United Nations FOURTH COMMITTEE, 1571st GENERAL MEETING ASSEMBLY Monday, 29 November 1965, at 10.20 a.m. TJf/E,,'TIETH SESSIO;'' Official Records NEW YORK
CONTENTS AGENDA ITEMS 69 AND 70 Page Question of South West Africa: reports of the Special Requests for hearings (continued) Com"nittee on the Situation with regard to the Requests concerning Oman (agenda item 73) lmiJiementation of the Declaration on the Granting (continued) . . . • ...... • ...... 331 of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (continued) (A/5690 and Add.1-3; A/5781, A/5800/ Agenda items 69 and 70: Rev .1, chap. IV; A/5840, A/5949, A/5993, A/6000/ Question of South West Africa: reports of Rev.1, chap. IV: A/6035 and Add.1-4) the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Special educational and training programmes for Declaration on the Granting of Independence South West Africa: reports of the Secretary-General to Colonial Countries and Peoples (continued) (continued) (A/5782 and (orr .1, Add.l and Add.lj Special educational and training programmes Corr.l; A/6080 and Add.l and 2) for South West Africa: reports of the GEl"ERAL DEBATE (continued) Secretary-General (continued) General debate (continued)...... • 331 4. Mr. G. E. 0. \VILLIAMS (Sierra Leone) said that he would like to express his delegation's satisfaction Agenda item 73: at the announcement made at the previous meeting that Question of Oman: report of the Ad Hoc Com three South West African polit\cal parties would unite mittee on Oman to further their cause. General debate. • . • . • . . • • . . . • ...... 338 5. During the previous twenty years, many resolutions adopted by the Fourth Committee, the Special Com mittee on the Situation with regard to the Implementa Chairman: Mr. Majid RAHNEMA (Iran). tion of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, the General Requests for hearings (continued) Assembly and the Security Council. as also by regional organizations such as the Organization of African Unity, had sought to prove conclusively to the Republic REQUESTS CONCERNING OMAN (AGENDA ITEM 73) of South Africa that it was wrong in refusing to agree (continued) (A/CA/643/ADD.l) that the Mandate granted by the League of Nations had automatically passed to its successor, the United 1. Mr. BROWN (United Kingdom), referring to the Nations, and that it should therefore comply with request for a hearing concerning Oman (A/CA/643/ United Nations resolutions with regard to South West Add.l), said that his delegation had already made it Africa. It was of no use to pay lip-service to the clear, both at the 159th meeting of the General United Nations Charter and at the same time fail Committee and at the 1518th meeting of the Fourth to comply with the preamble to that Charter by denying Committee, that it did not consider that the question the people of South West Africa their fundamental of Oman should be discussed in the Fourth Committee, human l'ights. South Africa's argument that the since Muscat and Oman constituted a sovereign and question was an internal one was untenable, since independent State. The question was not one of a the sacred rights of human beings were being violated. demand for independence by a colonial Territory, but of rebellion against the legal Government of an 6. The League of Nations had entrusted the Territory independent sovereign State. to South Africa with the clear understanding that its people should be brought to nationhood and in 2. Mr. ABDEL-WAHAB (United Arab Republic) said dependence, not subjugation or annexation; that the that there was no doubt that Oman was a colonial people should be helped towards economic develop problem. It was a Territory dominated by the United ment, not robbed of their wealth; that the land should Kingdom and for that reason the General Committee be rehabilitated, not plundered; and that the various had decided to refer it to the Fourth Committee. tribes should be integrated into a nation, not divided by the introduction of disharmony, hatred, violence 3. The CHAIRMAN said that, if there were no and apartheid. further comments, he would take it that the Committee 7. Much had been said of the amounts spent on the decided to grant the request for a hearing appearing indigenous inhabitants of South West Africa, but it in document A/C.4/643/Add.l. might be interesting to have a comparative table of what was spent on other groups. Although the Odendaal It was so decided. Plan (see A/6000/Rev.l, chap. IV, paras. 15-22) had
331 A/C .4/SR.1571 332 General Assembly - Twentieth Session - Fourth Committee not yet been put into effect, areas had been delimited per cent of the extraction of minerals in South West and apartheid had been accelerated: the Whites, who Africa, was owned by United Kingdom, United States owned all the rich land, including the mining areas, and South African shareholders. There was a close were the overlords and the status of Africans was relationship between the situation in South West tantamount to that of slaves. Foreign companies Africa and that in the rest of southern Africa, namely established in the Territory were condoning such Angola, Southern Rhodesia and the Republic of South discrimination by paying immorally low wages to Africa. As was stated in the report, the overwhelming African workers and by being a party to the type majority of mining companies were