United Nations FOURTH COMMITTEE 727th GENERAL MEETING Tuesday, 3 December 1957, ASSEMBLY at 10. 45 a. m. TWELFTH SESSION Official Records ''NEW YORK

CONTENTS Trusteeship Agreement should be terminated. In one or two such cases, the political aspects of the problem had been the sole basis of dec:ifion, while the moral Agenda item 13: and legal aspects which were in his view just as Report of the Trusteeship Council (continued) important, had been almost completely ignored. To General debate (continued). • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • 415 prevent being caught unawares and in order that Supplementary statements of the petitioners • • • • 417 judicious decisions might be based on all the relevant political, moral and legal aspects of each particular case, it would seem desirable to have some kind of Chairman: Mr. Thanat KHOMAN (Thailand). an advisory committee on trusteeship questions, com­ posed of some twelve or fifteen members, to deal with such important issues as the Assembly might be AGENDA ITEM 13 called upon to decide. The setting up of such a com­ mittee would be in full conformity with the provisions Report of the Trusteeship Councii(A/3595 and Corr. 1, of Article 7, paragraph 2, and Article 22 of the A/3718 and Corr.1, A/C.4/372 and Add.1, A/C.4/ Charter. Indeed, committees of a similar kind had L.512 andCorr.1 and 2, A/C.4/L.513, A/C.4/L.514, already been created to help consider various aspects A/C.4/L.515) (continued) of United Nations work. The Military Staff Committee GENERAL DEBATE (concluded) advised and assisted the Security Council on that Council's military requirements for the maintenance of At the invitation of the Chairman, Mr. Charles international peace and security; the Advisory Com­ Assai~. Mr. Paul Soppo Priso and Mr. Jean Ekwabi, mittee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions representatives of the Groupe d'action nationale du dealt with administrative and budgetary questions; the Cameroun, Mr. Ndeh Ntumazah, representative of One Economic and Social Council had several functional Kamerun, Mr. Felix Roland Moumi~, representative commissions and sub-commissions to help assist it in of the Union des populations du Cameroun, Mr. Dika the performance of its functions, etc. Surely, a com­ Akwa, representative of the Confed~ration des syndi­ mittee such as was here envisaged should be a boon cats ind~pendants du Cameroun, and Mr. Jacques to the General Assembly in the better performance Ngom, representative of the Confederation g~nerale of its functions on trusteeship questions. kamerunaise du. travail, took places at the Committee table. 3. For example, now that obviously some Trust 1. Mr. CARPIO (Philippines) said that one cardinal Territories would soon be able to attain the final point of Philippine foreign policy was its implacable objective of self-government or independence, the stand against colonialism, old or new. His delegation committee might well be asked to study all the prac­ had thus followed closely the annual discussions on tical, political, moral or legal aspects of such the reports of the Trusteeship Council. All too often, Territories attaining merely self-government or in­ such discussions took a stereotyped form of bitter dependence; whether they should be integrated or criticisms against details of policy or its implemen­ annexed as parts of neighbouring colonies or of the tation by certain Administering Authorities, as though metropolitan countries administering them, or whether those Authorities did no good at all in their adminis­ neighbouring Trust Territories should be joined to tration of their Territories. His delegation was make single units for self-government or indepen­ satisfied that while the administration of the Terri­ dence. Obviously, decisions on those and other similar tories gave much room for improvement, the tempo questions must depend on the particular circumstances of their development towards the objectives of trustee­ of each Territory, which it should be the work of the ship had nevertheless now become much more ac­ committee to consider thoroughly, so that future celerated than ever before. For that reason, he did decisions of the General Assembly, taken on the basis not propose to indulge in the routine type of critical of the committee's work, would be in full consonance debate, but rather, to survey the situation in the light with the principles and objectives of the doctrine of of recent trends, in the hope that the General As­ the sacred trust. sembly might wish to take such steps or make such 4. Such a committee might well be entrusted, too, studies as would facilitate arriving at just decisions with the study of certain other important problems in full conformity with the letter and spirit of the in order to facilitate fuller implementation of the Charter. Assembly's functions with respect to special missions 2. During the past three years, the Assembly had set up to study on the spot, especially, such questions been suddenly faced with the problem of determining as those raised by the Cameroonian petitioners. Such the future of some Territories which had allegedly missions set up by the Assembly would have the reached the final objective of trusteeship and for advantage of greater flexibility in their composition which it was consequently requested that the relevant and, hence, greater freedom of decision thana visiting 415 A/C.4/SR.727 416 General Assembly - Twelfth Session - Fourth Committee mission set up by the Trusteeship Council, which mount issue was, for the present, the question of must be constituted of an equal number of Adminis­ integration or unification. tering Authorities and non-administering Powers. 