United Nations FOURTH COMMITTEE, 1665th GENERAL MEETING ASSEMBLY Saturday. 10 December 1966, at 10.50 a.m. TWENTY-FIRST SESSION Official Records • NEW YORK CONTENTS 3. On 7 June 1966, the Special Committee had adopted Page a consensus on the question of Ifni and Spanish Sahara Agenda item 23: (ibid., chap. X, para. 116). Subsequently, on 16 Implementation of the Declaration on the November 1966, it had adopted a resoution concerning Granting of Independence to Colonial Coun­ the question of Ifni and Spanish Sahara (ibid., para. 243). tries and Peoples: report of the Special 4. With regard to the Territory of Equatorial Guinea, Committee on the Situation with regard to the Special Committee, availing itself of the invitation the Implementation of the Declaration on extended to it by the administering Power to visit the Granting of Independence to Colonial Equatorial Guinea, had decided, in its resolution Countries and Peoples: Ifni, Spanish Sahara adopted on 21 June 1966 (ibid., chap. IX, p&ra. 79), to and Equatorial Guinea (continued) send a Sub-Committee on Equatorial Guinea to the General debate. • . . • • . • • • • . • • • . • • . . 475 Territory to ascertain the conditions there with a Hearing of petitioners (continued) ••••• 475 view to speeding the implementation of General General debate (continued) • • . • . . • . . • • • 479 Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) and 2067 (XX). The Organization of work .••.••.•••.• 483 Sub-Committee had accordingly visited Madrid and Equatorial Guinea from 17 to 24 August 1966 and had then submitted a report to the Special Committee. Chairman: Mr. FAKHREDDINE Mohamed That report was annexed to chapter IX of the report (Sudan). being considered by the Fourth Committee. The Special Committee had adopted the Sub-Committee's report and had endorsed the conclusions and recom­ mendations contained in it. AGENDA ITEM 23 HEARING OF PETITIONERS (continued) (A/C.4/675) Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples: 5. The CHAIRMAN noted that the Fourth Committee, report of the Special Committee on the Situation at its 1635th meeting, had granted the request for a with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration hearing submitted by the Partido Politico Idea Popular on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries de la Guinea Ecuatorial (IPGE) (A/C.4/675) in relation and Peoples: Ifni, Spanish Sahara and Equatorial to the question under consideration. Various delega­ Guinea (continued)* (A/6300/Rev.l, chaps. IX and X; tions had expressed a desire that the petitioner should A/C.4/6l5 and Add.l, A/C .4/679) be heard without delay. GENERAL DEBATE At the invitation of the Chairman. Mr. Eduardo Ond6, representative of the Partido Polftico Idea Popular de 1. Mr. ALJUBOURI (Iraq), Rapporteur of the Special la Guinea Ecuatorial (IPGE). took a place at the Committee on the Situation with regard to the Imple­ Committee table. mentation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, 6. Mr. ONDO (Idea Popular de la Guinea Ecuatorial) introduced chapters IX and X of that Committee's said that his party, of which he was Assistant report covering its work during 1966 (A/6300/Rev.1), Secretary-General, represented the sentiment of a those chapters relating, respectively, to Equatorial large mass of public opinion, was one of the principal Guinea (Fernando P6o and Rro Muni) and to Ifni and political vehicles in Equatorial Guinea and was con­ Spanish Sahara. The report was submitted in pursuance templating a merger with the Movimiento de Uni6n of General Assembly resolutions 2067 (XX) and Nacional de la Guinea Ecuatorial (MUNG E), of which 2072 (XX). the President and four members of the Governing Council of the Territory were members. 2, In its examination of the situation in those Terri­ 7. The President and Secretary-General of IPGE had tories, the Special Committee had been guided by the had to remain in the Territory on account of the various resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, increasingly complicated political situation there, and and in particular by resolution 2105 (XX) of 20 he therefore wished to report on the difficulties of the December 1965, which, in paragraph 6, requested the natio~alists who were seeking justice, freedom and Special Committee to continue "to seek the best means well-being. for the immediate and full application of resolution 1514 (XV) to all Territories which have not yet attained 8. All men were entitled to security, freedom and independence". well-being as basic requirements which could be translated into terms of peace, free determination *Resumed from the I66Ist meeting. and development. Peace and economic development

475 A/C.4/SR.1665 476 General Assembly - Twenty-first Session - Fourth Committee

were possible only if there was freedom, that was to 13. The idea current in Spain was that Equatorial say, only in conjunction with the independence of the Guinea was incapable of being independent. That was people. The Spanish Government had thus far rec­ the same idea that was brought forth whenever a ognized in theory the right of the people of E quato rial people attempted to become independent, and it Guinea to free determination, but it had not imple­ indicated a failure to realize that any people, at some mented that right. particular time in its history, was capable of managing its own affairs, especially in the absence of foreign 9. A brief historical review of Equatorial Guinea was intervention. At its present stage of economic and in order. In 1779, by virtue of the Treaty of El Pardo, technical development, there could be no justification Spain had ceded certain possessions in Brazil to for foreign domination against the will of the people Portugal in exchange for the island of Fernando Po6 of Equatorial Guinea, a conviction which that people (originally called Formosa), the two Elobeyes, Annob6n shared with the United Nations. Freedom in poverty and continental territories comprising 300,000 square was preferable to other benefits accompanied by kilometres. Those territories had been annexed to subjection and domination. Although the people of the Spain in 1885 as a result of the Conference of Berlin, Territory might be deficient in some respects, they and in 1900, under the Treaty of Paris, the area of had chosen independence, and they were not alone in the continental territories had been reduced to the their awareness of their self-sufficiency. present 26,000 square kilometres represented by Rfo Muni, Spain also retaining the 2,000 square kilometres 14. Independence was not synonymous with a break represented by Fernando P6o and the other islands. with Spain; it would