controlled by of contract which Mrs. Kerina, one of the petitioners, financial interests in the United Kingdom, the United had described at the 1566th meeting. Foreign States and South Africa. The opposition of some companies and their Governments had a responsibility permanent members of the Security Council to any to the people of South West Africa and their duplicity effective measures proposed against South Africa was distasteful. could therefore be attributed to their financial interests 8. The time had come for the United Nations to draw in that part of Africa. up its own plan for South West Africa and to take steps 12. The report confirmed that the activities of the to ensure that it was put into effect if South Africa foreign companies constituted one of the main obstacles proceeded with the Odendaal Plan. United Nations to the development of the Territory towards in resolutions appeared to fall on deaf ears and the dependence and impeded the social, cultural and Organization must be ready to take action if, as economic development of its people. The activities seemed likely, a crisis arose as soon as the Inter of the companies strengthened the racist r~gime in national Court of Justice handed down its judgement the Republic of South Africa and encouraged its in the case brought against South Africa by Ethiopia policy in South West Africa; their rapid exploitation and Liberia. of mineral resources would leave the Territory with out wealth or raw materials in the future; their 9. His delegation would support any plan to liberate surplus profits were not reinvested in the Territory South West Africa and any resolution which en but went abroad; most of the revenue from those deavoured to promote the implementation of the companies was used to assist the European settlers Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial in the country; and the foreign monopolies were not Countries and Peoples with regard to South West interested in the development of South West Africa Africa. but merely in the high profits to be derived from it. 10, Mr. ABDEL-WAHAB (United Arab Republic) said The foreign companies which had considerable capital that it was a disgrace to the present generation of the investment in South West Africa shared with South twentieth century, which had seen the proclamation of Africa the responsibility for the sufferings of the the United Nations Charter andtheUniversalDeclara people of the Territory, and theStateswhosenationals tion of Human Rights, that the worst fears of degrada owned those companies shared that responsibility in tion, oppression and exploitation were being suffered defying the numerous resolutions of the United Nations by the people of the Mandated Territory of South concerning South West Africa. West Africa. The people of South West Africa believed in the United Nations and its principles and had always 13. The implementation of the recommendations looked to it to assist them in achieving independence. of the Commission of Enquiry into South West Africa The United Nations had setup committees, had explored Affairs, known as the Odendaal Commission, would all peaceful ways and means of persuading South lead to the partition of the Mandated Territory into Africa to honour its international obligations under the two parts, one for Africans and one for Europeans, Mandate and had recommended that all military forces and to its complete annexation by South Africa. Only should be withdrawn, all racial laws repealed and 40 per cent of the total area of the Territory was to be allocated to the Africans and that included none political prisoners released, and that preparation should be made for elections. The South African of the areas in which the most important economic Government, however, had done nothing to comply activities were concentrated, The so-called homelands with those recommendations. The United Nations would merely provide cheap labour for European therefore had no alternative but to consider ways and enterprises. The implementation of the plan would means of forcing South Africa to respect and honour entail the removal of thousands of Africans from their its international obligations. own localities, a process which had already begun. The General Assembly had requested South Africa to 11. General Assembly resolution 1899 (XVIII) urged stop that process and had stated, in its resolution 1899 all States to refrain from supplying arms or military (XVIII), that any attempt to annex the Territory would equipment, petroleum or petroleum products to South constitute an act of aggression. The most important Africa. Unfortunately, that resolution had not yet been projects proposed by the Odendaal Commission would complied with by some Member States which benefited not benefit the Africans. In short, the Commission's from the continued maladministration of the Territory recommendations envisaged the consolidation of and had an interest in the wealth of South West Africa. apartheid. The division of the African areas into The report on the implication of the activities of the ten entities along tribal lines was designed to disrupt mining industry and of the other international com African unity and to further the interests of the panies having interests in South West Africa (A/5840) Europeans. All political parties in the Territory had showed clearly that it was from those States that the opposed the Odendaal Plan, the implementation of Republic of South Africa derived its main support, which would be contrary to South Africa's obligations both in the United Nations and outside. Most of the under the Mandate and would violate the United Nations capital of the main companies, which controlled 94 Charter. 1571st meeting - 29 November 1965 333