8. Mr. GEBRE-EGZY (Ethiopia) said that his delega­ 5. Perhaps, too, such a committee might study such tion was particularly interested in the Trusteeship questions as the representation of indigenous inha­ Council's report, since it related to millions of Afri­ bitants during the consideration of conditions in their cans some of whom were its close neighbours. It respective countries, so that the United Nations would considered that the Administering Authorities were to have a more balanced source of information with be congratulated on the progress they had achieved regard to actual conditions and not have to rely in the African Trust Territories in political, social solely on whatever information might be given by one and economic development. side only, namely, the representatives or special 9. In the opinion of the Ethiopian delegation, the representatives of Administering Authorities. The protection provided for in Chapter XTI of the Charter problems of administrative unions, land tenure and related solely and exclusively to the indigenous land alienation, etc.-none of which had yet been populations of the Territories. Measures should completely and thoroughly studied by standing com­ therefore be taken to promote the political and social mittees of the Trusteeship Council despite the lapse development and the economic well-being of the in­ of years-might also be studied by such a committee. digenous inhabitants, and the Ethiopian delegation 6. A committee such as he proposed might well be hoped that the trend ·of giving preferential treatment of tremendous help not only to the Assembly but also to minorities would cease, since they needed no special to the Trusteeship Council in the solution of basic protection. The multiracial policy was praiseworthy questions concerned with the operation of the Inter­ inasmuch as it was aimed at enabling the inhabitants national Trusteeship System. Members of the com­ of a Territory to live harmoniously together; but mittee might be recruited from among the many it should not supersede the interests of the indigenous qualified representatives of the eighty-two Members of peoples or retard their steady development towards the United Nations, and not merely of the fourteen self-government. members of the Trusteeship Council. Nor could the 10. Ethiopia, with ahistorydatingbackthreethousand setting up of such committee by the General Assembly years, had developed the habit of moderation, but it be legally objected to by the Trusteeship Council as could not be indifferent to the desire of millions of an infringement of the Council's powers, for in ac­ Africans to enjoy what it enjoyed. It appealed to all cordance with Articles 16, 85 and 87 of the Charter, the States concerned to save Africa from political the Trusteeship Council operated only under the disorder. The policy pursued would determine the authority of the General Assembly, to assist the latter future role of Africa, which was awakening to a new in the performance of its functions. Hence, what the life. Trusteeship Council, as an agent, could do, surely the 11. With regard to the Cameroons under 0rilish General Assembly, as the principal could also do. administration, the Council's report seemed to show 7. Commenting briefly on the Trusteeship Council's that the Territory was moving towards the objectives report (A/3595 and Corr .1), he pointed out that of the Trusteeship System as steadily as possible, Somaliland under Italian administration, which was due for which the Government of the United Kingdom was for independence shortly, had two important unsolved to be commended. Some of the petitioners had stated problems: the question of ensuring a viable economy that the Administering Authorities were following a after 1960 and that of the frontier with Ethiopia. In narrow colonial policy to the detriment of the interests Tanganyika, the basic question was whether or not of the indigenous peo.)les. He felt that some clarifica­ the Territory should be developed as an African State tion on the subject ":tS needed. The assurances that or as a multiracial State. In Ruanda-Urundi, the had been given regarding the future of the Cameroons problem was whether political development should under British administration seemed to provide a con­ go side by side with economic, social and educational crete guarantee, since they indicated that the people advancement as parts of an interrelated problem, or would be able to determine what status they wished whether, as seemed to be the policy of the Adminis­ their Territory to have. The Ethiopian delegation tering Authority, political advancement should come hoped that the people would make their wishes known only as the last stage after economic, social and by means of a plebiscite, and it could not see why the educational advancement had benn attained. In Nauru, petitioners were dissatisfied with