merely bring about a change in The present population of Equatorial Guinea as a whole the nature of the present relationship with that country was estimated at 280,000. in which a feeling of equality and co-operation between sovereign States would be the dominant theme. Although 10. When the stage of exploration had been completed, the people of Equatorial Guinea recognized the considerable Spanish capital had been invested in farms political, economic, social and cultural achievements and forests and in various other kinds of economic of Spain in the Territory, they believed that the time and financial enterprises. The manner in which those had come for the administering Power to accede to resources had been exploited was known to the United their request for independence. Nations through the reports by the administering 15. In the debate at the General Assembly's twentieth Power concerning the development of those territories. session, Spain had shown willingness to do so at a 11. Spain had allowed the indigenous inhabitants to suitable date, and accordingly IPGE and MUNGE had participate in the government administration. In 1959 jointly proposed the date of 17 July 1967, while the and 1960, it had promulgated various laws forming the Moyimiento Nacional de Liberaci6n de la Guinea. basis for the territories' organization. Among them Ecuatorial (MONALIGE) had proposed 1 January 1967. was a law granting provincial status to the territories, Others had suggested July 1968. Accordingly, IPGE several laws concerning government and administra­ considered that a constitutional commission should be tion, and laws setting up provincial, municipal and convened immediately to determine the procedure for local governments. Those laws had found expression the transfer of power to the people and the date of in the "Legal Order" and had coincided in time with independence, which should be before July 1968. The the independence of sixteen African countries, includ­ Organization of African Unity or the United Nations ing the Republics of Cameroon, Gabon and Nigeria, should take part in the commission's discussion of which were adjacent to Equatorial Guinea. That the question. emancipation movement had accelerated the political 16. Tht- Spanish Government had shown understand­ awareness of the Territory's nationalists, who since ing on a number of occasions, and in 1962 the Under­ then had been seeking the implementation of General Secretary of State attached to the Presidency had Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) in so far as the people declared at Santa Isabel before the Assembly and the of Equatorial Guinea were concerned. The Spanish Municipal Council: "If a day should come when the Government had granted the Territory self-govern­ majority of the people of Equatorial Guinea desire to ment and had repeatedly said that it was prepared to change their present status, Spain will do nothing to grant it independence whenever the people indicated prevent a decision being reached, in agreement with that they wanted it. its provinces, on the future of each of them", and he had added: "We more than anyone else respect the 12. Although the Basic Law of l9b3 had introduced principle of self-determination". what was ostensibly internal self-government, that was all nothing more than a fagade. The essential power 17. The time had come for Spain to fulfil its promises, continued to be held by the administering Power, as and IPGE had no doubt that the administering Power, had been admitted by the President of the Governing respecting the aspirations of the people, would give Council himself, Mr. Ond6 Edu, before the Sub­ independence to Equatorial Guinea as a territorial Committee on Equatorial Guinea. Thus far the people entity united by considerations of history ,law, politics had not been able to participate effectively in the and economics. The merger of Fernando P6o with management of their own affairs, as was apparent Rfo Muni was a historical and ethnic reality proclaimed from paragraph 149 of the Sub-Committee's report by the Basic Law of 1963 and noted by the General (A/6300/Rev.1, chap. IX, annex), and not even the Assembly in its resolution 2067 (XX), and would enable Governing Council or the General Assembly of the r.:quatorial Guinea to play a more important role in Territory could exercise the powers which were Africa and the world. The President of the Governing vested in them. Despite all that, the Basic Law did Council had stated before the Sub-Committee: "Unity mark progress towards real independence. is a factor of paramount importance in our faith that 1665th meeting - 10 December 1966 477 independence can be won and protected". That opinion 23. After acquiring its independence Equatorial was shared by all political parties and the majority of Guinea would wish to co-operate with all other coun­ the people, and on that unity would depend the economic tries of the world, and particularly with Spain, to capacity and the every existence of the country. which it was bound by many ties, with its neighbours and with the other countries of Africa and Asia, for 18. The foreign landowners of Santa Isabel believed its organization as a nation and its survival would that the merger would end their economic domination of depend on international co-operation without detriment the Island; they opposed all moves for the emancipation to its own cultural and spiritual values. IPGE was of the Territory and they were making plans for the a nationalist party and believed in international partition of Equatorial Guinea in order to perpetuate solidarity. In the name of that solidarity it called the domination of the Spanish settlers. In order to upon the Committee to accelerate the independence of carry out that diabolical plan they would have to change Equatorial Guinea. the Law of 1965, which regulated the status of Equatorial Guinea, abrogating the provision which 24. Mr. EL-FAHSI (Morocco) proposedthatinviewof proclaimed the unity and integrity of the Territory; its importance the petitioner's statement should appear and the promoters of the plan were bringing pressure in extenso in the record of the meeting. to bear on the Spanish Government to consult the 25. In paragraph 254 of the report of the Sub-Com.. peoples of Rro Muni and Fernando P6o separately. The mittee on Equatorial Guinea (A/6300/Rev.1, chap. IX, right to vote in that consultation would be given only annex) a petitioner representing IPGE was cited as to the natives of the island, the Bubis, who profited stating that "The granting of so-called autonomy to by the rfgime and would defend the separation of the the Territory had left the colonial status of