1-±. There was no doubt that South Africa was unfit all the conclusions and recommendations adopted by to administer the Territory. The United Nations the Special Committee on 10 November 1964 (A/58-±0, should take the necessary steps to ensure that the paras. 156-178). people of South West Africa were able to exercise 17. The question of South West Africa was above all their right to self-determination and independence. a political one and the interests of the Western Powers The States which encouraged and supported the determined their attitude. The Committee should South African regm18 should be called upon to respect examine the real reasons for the maintenance of the and honour their international obligations as Members status quo in South West Africa and enable the people of the United Nations. The States whichhada financial of the Territory to gain freedom and independence. interest in South West Africa, in particular the The legal aspect was of minor importance: what United Kingdom and the United States, had it in was important was to reduce the influence of the their power to put an end to the activities of foreign Western Powers and their companies. which was companies in the Territory. The Republic of South prejudicial to the interests of the people of South Africa and its allies should be called upon to remove West Africa. He therefore asked the Committee to the military bases in South West Africa, the main support the recommendations in document A/5840 tenance of which was contrary to the Mandate. and suggested that that report should be transmitted -Mr. Bruce (Togo), Vice-Chairman, took the Chair. to the Security Council. 15. Mr. BENSID (Algeria) recalled that all States Mr. Rahnema (Iran) resumed the Chair. Members of the United Nations had admitted that 18. Mr. O'HARA (United States of America) said that the Mandate entrusted by the League of Nations to his Government's attitude towards the racial practices the racist minority of South Africa had been violated of South Africa was unchanged. At the fifteenth by the denial of the right of the people of South West session of the General Assembly, his delegation had Africa to self-determination and independence. The charged that the South African Government's racial Western Powers which had considerable interests policy had no place in the modern world; that was in the Territory were also violating the Mandate in still his Government's position. At the s~xteenth that they were exploiting the people for their own session, his delegation had voted in favour of a strong profit. resolution on South West Africa-resolution 1702 16. Until the eighteenth session of the General (XVI)-which had urged general elections on the basis Assembly, the problem had been a legal one. The of universal adult suffrage and the repeal of all Special Committee's report on the activities of repressive laws; that was still his Government's international companies in the Territory (A/5840) position. His country, which had been the first to now showed why there had been no compliance with break the bonds of colonialism, would be the last to the Assembly's recommendations and resolutions. accept any political or economic system which left Other countries besides South Africa were to blame. the majority of the population at the mercy of a The answers of the petitioners to his delegation's minority. The United States had realized over the question at the 1566th meeting concerning the activities years that government of the people, for the people of the foreign mining companies and trusts had shown and by the people could not be established per the necessity for the Special Committee's condemna manently by one generation; each generation must tion of those companies. The French journal Les make its contribution, as had been the case in the Temps Modernes of August 1965 had given details United States. of some of the big international trusts operating 19. It was regrettable that the debate had at times in South West Africa and had commented that the departed from the main issue, namely the moral and high profits were the result of virtually free labour political wrong being done to the people of South and rrood conditions for exploitation; it had also West Africa, which should not be drowned in a stated that the large United States interests no doubt quarrel over ideologies. The South African Govern explained the diplomatic lethargy of the White House ment's refusal to co-operate with the United Nations when the question of South West Africa was discussed efforts to see that the provisions of the Mandate in the United Nations. A publication of the Royal were fulfilled was a matter of public record. Not Institute of International Affairs had reported that content with applying its inhuman policies in the in 1961 the profits of Consolidated Diamond Mines Republic of South Africa, it had extended them to of South West Africa, Ltd., had amounted to more South West Africa in violation of the Mandate. The