the promises that the problem would seem to be to ensure that the had been made. Nauruans received a reasonable amount of royalty from 12. With regard to the Cameroons under French the exploitation of the phosphates, which were the sole administration, the Council had concluded that pro­ resource of the Territory, so that they could re­ gress had been made there also in the political, settle somewhere else when the entire phosphate social and economic fields. That progress had seem­ resources of the Territory had been exhausted in about ingly not been continuous, but had been achieved fifty years. In New Guinea, without minimizing the spasmodically. He deplored the political disturbances good work of the Administering Authority, he thought that had taken place in the Territory over the past the Administration could make greater efforts to two years and wondered whether they had been caused accelerate the tempo of development and to complete by a few individuals whose aim was to disrupt the the penetration of the Territory within a reasonably development of the country or whether they were the short period. He paid a tribute to the United States manifestation of some deep social unrest. The new and New Zealand for the excellent work they were Statute gave the Cameroons under French adminis­ doing in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and tration a measure of self-government, and it was to be in Western Samoa, respectively. In conclusion he said hoped that it was an indication of more liberal that in the West African Trust Territories, the para- measures to come. In that connexion, he asked the 727th meeting - 3 December 1957 417 French representative what was the meaning of the primary education was more satisfactory, the Ad­ term "Trust State" and whether the term was com­ ministering Authority failed to adopt the measures patible with the status of the Territory under the essential to the promotion of higher education and did Charter. Moreover, according to the Trusteeship not avail itself of the fellowships offered for studies Council's report, the inhabitants of the Cameroons abroad. Yet educational advancement was after all an under French administration exercised the rights of essential prerequisite to the attainment of self­ French citizens, while remaining Cameroonians. In government or independence. that connexion, he wished to know whether there was 17. With respect to elections, any transfer of author­ any possibility of conflict between French law and ity over domestic affairs to the indigenous inhabitants that of the Territory and, in case of conflict, which obviously depended upon their political and cultural law would prevail. The petitioners seemed to think advancement. In that connexion, the petitioners had that the new Statute was prejudicial to the future disclosed many facts which indicated the continued status or the Territory; he asked for some clarifica­ existence of major obstacles preventing the inhabitants tions on that point. He hoped that the people of the in both parts of the Cameroons from engaging in any Cameroons under French administration would have independent political activity. The right to vote was an opportunity to determine the future of the country an essential element of democracy, and the Council by appropriate democratic means, preferably by a had very properly stated in its report that women plebiscite, and that the new Statute was a further should be granted the right to vote, that universal step towards the objectives set forth in Chapter Xll suffrage should be introduced and that racial dis­ of the Charter. crimination should be abolished. 13. Mr. SARK.NY (Hungary) considered that the rate and trend of the progress achieved in the Trust 18. A study of the trend of development in the Trust Territories were the two problems on which attention Territories indicated that economic development was should be focused in analysing the information con­ one of its characteristic features. The Territories tained in the Trusteeship Council's report. had formerly been colonies, their purpose being to provide the metropolitan country with agricultural 14. While a varying measure of progress in the products and industrial raw materials. Their economic political, economic, social and cultural conditions in structure had remained unchanged under the Trustee­ the Trust Territories had in fact bee·n achieved, only ship System, although that hardly seemed compatible a relative idea of its extent could be obtained from with the idea of self-government. The Trust Terri­ the Council's report. Although the achievement of tories had no real industries as yet and apparently progress from one year to the next was important, no effort had been made to develop the branches of it could be considered satisr'l.ctory only in so far as industry most suitable to their natural resources. it brought the Territories closer to self-governm~nt They were lands with a rural economy, and according or independence. The Trusteeship Council's observa­ to the report, obsolete methods were employed, tions, the views expressed by some members of the progress in mechanization of agriculture had been Council, and the information furnished by the peti­ negligible, and the indigenous inhabitants took hardly tioners, contributed