the two Territories. Territory unchanged", and that "Indeed, the results 19. According to information in the possession of of the referendum on the question of autonomy had been IPG E, certain great Powers were planning to establish falsified by the Spanish authorities in order to permit a military base on the island of Fernando P6o which the establishment of a supposedly autonomous Govern­ would serve as a jumping-off ground for their policy ment which naturally took its orders from Spain". He of intervention in Africa. For that reason, the political asked whether the petitioner could give further future of Equatorial Guinea had ceased to be an information on that point. exclusively internal affair, and had become an inter­ 26. The CHAIRMAN said that if there was no objec­ national problem related to the peace and security of tion, the statement of the petitioner would appear in Africa. It was the duty of the international community extenso in the record of the meeting, as proposed by to see that Equatorial Guinea was given its inde­ the representative of Morocco. pendence without any threat to its territorial integrity. It was so decided. 20. The opinion of IPGE was that the people of Equatorial Guinea should decide their future for 2 7. Mr. ONDO (Idea Popular de la Guinea E cuatorial), themselves by general and free elections held on the replying to the question from the representative of basis of universal suffrage. Before withdrawingpolit­ Morocco, said that in Equatorial Guinea liberty was ically from the Territory, Spain should establish a only a temporary concession, as on the occasion of stable regime based on the results of a democratic the interviews held with the Sub-Committee, and referendum. If it failed to do so it would be failing in autonomy was a mere show, as was demonstrated by its duty and would be giving evidence of bad faith. the statements of members of the Executive Council Universal suffrage was the foundation of political to which reference had already been made. The stability; but first there must be freedom of action of members of the Council had no powers and were the Press, which were at present not only non­ constantly watched over by technical advisers who existent but prohibited by law, Despite Spain's guar­ even drafted their speeches, in which they were antees, the President of IPGE had been threatened obliged to speak favourably of Spain. after meeting the Sub-Committee and had had to go underground. The authorities prohibited political 28. Mr. EL-FAHSI (Morocco) said that that was not meetings, in defiance of the elementary principles of a complete reply, and read out again the passage of democracy, in order to block the merger of IPGE and the Sub-Committee's report which he had already MUNGE and prevent them from organizing effectively quoted. He asked the petitioner to give some details for the general elections which they regarded as of the alleged falsification. essential before independence. 29. Mr. ONDO (Idea Popular de laGuir;1eaEcuatorial) 21. In addition, freedom to form trade unions should said that he had been secretary of an electoral board be guaranteed, so that the workers could organize whose chairman had received instructions from the and protect their own interests as they did in all Government on the day of the elections. The Govern­ countries. ment sent officials to complete the ballots of illiterate voters, and those officials entered not what the voters 22. If his fears with regard to the threat of the said but what the Government wanted. He had been secession of Fernando P6o and the establishment of compelled by force to participate in the elections of bases on that island were unfounded, the Spanish deputies in 1959. Where there were no foreign Government should solemnly pledge itself not only to observers-there were such observers in Santa Isabel­ grant independence with no prejudice to the Territory's military units stationed at intervals of fifteen kilo­ integrity, but also to prevent the establishment of metres forced the voters to cast their votes under military bases in the Territory. those conditions. 478 General Assembly - Twenty-first Session - Fourth Committee

30. Mr. EL-FAHSI (Morocco) said that the petitioner's General had withdrawn it. After the Sub-Committee statements offered incontrovertible evidence of the had left the Territory, IPGE had tried to merge with way in which Spain falsified the electoral consultations. MUNGE, but when the administering Power realized He assured the petitioner of his delegation's sympathy that, by uniting, the parties would become stronger, and support. the three parties had been denied the right of assembly. Spain was willing to grant independence, but it pre­ 31. Mr. MAHMUD (Nigeria) asked the petitioner how vented the holding of meetings and promoted dissension. many political parties there were in Equatorial Guinea and how they were represented in the General Assembly 38. Mr. APPIAH (Ghana) asked the petitioner whether of the Territory. he wished the Fourth Committee to try to convince 32. Mr. ONDO (Idea Popular de laGuineaEcuatorial) the administering Power to allow the holding of the conference referred to and, if it were held, \vhether said that there were three political parties. MUNGE and MONALIGE were represented in the Government the parties would be able to agree on a date for independence. but IPGE was unrepresented. The two former partief had, unlike IPGE, voted in the referendum in favour of 39. Mr. ONDO (Idea Popular de la Gumea E cuatorial) the Basic Law, and as a result Spain had not permitted said that he would like the Fourth Committee to ask members of IPGE to participate in the Government. As Spain to allow the parties to merge since there were to the number of representatives of each party in the no basic differences among them. Assembly, it was difficult to be precise, since repre­ sentatives tended to move quite frequently from one 40. Mr. APPIAH (Ghana) said that obviously that was party to the other. the main obstacle which the Committee should bear in mind when it called upon the administering Power 33. Mr. DIALLO Seydou (Guinea), referring to the to demonstrate its intentions and co-operate in plans for the partition of the Territory, asked whether de colonization. it was Spain which desired partition or the inhabitants of the Territory. He also asked whether it was true 41. Mr. KARASIMEONOV (Bulgaria) said that he that preparations were being made for the installation regarded as legitimate the demand of the population of a large military base in Fernando P6o for the for elections prior to the Territory's accession to defence of the interests of the North Atlantic Treaty