than double the Territory's budget. Mr. Verwoerd international community was continuing its efforts allowed the Western Powers to exploit the people of to find a solution. The proceedings in the case South West Africa; in return those Powers, while brought before the International Court of Justice condemning the racist policy of the settlers. did by Ethiopia and Liberia had now been concluded and not comply with the United Nations resolutions and it was to be hoped that the Court's decision would prevented the Security Council from taking the be forthcoming withm a few months. His country necessary steps to solve the problem. As could be seen attached great importance to respect by Member from document A/6035, none of the Western Powers States of judgements of the International Court of with interests in South West Africa had seen fit to Justice and he hoped that all parties would abide reply to the Secretary-General's request for informa by the Court's decision. tion on the action they had taken to comply with operative paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 20. It was the imperative duty of the Committee to 1899 (XVIII). His own country had complied with leave no evidence unexamined in its efforts to reach the provisions of that paragraph and fully supported a fair and peaceful solution. Efforts to arrive at 334 General Assembly - Twentieth Session - Fourth Committee such a solution would not IJe helped by attempts to long the people of South West Africa would remain use a legitimate mquiry for the furtherance of patient. The South African racists had already made ideological and propagandistic objectives. known their intention of annexing South West Africa and to that end had already begun to put the recom 21. The General Assembly had requested the Special mendations of the Odendaal Commission into effect Committee to consider the implications of the activ and to establish "homelands" for the Africans in order ities of the mining industry and other internatwnal to facilitate their exploitation by the white population. companies having interests in South West Africa in order to assess their economic and political influence 24. The Special Committee's recommendations and their mode of operation (resolution 1899 (XVIII)). regarding South West Africa deserved the attention of The United States and other delegations had strongly all those who detested South Africa's racist policies. opposed the adoption of the Special Committee's The Mandate should be terminated since the South report (A /58c!O) since its conclusions and recom African Government had not fulfilled its obligations mendations constituted unconstructive and undisguised towards the people of South West Africa and the propaganda attacks on the United States ancl the international community and since its policy was United Kingdom; they gave no assessment of the a violation of the principles of the United Nations economic and political influence of the foreign Charter. companies and used terms alien to most of the members of the Committee. The working paper 25. His delegation would support any effective meas prepared by the Secretariat, .!:J most of which was ure and any draft resolution aimed at securing the reproduced as part two of the report of Sub-Com implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of mittee I of the Special Committee (A/58c!O. annex). Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples in gave much detailed and useful factual information South West Africa. on South West Africa and would have provided a 26. Mr. BOULHOUD (Congo, Brazzaville) said that fair basis for such an assessment: but chapter XII after more than eighteen years the United Nations of the working paper. which had given the conclusions was still far from finding a solution to the problem drawn by the Secretariat and was in keeping with the of South West Africa that was satisfactory and in terms of reference. had not been included in Sub conformity with the principles of the Charter. Committee I' s report. despite the request of some delegations. The Special Committee had not, of course, 27. The petitioners who had appeared before the been obliged to adopt the Secretariat's conclusions Committee had outlined the different aspects of the without change, but it should have reproduced the problem and shed light on the gravity of the situation entire working paper if any of that paper was to be in South West Africa, where the interests of the included in the report. Moreover, no reasonable majority were being violated by a band of brigands, person who compared the Secretariat's conclusions plunderers and fascists, equipped with a military with those adopted by the Special Committee could arsenal, who were determined to safeguard the accept that the same factual material had served as interests of foreign monopolies and were transforming the basis of analysis in both cases. Not only did the the region into an occupation zone in order to Special Committee's conclusions present unsupported ensure the exploitation of the abundant wealth of accusations but its recommendations inclucled the that part of Africa. unqualified allegation that the United States and 28. The Congolese delegation paid a special tribute United Kingdom supported the South African Govern to the Special Committee on the Situation with regard ment, an allegation which