934Th ENERAL PLENARY MEETING Saÿrday, 3 December 1960, ASSEMBLY at 10.30 A.M
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Jnited Nations 934th ENERAL PLENARY MEETING Saÿrday, 3 December 1960, ASSEMBLY at 10.30 a.m. FIFTEENTH SESSION cial Records NEW YORK CONTENTS especially those that have been colonized, a profound Page bitterness, the legitimacy of which cannot be denied. This bitterness disturbs the unanimity with which the Agenda item 87: world conscience today pronounces its condemnation -Declaration on the granting of independence to of colonialism. To be able to forgetthe evil done to us colonial countries and peoples (continued).. 1111 is sometimes a necessity. It is an especially vital necessity in politics. And it is particularly important today, at least for those who have no psychological President: Mr. Frederick H. BOLAND (Ireland). complexes to blind their eyes and divert them from their goals and who truly wish to strengthen the unity AGENDA ITEM 87 needed to holdthe interfiational community together and maintain world peace. Declaration on the granting of independence to colonial 5. No one could possibly doubt that the principle of j, iÿ countries and peoples (continued) freedom for individuals and peoples cannot be deemed to have been realized in practice ff if has been applied 1. Mr. TSATSOS (Greece) (translated from French) : I /=! The colonial era is a recent stage of world history the in only one part of the world It is only when it is last vestiges of wbi'ch are rapidly disappearing from world-wide and the entire globe is mantledinits royal i the face of the earth. That is a fact that no one doubts purple, that this freedom will become a reality. This today, and from that fact certain problems arise. But no one would venture to deny. Indeed, that declaration before examining them, andin order to dispel any mis- itself gives us a glimpse of one of the finest victories understandings-which are all the more undesirable as awaiting mankind, a victory which will be all the the atmosphere in which we live is already heavy with greater because it will be won, and won gloriously, suspicion--it might be useful to define the historical under the sole moral impetus of the idea of freedom. notion of colonies and colonialism. i 6. It will be recalled that in the two Americas, both 2. The modern understanding of the term "colony" is North and South, colonialism yielded before the very different from what it was in ancient times. A patriots' boldness and courage and before the force of colony is the result of the forceful domination by an arms. Later, in Asia, it had to beat a retreat mainly organized people having its own territory--hence a because of the magnificent moral resistance displayed State--over a people living in another territory, irre- by the Asian peoples. Finally, in Africa, the accession spective of the legal form the dominaUontakes and the • torepresentatives independence we of are so proudmany topeoples, have among whose us worthy today, organization it involves. "Colonialism" is the body of circumstances relating to the establishment and main- was due to part, of course, to these peoples' resolve tenance of colonies in modern times. This definition of to win their place among the free nations, but it was "colony" and "colonialism" may be too narrow for also partly the result of the ripening in Europe of the some to accept, but it has the advantage of not giving great liberal and peace-minded climate of opinionthat rise to serious controversy. It should be added that led to the political changes which are bringing the colonialism is not the only possible form of domination colonial era to a close. It would be both unjust and of one people by another. Anyone who fails to condemn dangerous to try to overlookthis fact which, moreover, such domination in all its forms must be lacking in as we are bound to admit, offers the only genuine logic and moral consistency. guarantee of the final and enduring victory of freedom in a world without war. 3. Oddly enough, before colonialism has quite dis- appeared, we already know the moral judgement that 7. The end of colonialism in Africa and wherever else history will pass on it, To the extent that it impeded it still clings on is only a matter of time. No one doubts instead of hastening the development of peoples, it was this, but it would be ingenuous to believe that the end :one of the worst forms of domination of man by man, can be instantaneous. To undo the evil, while taking and in that sense it was a prolongation of slavery. But pains to preserve the good, to remove what has been to the extent that it enabled the colonial peoples to accumulated over many decades, is an operation on the attain a higher cultural and social level, colonialism largest scale, and if it is to succeed it must be exe- was a positive factor in world evolution. In any case, cuted without procrastination but also with prudence it is now fated to disappear, and on this world public anÿ with a deep sense of responsibility. Eachcase has opinion ts in unanimous agreement, for I do not sup- features particular to it. The Charter itself provides pose that there is a single nation in our grelat world for several different paths of development. What is family which wishes to or can contend thatthere is or essential is to guarantee that in each case the decisive COuld still be any justification for colonialism. factor is the freely expressed will of the people. That 4. The ending of a historical era always raises the is the Common denominator in this vast operation to same problem: What should be remembered and what sweep away the remnants of colonialism. Those who forgotten? Generally speaking, the memories of co- claim that a lightning attack on colonialism could be lonialism evoke in the minds of all peoples, but carried out on a world scale are settingan impossible iiii A/PV.934 ]ÿ II 1112 General Assembly -- Fifteenth Session m Plenary Meetings ÿ: ,L,i goal for themselves. We trustthat the course of our world, on a footing of equality, as an active factor, iÿ iii:!: debate will demonstrate that it is not the wish of the to the world economy that a more stable and Assembly to compromise the possible by demanding developed world economy can be achieved, highly the impossible. 11. Although I am an Athenian, and proudofit, I have , iiÿ 8. But if the end of what remains of colonialism can- a high regard for Sparta and lacbnic speech. I have iÿ!ÿ not be instantaneous, it can--and since it can, it must-- tried to be brief, and I have but a few words to add. I be rapid. Furthermore, it must be recognized that to know that there was a time, andit was not so long ago, the extent that this process is not moving along at the when the word "never" wouldhavebeenthe only reply.. accelerated pace one might wish, the blame for it rests tinged possibly with some contempt--to idealists who in the first instance with certain colonial Powers which might have undertaken an anti-colonialist campaign and have adopted a policy running counter to the current of asserted then what all of us nowadays regard as an history and to the realinterests of these Powers them- obvious truth. But those who are an active element in selves, viewed in the light of their own future. Hence the shaping of world history should know that it is a it is the bounden duty of all colonial Powers to speed up • serious mistake to use the word "never". the emancipation of the peoples still under their domi- 12. Ancient Greece created the idea of liberty andthe nation and to do this by stages, on the basis of a de- ideal of democracy. We are proud of that. But we are tailed plan. I should like to repeat thatthis is not only even prouder of the example which, ever since its the bounden duty of the colonial Powers, but it is also rebirth at the beginning of the last century, modern in their own interests, for only in this way can they Greece has given to the world by its sacrifices and its give decisive proof of their good faith, proof that they devotion to the ideas of liberty and human dignity. The are acting not by force of circumstances but because Greek nation greets the end of colonialism as a human their own conscience makes it morally necessary for conquest of world-wide importance, to the achievement them to put an end to colonialism as quickly as pos- of which it has contributed to the fullest extent of its sible. ability. 9. If to achieve this goal the colonial Powers need our 13. Mr. PETER (Hungary): As anintroductiontowhat confidence, let us give it to them. I am thinking not of I am going to say I wish to invoke an old African a mere gesture. My argument runs deeper thanthat. If proverb: "When minds are the same, that whichis far the African victory had been won on African soil alone, off will come." The saying goes back to the ancient if it had not become part and parcel of the European life of the East-African peoples. It is still current in conscience, the confidence I speak of could justly be the Swahili language and has a direct application to withheld. But, as I have pointed out, the African victory this debate. was won not only in Africa itself but also in Europe.