independence. He asked the petitioner to give more Organization. specific data on present conditions and on the oppor­ tunities which the population had to exercise its rights 34. Mr. ONDO (Idea Popular de laGuineaEcuatorial) of expression, assembly and information in connexion replied that although he had no specific data on with the elections, and to summarize IPGE's proposals partition, the nationalists had discovered two letters concerning free and democratic elections. sent from Fernando P6o to a minister in Madrid stating that the instructions aimed at the separation of 42. Mr. ONDO (Idea Popular de laGuineaEcuatorial) Rfo Muni and Fernando P6o had been carried out and explained that the Constitutional Commission had help was expected from the Bubis. In reply to the unanimously decided to present the General Assembly second question, he said that actually there were of the Territory with a censure motion against the many troops, an airfield and units every fifteen Governing Council, which protected the interests of kilometres. The administering Power said that it Spain in Guinea. IPGE asked that before independence had sent those forces in order to protect the Island, a commission should be elected to defend the interests but the fact was that the peaceful population of the of Equatorial Guinea in obtaining agreement on a date Island did not need so many troops. for independence; it was not for the present Govern­ 35. Mr. DIALLO Seydou (Guinea) said that like many ment to do that. other delegations his delegation had welcomed the 43. Mr. KARASIMEONOV (Bulgaria) asked what op­ statement of the administering Power (1660th meeting), portunities workers had to organize in trade unions. which opened a new era in its relations with the colonial Territory. He expressed the hope that Spain 44. Mr. ONDO (Idea Popular de la Guinea Ecuatorial) would preserve the unity of Equatorial Guinea. The answered that in spite of what was said, there were United Nations should co-operate in the solution of no trade unions but only co-operatives. that problem before the people attained their inde­ 45. Mr. KARASIMEONOV (Bulgaria) said that from pendence so as to avoid any further fragmentation of the statement of the petitioner he took it that after the Territory. Every country, however small, was the Sub-Committee had left Equatorial Guinea, the entitled to independence attained under conditions head of his party had had to go into exile. He asked desired by the people. what opportunities IPGE had to participate in thA 36. Mr. APPIAH (Ghana) said he was sure that the political life of the Territory. Territory would accede to independence since the 46. Mr. ONDO (Idea Popular de laGuinea Ecuatorial) administering authority had said so. He asked the described the way in which the President of IPGE had petitioner how Spain had reacted to the differences been hunted by the police after having appeared before among the parties concerning the date of independence. the Sub-Committee and had found himself forced to 37. Mr. ONDO (Idea Popular de laGuineaEcuatorial) flee to Cameroon, from where he had entered into replied that the problem lay not in differences among contact with the Commissioner-General, through the the parties but in the lack of freedom. In May 1966, Spanish Ambassador. He added that the police had MONALIGE and MUNGE had wished to hold a con­ dispersed a meeting that had been organized to welcome ference in order to merge the two parties. The Civil the Sub-Committee to Equatorial Guinea with songs, Governor had given permission, but the Commissioner- posters and flags. 1665th meeting - 10 December 1966 479

47. Mr. KARASIMEONOV (Bulgaria) hoped that the exaggerated things, perhaps in a desire to dramatize administering Power would be able to explain the his party's point of view. The Terntory had already matter, which was disturbing. been visited by a Sub-Committee, which should know what to believe. He pointed out that in the elections a 48. Mr. ISMAIL (Malaysia) observedthatdecoloniza­ few people who had formerly appeared before the tion had two stages. In the first, there was persuasion United Nations as petitioners had won seats and two or pressure on the administering Power to grant mdependence; in the second, once a decision was of them, Mr. Luis Maho and Mr. Bonifacio Ond6 Edu, taken, the arrangements necessary for independence now held high positions in the Government. In his were agreed upon. Equatorial Guinea was now in the opinion, those former petitioners had returned because second stage, but consideration had to be given to the they had realized that it was in the Territory itself fear expressed by the petitioner that independence that they should inculcate their ideas and do con­ might be granted separately to the two Territories. structive political work, in view of the imminence of He asked the petitioner what he thought the United a decisive event for the Territory, namely, the Nations should do about that problem. granting of independence. The present petitioner should be prompted by the same feelings and should return 49. Mr. ONDO (Idea Popular de laGuineaEcuatorial) to the Territory. reiterated that a population that did not enjoy political liberties could not accede to independence. Spain had 56. Speaking in the Special Committee on 18 November been asked to recognize all political groups and to 1966, he had said on behalf of his delegation that one ensure territorial integrity. If those two requests were of the items that gave Spain most satisfaction was satisfied, that would solve every problem. All the the consideration of the Territory of E quato rial Guinea. political parties of the Territory denounced partition. Spain was interested in all the Territories in general, but particularly in Equatorial Guinea, which despite 50. Mr. ISMAIL (Malaysia) said that the Fourth Com­ its great distance from Spain reflected in Equatorial mittee had had considerable experience in decoloniza­ Africa the customs and sentiments of Spain. Its tion and realized that there was always some inhabitants spoke Spanish, thought like Spaniards and, oppression during the process of decolonization. He like them, reacted with vehemence, although they had asked the petitioner why, once elections had beenheld their own characteristics. For that reason, the in the Territory, his party did not participate in the Spaniards were proud to call them brothers. A study present legislature. He also wished to know whether of the report, which had been drawn up in great detail any political party had asked the petitioner to transmit although with extraordinary rapidity, as the Chairman its views to the Committee. of the Special Committee had said in that Committee, 51. Mr. ONDO (Idea Popular de laGuineaEcuatorial) led to the immediate conclusions, which his delegation replied that until MUNGE and IPGE merged, one of was really eager to point out, that the people wished those parties had no reason to authorize a member of to maintain their relations with Spain and to continue the other to represent it. their brotherly links with all Spanish-speaking peoples. 