his delegation categorically to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Grant rejected. The Special Committee's adoption of the ing of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples report had neither enhanced the prestige of the for its report on the implications of the activities United Nations nor advanced the cause of the people of the mining industry and of the other international of South West Africa. companies having interests in South West Africa 22. South West Africa was a major concern of the (A/5840). The conclusions and recommendations in United States and the whole international community. that report provided· an objective source for any His country would continue to provide educational approach to the question of South West Africa. assistance to the people of the Territory. Alone and 29. The ::;ituation in South West Africa called for with others, his country would try to bring closer practical solutions. His delegatioH w,,:o, sceptical the day when international responsibility for South regarding the legal solutions that might cosult from West Africa had been fulfilled and the people of the the judgement to be rendered by the I!
Territory. It was logical to conclude that, since of resolutions. The only thing that South Africa would South Africa had been administering South West Africa w1derstand was the use of force to compel Mr. when the United Nations had been founded, the Mandate Verwoerd and his collaborators to comply with all under which it had exercised administrative powers the resolutions on South West Africa. The fact over the Territory was still in force. The fact that that South Africa, a Member State, could flout its South Africa had systematically refused to conclude resolutions with impunity, while the sufferings of the the special agreement referred to in Article 75 of peoples of South West Africa continued unabated, the Charter did not mean that the Territory of impaired the prestige of the United Nations. South West Africa was not covered by Chapter XII 44. It might be asked how much longer those un of the Charter. If South West Africa was not considered fortunate people would endure slavery and the ex as coming under that Chapter, South Africa was administering what must be considered a Non-Self ploitation of their human and natural resources, Governing Territory, in which case South Africa must what should be done to those who had brought comply with its obligations under Chapter XI of the such suffering to the African people of South West Charter. If that were not the case, South Africa Africa, what should be done to the States Members would have to reply to charges of aggression and of the United Nations which were lending support to the racist regime of South Africa by investing territorial encroachment and would have to suffer capital in the Territory, and why South Africa should the consequences of such action, which was contrary be allowed to defy with impunity the United Nations to the provisions of the Charter. recommendations concerning South West Africa. His 39. In any event, his delegation considered that delegation felt that the time had come for the United South Africa's Mandate for South West Africa should Nations to take action to revoke the Mandate and be revoked without delay, for the administration of to assume the administration of South West Africa the Territory could no longer be entrusted to a under the International Trusteeship System. Government holding such fanatical racial views; and that the Territory should be placed under United 45. The United Kingdom, the United States, the Nations trusteeship. Federal Republic of Germany and other States which had supported the racist South African regime in 40. Mr. KISAKA (Kenya) expressed his delegation's its defiance of the United Nations should be called gratitude to the petitioners, who had shed light on upon to withdraw their capital investments and to the sufferings of the African population at the hands stop their selfish activities, which were contributing of the white settlers and on the obstacles in the way to the misery of the African population of South of their attainment of self-determination and independ West Africa. The foreign companies which were ence. He also thanked Ethiopia and Liberia for exploiting the wealth of the Territory and not benefiting having instituted proceedings against the Republic the indigenous inhabitants should be called upon to of South Africa in the International Court of Justice. pay compensation to the United Nations, the funds 41. By now, the Territory of South West Africa so obtained to be used, under United Nations super should either have been granted independence or vision, for the development of the African people. placed under the International Trusteeship System. 