to an understanding of the Coun­ any part in production management. As a result, the cil's recommendations to the Administering Autho­ rate of economic advancement was not as rapid as rities, which, if carried out, wmtld promote the future that of political advancement, a fact which was largely progress of the Trust Territories. responsible for the inhabitants of the Territories being unable to lead an independent national life. 15. Among the favourable developments that had occurred in recent years was the establishment of 19. While there was no means of predicting what national and local administrative organs, which marked effect the association of the Trust Territories with an important step towards self-government or in­ the European Common Market would have on their dependence provided that those organs performed economic advancement, their economy might con­ their functions in complete freedom and did not lose ceivably be directed towards a less and less diversi­ sight of the interests of the local inhabitants. In that fied production, any giyen branch of the economy being connexion, the Council's report warranted the con­ either expanded or restricted according to the require­ clusion that the rate of development was not suf­ ments of the Common Market and the interests of the ficiently rapid. Most of the key posts were held by countries which had established the system. The civil servants appointed by the Administering Autho­ indigenous inhabitants had so far not been able to rities, but the officials concerned were primarily influence the economic development of their country representatives of those Authorities, and not of the in any way and it seemed likely that they would be local inhabitants. The Administering Authorities should even less able to do so infuture. The Common Market see to it that administrative posts were filled by in­ meant a new form of dependence for the Trust digenous inhabitants in order to give them the ex­ Territories and might prevent them from shedding perience they would later need to govern their their colonial traits and developing their local in­ country. dustries. 16. That raised the question whether there were 20. The report of the Trusteeship Council systema­ enough indigenous inhabitants qualified to hold na­ tically raised the question how long it was going to tional and local administrative posts. The available take for the Trust Territories to attain s~lf-govern­ data indicated that the situation in that respect was ment or independence. The Administering Authorities unsatisfactory. In the Cameroons under French ad­ had not replied to that vital question and the Council mini"ltration, for instance, only half the children of complained that the Administering Authorities had not school-age attended school and most of the children given effect to General Assembly resolution1064 (XI). enrolled in schools did not complete their education. Had they implemented that resolution, the Adminis­ In Territories where the situation with respect to tering Authorities would have expressed an opinion as 418 General Assembly - Twelfth Session - Fourth Committee to the level of political, economic, cultural and social would be primarily for the decision of the inhabitants development achieved by the Territories placed under themselves. The unity of the whole island was there­ their trusteeship by the United Nations and would fore only one of many possibilities which would be have set a date by which the Territories could be open to them. As the declaration indicated, the ob­ expected to attain independence. Such a statement jective of the current policy of Australia and the would constitute a commitment and would prompt the Netherlands was to avoid creating artificial and un­ Administering Authorities to hasten the establishment necessary barriers in New Guinea. The declaration of conditions in which the Trust Territories could did not envisage anything in the nature of an adminis­ attain self-government or independence. trative union or the amalgamation of administrative services. It implied co-operation in promoting the 21. In view of the foregoing comments, the Hungarian advancement of the peoples of the Territories. The delegation believed that the progress of the Trust declaration had no military implications, and there Territories towards independence would be promoted were no secret clauses. In so far as any measures to a considerable extent if the Administering Author­ taken by Australia in respect of the Trust Territory ities gave effect to the Trusteeship Council's recom­ of New Guinea in implementation of the joint declara­ mendations and acted on the views expressed by tion called for mention in Australia's reports to the members of the Council. Trusteeship Council, Member States would have an 22. Mr. KELLY (Australia) said that as the delega­ opportunity of discussing them. tion of Australia had played an active part in the work 24. The CHAIRMAN declared the general debate of the Trusteeship Council, it was not necessary for closed. him to participate at length in the general debate on the report of the Trusteeship Council. However, he SUPPLEMENTARY STATEMENTS OF THE PETITIONERS would like to reply to the request for clarification made by the representatives of India and Burma concerning 