52. Mr. ISMAIL (Malaysia) asked whether the other 57. The people of Guinea were preparing for a political parties were satisfied with the present situa­ monumental task. Following an invitation given by tion in the Territory and had nothing to ask of the Spain in Algiers, a Sub-Committee had visited the United Nations since the petitioner did not represent Territory. The Spanish delegation was glad that the them. Special Committee had appreciated and acknowledged 53. Mr. ONDO (Idea Popular de la Guinea Ecuatorial) its co-operation in the work of decolonization. It was said that the other parties had given their views to precisely because Spain knew that the Special Com­ the Sub-Committee that had visited the Territory. mittee needed to have access to certain Territories Moreover, the three parties had sent a cable in which for the purposes of its study that Spain had extended they had protested against the suppression ofpolitical the invitation at that time, as it had again done a few freedoms. days earlier in the Fourth Committee (1660th meeting) 54. Mr. ISMAIL (Malaysia) said that the periods prior in the case of the Territory of the Spanish Sahara. to independence were marked by differences of opinion 58. With regard to the Special Committee's report among political groups, if not about independence (A/6300/Rev.1, chap. IX), the Spanish delegation itself, at least about its date and its meaning. Never­ wished to sate that it would have liked more attention theless, the most powerful weapon of a people was its to be given to the recognition of the work that Spain unity, and he hoped that when the petitioner returned was doing in the Territory. The Spanish delegation to his country he would be able to achieve the unity was grateful for the expressions of appreciation of of all the people and the formation of a government the co-operative spirit of the Spanish authorities in agreeable to all. He sincerely wished that the Terri­ the report. In presenting that report at the 1485th tory would emerge as a peaceful nation and would plenary meeting of the General Assembly on 6 soon occupy its place among the other States Members December 1966, Mr. Collier had expressed the of the United Nations. satisfaction of the delegation of Sierra Leone and of Mr. Eduardo Ond6, representative of the Partido the Special Committee that the Government of Spain Politico Idea Popular de Ja Guinea Ecuatorial, with­ had set a commendable example in the area of co­ drew. operation with the United Nations during the past year; he had added that it should be remembered that Spain GENERAL DEBATE (continued) had been the first colonial Power to allow a visiting 55. Mr. DE PINIES (Spain) said that the petitioner, to mission .from the United Nations to visit a Territory in whom he had listened most attentively, had greatly compliance with the wishes of the United Nations. 480 General Assembly- Twenty-first Session- Fourth Committee

Mr. Collier had also said that what the mission had to state their points of view. Furthermore, he had found there was another matter altogether, but that it read with special interest what the report said in must be said that the Spanish Government had given favour of the maintenance of the unity of the Territory. the United Nations mission every co-operation, had That unity, and all the arrangements ofthe autonomous offered lavish hospitality and, so far as the mission government with regard to its political structure, had been able to see, had not placed any impediments Government, Assembly, provincial and municipal in the way of its work when it had visited the Spanish councils and so forth, had been the subject of a Territories of Equatorial Guinea, referendum in which all persons over the age of twenty-one had taken part. The results of that con­ 59. Apart from the mistakes to which the Chairman sultation appeared in the report, but the report of the Special Committee had drawn attention at that minimized the problems which had arisen because of Committee's meeting on 18 November, the Spanish the peculiar situation of the island with respect to delegation wished to point out a few contradictions. ~he continent and which should be taken into account, For example, it was stated in paragraph 293 of the although Spain hoped that they would be overcome, Sub-Committee's report (ibid,, annex) that the bodies, In the Spanish delegation's opinion, the report attrib­ groups and individuals with whom the Sub-Committee uted an exaggerated importance to the powers of the had held consultations had made a variety of sugges­ Commissioner-General that was inconsistent with the tions as to the date on which the Territory should differences that the Sub-Committee had found among accede to independence, and that those suggestions had the members of the Governing Council and between ranged from independence with immediate effect to them and the President of the Council. The Spanish independence by the end of the term of the present delegation therefore thought that the statement Governing Council, in 1968. It was stated in paragraph referred to the lack of power on the part of the 294 that, on the basis of the foregoing, it was clear President of the Governing Council, since it was not that the desire of the vast majority of the people of he, but the Assembly who chose the Ministers. The the Territory was for independence not later than Spanish delegation would have liked there to be a July 1968, He would point out that that paragraph reference to the economic, educational, health and should refer to the vast majority of those consulted, labour level of the Territory compared with that of not to the vast majority of the people of the Territory, the geographical region in which it was an enclave. Yet in the same paragraph it was stated that the fixing of a definite date, however, would seem to depend on 62, The report criticized the political and adminis­ the outcome of a conference between the administering trative arrangements in the Territory, but his delega­ Power and the various political parties of the Terri­ tion wished to reiterate that the Basic Law of the tory and all sections of the population. autonomous r~gime was the result of conversations held in 1963 between the Spanish Government and the 60, From