46. All foreign trading, commercial and farming Instead, South Africa had unilaterally and illegally communities who claimed to have made their per incorporated South West Africa and the racist manent homes in South West Africa would be well Verwoerd regime was administering the Territory as advised to stop practising racial discrimination against part of that country. Africans and to change their attitude towards the 42. The racist regime of South Africa had made struggle of Africans for freedom, or face the possibility statements supporting the proposals made in the of expulusion when the Territory became independent. Odenctaal Commission's report~/ and the petitioners 47. Foreign immigrants who were being encouraged had pointed out that South Africa was in fact starting by South Africa to acquire land and settle in South to put those proposals into effect by setting up the West Africa should be reminded that, in the eyes of so-called non-European homelands. His country was African States and the world, South West Africa was strongly opposed to the Odendaal Commission's not a colony of South Africa open to foreign immigra recommendations which, if implemented, would result tion and that all transfers of land from the indigenous in the dismemberment of the Territory of South population to foreign nationals were ill<~gal West Africa, in defiance of operative paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV). 48. His delegation was convinced that all illdf:'penrlent African States and all peace-loving SteW'S which 43. The many resolutions which the General Assembly believed in the principles of the Charter would do had adopted in its endeavours to settle the question of their utmost to help the African people of South South West Africa by peaceful means had been West Africa to liberate themselves from the domina deliberately ignored by the police State of South tion of the South African racist regime. Africa, which had continued ruthlessly to extend its criminal policy of apartheid, economic exploitation and 49. Mr. BOZOVIC (Yugoslavia) thanked the peti political domination to South West Africa. His Govern tioners, who had once more drawn attention to the ment was convincect that the question of South West tragic consequences of the racist policies pursued Africa could never be settled by the mere adoption by the white minority in South West Africa. Nothing had changed m that regard and human beings were still living in conditions of slavery merely because lJ Republlc of South Afnca, Report _Qf_ ~CommiSSIOn of Engmry mto South West Afnca Affairs, 1962-1963 (Pretoria, Government of the colour of their skin. The concepts of law, Printer, 1964 ). justice, morality and reason seemed to be foreign 1571st meeting - 29 November 1965 to the racist authorities of South Africa, who, as in South West Africa led to the conclusion that those the petitioners had told the Committee, had been activities constituted one of the main obstacles to joined by over 2,000 former Nazis. All the activities the country's development towards i11dependence (A I of the racist Government at the domestic level 5840, para. 176). Although some countries were were illegal because the authorities carrying them critical of the information and recommendations ln out were illegal. The situation was no better at that report, the facts deprived such criticism of the international level. There was not a single any value. Moreover, the actiYities of foreign com provision of the United Nations Charter relating to panies in South West Africa could not he validly human rights and international co-operation which compared with activities of those companL:s in had not been violated by those authorities, The efforts independent countries. High profits, cheap labour and made by the Organization over the past twenty years favourable conditions for exploitation fully explained to persuade South Africa to change its policies had the desire of foreign investors to preserve the been to no avail, nor had the United Nations been any status quo in South West Africa and to continue to assist more successful in influencing the forces that the racist Government of South Africa. supported the white minority in South Africa. While it was true that some success had been achieved in 53. Developments in South West Africa called for persuading Members to impose an arms embargo, urgent action by both the General Assembly and the some countries had taken that decision after the Security Council. It was to be hoped that the unity Whites in South Africa had already become self of action of the political parties in South \Vest sufficient with regard to arms and ammunition. Africa, together with the support of the United Nations Economic sanctions, however, had been rejected: and all democratic forces in the world and concerted foreign investments were increasing and the trade action on the part of the Organization of African of some countries with South Africa was expanding. Unity, would induce Governments that as::nsted the South African Government by trade or other means 50. The racist Government of South Africa, which to associate themselves with action~> aimed at a was not disturbed by verbal condemnations and peaceful solution of the problem. That was a basic relied largely on practical support, was pursuing consideration which should be horne in mi.ncl in even more ruthlessly the integration of South West preparing draft resolutions on the question. Africa into South Africa and its subjection of the inhabitants of the Territory. It had invoked the sub 54. His delegation would support any measure judice principle at the international level and was designed to put an end to a situation which was a threat carrying out the recommendations of the Odendaal to world peace. Commission. At the 1568th meeting the South African 55. Mr. HATTINGH (South Africa). speaking in ex representative had denied that South Africa was going ercise of the right of reply, said that the land ahead with the implementation of the Odendaal recom purchases in South West Africa to which the Yugoslav mendations, but it was a fact that large sums were representative had referred had nothing to do with the being spent on the purchase of land for settlement actual delimitation of the non-white homelands in by Whites and non-Whites. Preparations were being South West Africa. made to establish so-called homelands for non-white groups. As the Whites needed African labour, Africans 56. Mr. SAWAI (Japan), replying to a referenc