25. The CHAIRMAN announced that a number of the parallel statements issued on 6 November 1957 petitioners had expressed the wish to make brief by the Governments of Australia and the Netherlands additional statements; he asked whether the Com­ with reference tb the advancement of the peoples of mittee was willing to hear them. New Guinea, the text of which was as follows: 26. Mr. SMOLDEREN (Belgium) recalling the dis­ "1. The Netherlands and Australian Governments cussion at the Committee's 720th meeting, pointed base their policies with regard to the Territories out that the Chairman had said that the hearing of the of New Guinea, for which they are responsible, on petitioners was concluded. By asking to be heard the interests and inalienable rights of their in­ again, the petitioners were trying to take part in the habitants, in conformity with the provisions and Committee's debates and to use a right ofreply which the spirit of the United Nations Charter. had never been accorded to them. If such a practice "2. The Territories of Netherlands New Guinea, were to be allowed, the Fourth Committee would soon the Australian Trust Territory of New Guinea, and be overwhelmed with petitioners from all the political Papua are geographically and ethnologically re­ parties in the Territory who, in the interests of fair­ lated, and the future development of their respective ness, would expect to be allowed to take part in the populations must benefit from co-operationinpolicy debates. When that happened, the principle of oral and administration. hearings would be called in question, just as the right of petition had recently been jeopardized as a result "3. The Australian and Netherlands Governments of flagrant abuses on the part of one of the Came­ are therefore pursuing, and will continue to pursue, roonian political groups, which had not hesitated to policies directed towards the political, economic, turn the right of petition into a political demonstra­ social and educational advancement of the peoples tion by sending to the United Nations thousands of in their Territories in a manner which recognizes petitions, the signatures of which could not be verified. this ethnological and geographical affinity. The abuse had attained such proportions that the "4. At the same time, the two Governments will Trusteeship Council had been obliged to take steps continue, and strengthen, the co-operationatpresent to safeguard the rights of bona fide petitioners who existing between their respective administrations would otherwise have had no chance of being heard. He in the Territories. would like the Committee to take a vote on the prin­ ciple of the petitioner's request. "5. In so doing, the two Governments are de­ terminined to promote an uninterrupted development 27. Mr. KELLY (Australia) recalled that the Com­ of this process until such time as the inhabitants mittee had decided at its 720th meeting that the peti­ of the Territories concerned will be in a position to tioners should not intervene in the general debate. determine their own future." 28. The CHAIRMAN confirmed that decision. 23. The joint declaration applied to the Trust Terri­ tory of New Guinea, to Papua, and to Netherlands New 29. Mr. JAIPAL (India) noted that the General Guinea, and nothing in it was in any way inconsistent Assembly was perfectly well able to ensure that the with, or qualified, Australia's obligations under the exercise of the right of petition was respected. The Trusteeship Agreement. The parallel statement placed petitioners would not be taking part in the general emphasis on the achievement of the objectives of the debate because that had just been closed. He recalled Charter regarding non-self-governing peoples. While that, at the 720th meeting, no member of the Com­ clearly recognizing the ethnological and other af­ mittee had objected when he had proposed that the finities of the peoples of New Guinea, the declaration petitioners should be given the right to make further did not constitute a decision that New Guinea would statements. He would therefore vote in favour oftheir become a political unit. The future of the Territories request. 727th meeting- 3 December 1957 419 30. Mr. KOSCZIUSKO-MORIZET (France) reserved to integrate the eastern region in the French Union, the right to speak again if the petitioner's statements while the United Kingdom proposed to attach the in fact amounted to a reopening of the debate. western part to Nigeria. It had been said repeatedly that the Cameroons was not economically viable, but 31. Mr. SMOLDEREN (Belgium) said that the question no convincing argument had been advanced in support to be decided was whether the Committee was pre­ of that statement. All free Governments were chosen pared to give the petitioners a further hearing. by public opinion, but public opinion could not be 32. Mr. VIXSEBOXSE (Netherlands) asked whether freely expressed in the Cameroons today. That was that was the question which the Chairman was going why the Cameroonian people hoped that the United to put to the vote. Nations would help them at the present crucial stage 33. The CHAIRMAN made it clear first that all of their existence. representatives would be able to use their right of 40. Mr. NGOM (ConfM~ration g~n~rale kamerunaise reply. He