those contradictions the report went on, representatives of the Territory, that the latter had in paragraph 301, to generalize without any reserva­ agreed on its provisions, and that the whole text tions and to recommend, in referring to the constitu­ had been submitted to a referendum. The Law could tional conference, that a date should be fixed for be criticized, but it must be borne in mind, above all, independence which, in response to the wishes of the that it had been voted by the inhabitants of Equatorial people, should be not later than July 1968, In view of Guinea and that the possibility of amendments had all that, the Spanish delegation was particularly con­ been provided for in it; and in fairness it must be cerned to draw attention to what the representative admitted that the Law had served its purpose by of the United Republic of Tanzania had said at the 482nd enabling the inhabitants, through the exercise of meeting of the Special Committee, to the effect that he self-determination, to determine their own future. fully agreed that it was the wishes of the people of Equatorial Guinea that must be decisive and that the 63, Spain was making firm and steady progress with people were naturally free to change their decision, regard to the problem of decolonization. As he had At the same meeting of the Special Committee the said some days earlier, since the end of the Second representative of Denmark had said that the recom­ World War the decolonization process had gained mendation concerning the date for independence had impetus. It was not possible to frustrate the wishes been the subject of protracted discussions in the of people or to prevent historical injustices from Sub-Committee, and that his delegation had had some being righted. Spain itself was the victim of such an hesitation about it but had agreed to the inclusion of injustice-it had on its territory a colony which that recommendation in view of the reference to the constituted a grievous wrong that had to be terminated, wishes of the people (ibid., chap, IX, paras. 106 It would be unjust, however, to disregard Spain's and 107). co-operative attitude towards the Organization or to try to make unnecessary recommendations to his 61. The Spanish delegation hoped that such authorita­ country, since its policy provided for the adoption of tive opinions would be taken into consideration by the necessary measures for coping gradually with the members of the Fourth Committee at the appro­ each stage in the decolonizing process. As evidence priate time. Moreover, as he had already said in the of Spain's desire to collaborate, he announced that Special Committee, he had been surprised at the the Spanish Government intended to convene a con­ suggestion that there was no freedom of political stitutional conference early in 1 967 to channel the activity. The members of the Sub-Committee had had aspirations of the indigenous inhabitants of Equatorial an opportunity to see for themselves the activity of Guinea. The conference would establish all the mod­ political parties, which had their own premises and alities which the population of the Territory deemed whose members, as was clear from the report, had advisable, since all sections of the population without appeared before the Sub-Committee in all freedom exception would be represented. His delegation reaf- 1665th meeting - 10 December 1966 481 firmed once more that the people of Guinea had the climate in the Territory. The petitioner, however, right of self-determination, the right to decide their had said in his statement that restrictions were still own future, and that consequently the people of being imposed on individuals and the expression of Equatorial Guinea, and they alone, were competent political opinion was being limited. The Cameroonian to fix dates and establish the various modalities. delegation was greatly disturbed by that fact, for it seemed to undermine the very foundation of the 64. Mr. OWONO (Cameroon) said that the political negotiations in which the Spanish Government had given development of Equatorial Guinea was part of the the guarantees he had just mentioned. The Spanish general decolonization movement expressed in the representative had denied the truth of those assertions, adoption of the historic Declaration on the Granting but very superficially, without going into the substance of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. or giving details. Yet full particulars would be Cameroon was carefully observing the process of essential in the matter of the return of the refugees, implementation of the Declaration in the Territory since a healthy political climate in the Territory under consideration. The proximity of the Territory would require that all sections of the population to his own country and the historical, ethnic and family participate in political life. His delegation would be ties binding the t·.vo peoples sufficed to explain his glad if Spain could give a proper clarification, includ­ country's desire to participate in the search for a just ing assurances that the views of the petitioner and solution satisfactory to the Territory and its people. those of the Sub-Committee would be respected. That being so, and in the light of its recent experience, Spain's avowed intentions would remain in doubt the Federal Republic of Cameroon had not concealed unless all the population could freely express their its intention of lending its support to that development opinion on the future of their own country. Since the whenever it saw fit to do so. Cameroon had been promulgation of the Basic Law of 1963 establishing a gratified to note the Spanish Government's expression r~gime of internal autonomy, Cameroon had noted of a determination to lead the Territory towards a very clear· development which was generally in the sovereignty. It had commended Spain on many direction of progress. The idea that the Territory occasions for that initiative, and had collaborated consisted of two Spa~1ishprovinces had been abandoned, with it whenever it believed that to do so was in keep­ and at present it was continuing to develop as a ing with the interests of the parties directly concerned. political entity called Equatorial Guinea. In resolution The principal reason for his country's spontaneous 2067 (XX) the General Assembly had noted that the offer of collaboration had been the Spanish Govern­ Territories of Fernando P6o and Rfo Muni had been ment's favourable reaction to the Declaration. Follow­ merged and named Equatorial Guinea. That move by ing the acceptance of decolonization by France and the the Spanish Government deserved commendation. United Kingdom, and in contrast to