68. With regard to the relations between the United granting to the United Kingdom of priority nghts to Kingdom and the Sultanate, they were the relations the Sur coal-fields in 1901 :mJ the granting of a of one sovereign State with another. The United f1rst option on IJetroleum development in l92:J Inc! Kingdom was in no way responsible for the foreign had the effect of further llmiting the Sultan's sove or other affairs of the Sultanate, though it had on reignty, but the Committee did not explain why it occasion, at the request of the Sultan, acted on thought that to be the case, specific issues on his behalf. Its position in that 71. In paragraph 598 of the report the Committet regard was fully set out in annex VII of the Ad Hoc suggested that the United Kingdom had supported the Committee's report. The United Kingdom was repre Sultans irrespective of the measure of popular support sented in the Sultanate, but so was India, as also that they commanded, owing to a desire to maintain the United States on a visiting basis. in power a ruler over whom it had some influence. 69. It was because the United Kingdom Government The fact was that the United Kingdom Government's had been accused of maintaining a colonial relationship aim during that period had been to preserve peace with the Sultanate that that Government had agreed to by affording support to the lawful rule ofthe Sultanate co-operate with the _Ad Hoc Committee in order to of Muscat and Oman. give it a precise description of the United Kingdom's 72. It was to be welcomed that, in paragraphs 60-! historical and present-day relations with Muscat and and 605, the report helped to discredit the allegations Oman. The memorandum in annex VII of the report that the United Kingdom had been a principal to the had accordingly been presented to the Ad Hoc Com Agreement of Sib and to confirm that the British mittee and its members had had a full opportunity to Consul had played the part ot a mediator. The discuss the memorandum w1th Foreign Office officials Committee also recog11ized that the Agreement had m London. It was encouraging that, deBpite some been between the "Government of the Sultan" and extravagant claims which had been made J)efore it, the "people of Oman". As the Committee explained the Ad Hoc Committee concluded in its report that in paragraph 605. the mediatory role of the British the United Kingdom had played no decisive role in Consul had continued after the signature of the the establishment of the Sultanate at the turn of the Agreement. a fact which explained the ·continuing eighteenth century. It concluded, indeed, that in correspondence between the Omanis and the Consul. the early years of the Sultanate the United Kingdom had done little to help to keep the Sultan in control 73. In paragraph 607. the Committee stated that of his Government; paragraphs 239, 586 and 587 of after 1923 no agreements had been made between the the report were significant in that regard. two countries which might be thought inconsistent with the sovereignty and independence of the Sultanate. 70. He could not, however. accept the comments He hoped that the Fourth Committee would give due of the Committee on the treaty relationships existing attention to the opmion of the United Nations Legal in the nineteenth ancl early twentieth centuries between Counsel quoted in paragraph 418 of the replll"t, in the United Kingdom and the Sultanate, Paragraph 579, which it was stated that no question had ever been for example, described the commercial treaty of 1839 raised in regard to the registration of tr-,_~aties and the treaties of 1822 and 1845 relating to the concluded by Member States with the SL!ltanate of &uppression of the slave trade as unfair and unequal Muscat and Oman. It might he wondered wlly those in the sense that they imposed many more obligations who had doubts regarding the sovere1gnty ot the on Muscat and Oman than on the United Kingdom. The Sultanate had not challenged the validity of the treaties on the slave trade. however, could hardly treaties at the time when they had been regiBtered have provided in equal terms for its abolition in with the United Nations. It seemed evident thai the both countries. for the trade had already been abolished doubts about the sovereignty and independencP cf the in the United Kingdom; as to the commercial treaty, Sultanate had been brought to tht- :ttt,~r.tion of the 1t was pointed out in paragraph 580 that the treaty United Nations only when it had served the interests was no different from those entered into by the of propaganda. Sultanate with other Powers. It was true that re ciprocal arrangements for trade were absent from 74. The Ad Hoc Committee had devoted much :ti tcntion the 1891 commercial treaty, but that might well have to the role of the United Kingdom in the evcmt s in been a sm1ple reflection of the realities of the day, Muscat and Oman between 1955 :tnd 1958. He was )>vl!'Jcl in that no Sultanate subjects were engaged in trade to take issue with the Committet-' ,, c._:onclusion;, Ull in the United Kingdom. In paragraph 591 it was that question. which were based,-.,, iq wruLtte inf()rma observed that the Non-Alienation Bond of 1891 seemed tion. There was no truth in the allL·s· ., 1·,~cor.!ed 111 to limit Bubstantially the Sultan's sovereignty as a paragraph 429 that United Kingdom n,Jl, tanr missions ruler. In that regard he would refer the Committee had been sent to the Sultan::'."