then asked the Committee to decide whether du travail) pointed out first of all that the organiza­ it wished to grant the petitioners the right to make tion he represented was affiliated to the World Federa­ further statements, it being understood that they would tion of Trade Unions, which had category A consultative not be allowed to refer to the statements made by the status with the Economic and Social Council. As members of the Committee during the general debate. anyone who held public office often needed to go The Committee decided, by 36 votes to 6, with 19 abroad, he did not see on what democratic principle abstentions, to grant the petitioners' request that they a trade-union leader could be criticized for responding be allowed to make supplementary statements. to invitations from Soviet or Polish trade unions as readily as to an invitation from United States trade 34. Mr. NOGUEIRA (Portugal) said he had voted unions. against the proposal, not because he was opposed to the right of petition as such, but because the peti­ 41. The ConfM~ration generale had always supported tioners' request was tantamount to a reopening of the the Cameroonian people's claims for independence and general debate. unification; its appeals had now become more urgent only because the colonial yoke had become heavier. 35. Mr. KELLY (Australia) said he would have been Since May 1955, there had been bloodshed in Sanaga­ willing to grant certain petitioners a further hearing, Maritime and in the Bamil~ke region, the most but he had been obliged to vote against the proposal densely populated part of the Territory; there had because the question put to the Committee was not also been disturbances in the Mungo region, as was clear. proved by the incident reported in La Presse du 36. Mr. NTUMAZAH (One Kamerun) recalled that he Cameroun of 22 September 1957. A general and com­ had described at the 715th meeting the system of plete amnesty was now, more than ever, the only oppression of which the Cameroons was the victim. It solution. It should also be emphasized that the French was in order to dispel any doubt which might subsist settlers in the Cameroons were not systematically in that respect that he had asked that a United Na­ opposed to the Territory's achieving its independence; tions commission should be sent to the Cameroons. He he quoted an article by Mr. Sayer de Bosmelet, pub­ had been accused in certain quarters of representing lished in August 1956 in the newspaper Express­ only a fraction of the population, but it would be dif­ Wondja, urging the two sides to negotiate before it ficult to determine who was really entitled to speak was too late, lest right and liberty should come to the for the people of the Cameroons, since those who Cameroons in the wake of revolution rather than under criticized the Government were deported or assas­ the rule of law. In his speech on 9 November 1957, sinated. He believed that such policies served only to Mr. Mbida, the present Prime Minister of the Came­ strengthen the people's convictions. In the past, the roons under French administration, had also supported world had madeslavesoftheAfricans,andthe Western independence. Thus, the unanimous will of the Came­ Powers had then divided the continent among them. He roonian people was blocked by the stubborn resistance regretted that the lives of peoples were still a com­ of the Administering Authority, which refused to face modity to be bartered. The situation in the eastern reality, although the Cameroonian people sincerely part of the Cameroons was getting worse and worse, wished to live on terms of friendship with the people as was shown by two telegrams he had just received. of France. The United Nations must shoulder its Upon his return to the Cameroons, he would have responsibilities in the face of such a tragic situation, to pay the price which all those who opposed the before the question of unification led to further tragedy. Administration had to pay, and undergo deportation or He was confident that, through its resolutions, it would imprisonment, or possibly be killed. The United be able to find a just solution in harmony with Kingdom delegation itself had admitted that that was Cameroonian national aspirations. the situation. 42. Mr. MOUMIE (Union des populations du Came­ 37. Sir Andrew COHEN (United Kingdom) recalled that roun) confirmed the statement he had made at the it had been understood that the petitioners would not Committee's 715th meeting, and said he would like refer to the statements made to the Committee by to add some further points. It was true that the Council representatives. Furthermore, the statement was of the Republic had very recentlyapprovedanamnesty incorrect. law for the Cameroons, but according to the 30 No­ vember 1957 issue of Le Monde, it was a limited kind 38. The CHAIRMAN called upon the petitioner to of amnesty, applying only to certain offences; those limit himself to a statement of his own views. who wished to take advantage of it would have to make 39. Mr. NTUMAZAH (One Kamerun) said that far individual applications involving political under­ from fixing a target date for the attainment of in­ takings; while the ban on the dissolved parties or their dependence by the Cameroons, France was planning leaders would not