the sterile intran­ There were other problems, however, to which the sigence and the desperate obstinacy of Portugal and administering Power, the peoples concerned, and the South Africa, Spain's avowed intentions merited the United Nations should devote their attention. In his tributes which the Cameroonian Government had statement, the petitioner had made various sugges­ paid on more than one occasion. tions, some of which had appeared earlier in the con­ 65. For those various reasons, Cameroon had co­ clusions and recommendations of the Sub-Committee operated thus far, with the specific objective of that had visited the Territory. making its contribution to the political development of the peoples of the Territory and securing their 66. The members of the Fourth Committee had con­ complete independence and sovereignty. The Federal sidered those suggestions in the light of the present Republic of Cameroon had warmly welcomed the Basic situation, and in his delegation's view there were Law of 20 December 1963, which recognized the various points for which a solution had to be found undeniable unity of the Territory and provided for the before the Territory acceded to independence and establishment of the provincial councils and the which had already been noted by the Sub-Committee Governing Council. In the light of' those ostensibly in paragraph 291 of its report, where it was pointed concrete achievements and with a view to enabling out that there were some tendencies favouring the the whole population of the Territory to participate separation of Fernando P6o and Rfo Muni but the in the establishment of democratic machinery leading conclusion was drawn that those views were held to the enjoyment of sovereignty, the Federal Republic only by a small minority among the Bubis of Fernando of Cameroon had agreed to repatriate the political P6o and by certain vested interests and were not refugees living in its territory. To that end preliminary shared by the vast majority of the people nor by any conversations had been held and conditions negotiated of the major political parties. It was further pointed for their return, stipulating inter alia the right to free out that it was the wish of the majority of the people expression of opinion and the right to vote. Once the that the Territory should accede to independence as Spanish Government had given clear, formal cat­ one unit. In paragraph 304 the Sub-Committee recom­ egorical guarantees of the safety of the refugees, a mended that the administering Power should replace Cameroonian delegation had taken a large group of the present electoral system by a system based on Equatorial Guinea nationalists back to their country. universal adult suffrage, and that elections should be They had been received warmly by the population on held on that basis before independence. In his delega­ their arrival, and the Spanish authorities in the Terri­ tion's opinion, that second aspect.was directly linked tory had confirmed the guarantees already given to the first, in the sense that there had to be a dem­ concerning both their safety and their freedom to ocratic popular consultation, the result of which would participate in active political life. Cameroon was be determined by the vote of the majority of the confident that by arranging for the return of the indigenous inhabitants. As the Sub-Committee had said, nationalists it had helped to improve the political the separatist movement was only the expression of 482 General Assembly - Twenty-first Session - Fourth Committee

some of the elements of the population and, naturally, 69. Mr. APPIAH (Ghana) said that in view of the of certain foreign interests. Therefore, the electoral importance of the statement by the representative of machinery should be established within the framework Spain, he would ask that it appear in extenso in the of the electoral legislation of 1963, with a view to record of the meeting, so tb'lt delegations would be preparing a democratic constitution under which the able to give it careful study. Everything seemed to inhabitants of Equatorial Guinea could freely ex-press indicate that Spain was moving forward and the Com­ their preferences as to the political future of their mittee must take advantage of every opportunity to country. co-operate with the administering Power. When an administering Power agreed to hold a conference 67. The representative of Spain had referred to two with the representatives of all sections of the people, paragraphs of the report which seemed contradictory, it was for the people, and notfor the Fourth Committee but the Committee had to take as its basis the or any other country, to decide on the form that recommendations in that report. The doubts expressed independence should take. Furthermore, the statement concerning the opinions of the majority tainted some­ by the representative of Spain seemed to imply that all what the progress development to which he had referred refugees who were citizens of the territory could earller. The constitutional conference mentioned in return, and that was essential. paragraph 301 of the Sub-Committee's report must be held, and the Spanish representative seemed to 70. Mr. ARAVENA (Chile) said that the present meet­ agree on that point. Precisely because of the spirit ing was a landmark in the history of decolonization, of co-operation which Spain had evinced, the Committee and that applied particularly to the statement by the must give it every possible assistance in its work of representative of Spain: he had rightly understood the decolonization; but Spain's intentions should be made new concepts of freedom, independence and self­ crystal clear. Cameroon endorsed the recommenda­ determination, had shown viswn, and had given a tion in the same paragraph that the administering new example of human solidarity by meetmg the Power should convene a conference, in which all desires of the petitioner and especially by stating that the population of the Territory would be granted sections of the population would be represented. all necessary guarantees; and he had thereby dispelled Moreover, paragraph 287 of the report said that the any possible doubt concerning the decolonization of Government of Spain had stated on several occasions Equatorial Guinea. It was an outstanding example that independence would be granted to the Territory applicable to all the cases the Committee might have when the people asked for it, a statement which was to consider. He supported the proposal of the repre­ helpful for the discussion of the question. If the sentative of Ghana that the statement of the repre­ Special Committee's recommendations were followed, sentative