government
Republic
Kingdom
Republic
Republic
Republic
Republic
Republic
Kingdom
Kingdom
Republic
Kingdom
Kingdom
Republic
Republic
Republic
Republic
Kingdom
Republic
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Republic
Republic
Republic
Republic
Date
Entered UN
19 April 1948
14 Dec. 1955
14 Dec. 1955
8 March 1957
original member
28 Sept. 1950
11 May 1949
14 Dec. 1955
14 Dec. 1955
original member
14 Dec. 1955
12 Nov. 1956
30 Sept. 1947
original member
12 Nov. 1956
original member
12 Nov. 1956
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