be lifted unless they agreed to listen 420 General Assembly - Twelfth Session - Fourth Committee to the "wise counsels" of Mr. Mbida's Government. of stressed any action by the Cameroonian Govern­ His own fears were thus confirmed and he wondered ment which impeded the exercise of democratic li­ how, in the circumstances, a United Nations visiting berties. He added that to attempt a furi:her restriction mission could carry out its task, since it would be of petitioners' prerogatives would be to attack the forced either to bow to the will of the Administering whole system of the right of petition. In his view, Authority, as in 1955, or be deprived of the Adminis­ there was nothing to be added to or subtracted from tering Authority's protection or any help whatever. the very clear claims of the Cameroonian people, When considering the draft resolution before them namely independence, an amnesty and unification. (A/C.4/L.512 and Corr.1 and 2), the members of the Committee should not lose sight of that important 48. In view of the Cameroonians' unanimous choice aspect of the problem. of independence and of the statements by the Minister of Overseas France and the French representative to 43. Mr. THORP (New Zealand) did not think the the United Nations, both of whom had told the Com­ Committee could authorize the petitioner to give his mittee that France did not intend to oppose the views on the draft resolution. Cameroonians' legitimate right to opt in favour of 44. The CHAIRMAN requested the petitioner not to independence, the United Nations, by officially an­ digress. nouncing that option, would only be confirming an agreement already reached by the interested parties. 45. Mr. MOUMIE (Union des populations du Came­ United Nations recognition of that official option would roun) said that the Administering Authorities had not dissipate anxiety and restore the confidence which given the Cameroonians sufficient assurance that their was so necessary to the development of the Territory. country would not be integrated into neighbouring As the Cameroons wished its national sovereignty to colonial empires. As the Trusteeship Council at its be recognized as soon as possible, the Groupe d' action nineteenth session had recognized the choice made nationale had pressed for a special commission of the by the Cameroonians in favour of independence, it General Assembly to be sent to the Cameroons to was now for the General Assembly to give it sanction work out the transitional measures that would be by a solemn resolution, which the Administering required. The achievement of sovereignty would enable Authorities would surely not oppose. The United the Cameroons freely to choose its own future and to Nations, which had on many occasions found ways of function internationally as an independent political preventing bloodshed, should be able to decide in entity. favour of sending an international police force to the spot to protect the lives of the Cameroonians. With 49. The Groupe d'action nationale wished to reiterate regard to Cameroonian unity, the wishes of the indi­ that, following a general amnesty, all shades of opinion genous inhabitants should be borne in mind andforced would be able to play their part in social and political integration should be avoided; only the Cameroonian activity. It considered that sovereignty for both parts people were competent to decide what was in their of the Cameroons would enable the Cameroonians to own interest. If those preliminary conditions were achieve in freedom their desire for unification. He not fulfilled, the Union des populations du Cameroun hoped that the Committee would be able to give a washed its hands of any conclusions formulated by any positive meaning to its final decision and that the visiting mission going to the Cameroons in a troubled Administering Authority would transform its state­ atmosphere. ments into activn. 46. In conclusion, he reaffirmed that his party would 50. Mr. ASSALE (Groupe d'action nationale du be ready to co-operate with the Administering Autho­ Cameroun) made a last appeal to the members of the rities if they took into account the wishes of the Committee to the Cameroonians from their anxiety. Cameroonians and the fact that their interests were He had refrained from the slightest expression of paramount; his party had proved its good faith by violence or hate; he had merely described the factual submitting only moderate proposals which showed who situation, since he felt that it was essential to seek the were the ones who were sincerely peace-loving. He underlying cause of the disturbances. He was ana­ expressed his deep gratitude to all those countries tionalist who loved his country, just as the represen­ which had aided the Cameroons in its struggle for tatives on the Committee loved theirs. He hoped that all its rights and liberties. would be ready to fightfor a just cause and to consider 47. Mr. EKWABI (Groupe d'action nationale du every problem in a disinterested spirit so that an era Cameroun) said that the Groupe d'action nationale of peace and brotherhood would eventually dawn. had presented his country's problems dispassionately and hence he had never mentioned internal dissension The meeting rose at 1 p.m.

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