of Spain be reproduced in extenso in the the inevitable result would be Equatorial Guinea's record of the meetmg. accession to full independence. The imminence of that event was, in his delegation's opinion, a cause 71. Mr. DE PINIES (Spain) thanked the repre­ of great rejoicing. sentatives of Ghana and Chile for having interpreted correctly the significance of the constitutional con­ 68. The question ra1sed by the petitioner concerning ference to be held in the Territory. He was sorry that the possible establishment of a foreign military base the representative of Cameroon, a country friendly in the Territory could not be passed over. His to Spain, could still doubt the repeated affirmation delegation did not know the exact scope of that report that there were no military bases either in Fernando and could not verify its authenticity. He wished to P6o or in Rfo Muni, and that there was no intention state, however, on behalf of his country, that the of establishing any. establishm~nt of such a base would introduce into the region a source of insecurity for neighbouring coun­ 72. It should be borne in mind that Spain itself was tries and for the whole African continent. The the victim of the presence of a military base on its Cameroonian Government expressed its categorical soil, and it was therefore all the more regrettable opposition to the establishment of a foreign military that such importance had been given to the exaggerated base near its borders. In view of the doubts and the and dramatic account that the petitioner had given in lack of decisive proof, his delegation could not make support of his views. any formal accusation; but if what had been said on 73. The CHAIRMAN noted that the representative of the subject lacked foundation, Cameroon would be glad Ghana, supported by the representative of Chile, had if the Spanish representative would make a statement requested the inclusion in extenso of the Spanish denying it. In his delegation's opinion, such a statement representative's statement in the record of the meet­ would be an official guarantee, given to the United ing. If he heard no objection, he would take it that the Nations and the entire world, of the security of the Committee approved the proposal. countries adjacent to Equatorial Guinea and of the African continent in general. His Government's posi­ It was so decided. tion on that problem was based solely on the interests 74. Mr. OWONO (Cameroon) thanked the repre­ of the fraternal people of Equatorial Guinea, for sentative of Spain, a country friendly to Cameroon, Cameroon could not remain indifferent to their fate, for having made the statement he had hoped would be any more than to the fate of other neighbouring coun­ made in order to dispel any apprehensions regarding tries. As soon as Equatorial Guinea became inde­ the establishment of military bases in Equatorial pendent, Cameroon would recognize its sovereignty Guinea. and, within the means available, would assist it and seek in every way to continue to co-operate frankly, 75. In his statement the representative of Spain sincerely and fruitfully with it. appeared to have alluded to the possibility of amending 1665th meeting- 10 December 1966 483 the Basic Law after consulting the people. There draft resolution was ready, he proposed that it should would be reason for concern if at the constitutional be put to a roll-call vote that very day so that the conference a change could be made in the Basic Law peoples would know who was really working for with respect to the Territory's unity: he would there­ decolonization, and that the meeting should continue fore welcome it if the representative of Spain could until the vote was taken. confirm the intention of his Government not to amend 80. The CHAIRMAN pointed out that he had twelve those provisions. Such assurances would immediately speakers on his list in connexion with the item on be transmitted to the Government of Cameroon, French Somaliland. 76. Mr. KARASIMEONOV (Bulgaria) considered the 81. Mr. KANAKARATNE (Ceylon), speaking on a point statement of the representative of Cameroon very of order, said that he would like to head off any hasty im;:JOrtant since it concerned a country bordering on decision, and asked the representative of Ghana to Equatorial Guinea and since it provided a clear withdraw his proposal. All the decolonization items analysis of the situation which would be of great were important and the Committee had not been interest to the Com"llittee. He therefore proposed wasting time, There were twelve speakers who had that the statement should be included in extenso in to be heard and he did not think members of the the record of the meeting. Committee had come to the meeting with preconceived 77. The CHAIRMAN said that if there was no objec­ ideas. He would not object to holding a meeting in tion, the statement of the representative of Cameroon the afternoon, but he would object to prolonging the would appear in extenso in the record of the meeting, present meeting until the vote was taken on the draft as proposed by the representative of Bulgaria. resolution concerning French Somaliland. It was so decided. 82. Mr. APPIAH (Ghana) proposed that the meeting should continue at least until3 p.m. It was not possible Organization of work to know beforehand how long each speaker would take, and the question of French Somaliland was so 78. The CHAIRMAN outlined the Committee's work schedule for the following week, from Monday, 12 clear that he did not think it would need a lengthy December to Saturday. 17 December, debate. 79, Mr. APPIAH (Ghana), speaking on a point of 83, The representative of Ceylon had referred to order, observed that the programme of work was not having preconceived ideas. In his own view, after very heavy and that the Committee had hoped some­ all that had been said on the subject, members must time during the day to reach the stage of voting on the have some rather definite ideas. draft resolution concerning French Somaliland (A/C,4/ 84. The CHAIRMAN invited the Committee to vote L,847 /Rev.1), which was all that remained to be done on the Ghanaian representative's proposal to continue on that item. It had been planned to complete the the meeting until the vote on the draft resolution con­ Committee's work on 16 December, and the respon­ cerning French Somaliland. sibility of all countries in the matter of decolonization The proposal was rejected by 20 votes to 7, with 36 called for sacrifices, regardless of other considera­ abstentions. tions. The Committee had decided to hold a meeting that day in order to get something done; since the The meeting rose at 1. 50 p.m.

L!tho 1n U.N. 77401-Aprtl 1967-2,350