·· :,s early as 1 95J. to paragraph 8 of the memorandum in annex VII of Paragraph 433 quoted an allegation that the United the report, which made it clear, in particular, that Kingdom had occupied the Buraimi oasis in 1955. the essence of the agreement was that the Sultan He must emphasize that it was the Sultan of Yiuscat deferred to the United Kingdom Government in ensur and Oman and the Ruler of Abu DhaJJi who had re ing that no other Power should derogate from the occupied Buraimi in 1955 following its earlier occupa Sultanate's independence to British disadvantage. tion by Saudi Arabian forces. With regard to the Despite the explanation given in the memorandum, allegations in paragraphs 434 and -±40. the truth was the Committee, in paragraph 592, expressed the that a small contingent of United Kingdom troops hac! feeling that something more was involved in the intervened at the requestoftheSultanon5 August 1957 Bond, but did not give any evidence for that view. In and had remained for only two weeks. The Sultan had paragraph 596, the Committee claimed that the requested assistance in putting down a rebellion 340 General Assembly - Twentieth Session - Fourth Committee financed and assisted by hostile States. The legal despite the extravagant claims made before it, it arguments 111 support of the intervention had been had reached the conclusion that the Sultanate was set out by Mr. de Ribbing and were reproduced in neither a colony nor a protectorate. The fact was paragraph 469 of the Ad Hoc Committee's report, and that it was a sovereign and independent State. It was he would have wished that the Committee had paid the way of the world that some countries helped each "orne regard to the evidence in Mr. de Ribbing's other more than others, and it was not necessary 1 eport. For example, the Committee's suggestion to debate or analyse that phenomenon in the case that the United Kingdom had been associated in some of the United Kingdom's relations with the Sultanate. way with the Sultan's reassertion of his control over 77. He would now comment on paragraphs 673 to 679 t, e tribes of the interior in 1955 was contrary to all of the report, concerning the present situation in the known evidence. With regard to the suggestion in Muscat and Oman, though only in so far as they con paragraph 669 that the United Kingdom Government cerned his country's alleged part in the situation. ha•l not considered all aspects of the question when Again, it was to be regretted that the description given it had intervened in 1957, he could state that his in Mr. de Ribbing's report was not taken into account Government had indeed considered very carefully although Mr. de Ribbing had been the Secretary the implications of its decision. The Committee's General's representative and had seen conditions in speculations about a connexion between the interven the Sultanate with his own eyes. The evidence received tion and an interest in oil were unfounded: oil had from the Omani rebels was almost entirely hearsay not been discovered in Oman in commercial quantities evidence. Paragraphs 483 and 485 quoted the claim that until 1964. guerrilla warfare continued in the Sultanate, but 75. The Ad Hoc Committee, in the evaluation made Mr. de Ribbing had reported that he had found only in paragraphs 609-621, concluded that there was peace, order and security in Oman in 1963. The nothing in the agreements signed since 1957 that allegations in paragraphs 487-488 were groundless. implied unequal status between the United Kingdom and The lengthy allegations against the Sultan and his the Sultanate. The Committee noted in paragraph 614 Government in paragraphs 490-497 were for them to that the provisions in the Treaty of Friendship, answer, but he would invite the Committee to compare Commerce and Nav1gation of 1951 for a limited the allegations with the evidence in Mr. de Ribbing's amount of extraterritorial jurisdiction over certain report. He would also draw attention to the description categories of foreigners in the Sultanate had since in Mr. de Ribbing's report of the development as been further curtailed: in fact, as mentioned in sistance given to the Sultanate by the United Kingdom paragraph 18 of the United Kingdom memorandum, Government, since the Ad Hoc Committee, in making the agreement providing for such extraterritorial its comments in paragraph 677, did not mention the jurisdiction was to expire on 31 December 1966. The development programmes proceeding in the Sultanate. postal services mentioned in paragraph 617 had been 78. The list of United Kingdom bases given in para provided almost entirely on a commercial basis and graph 523 was fictitious. The United Kingdom simply the Sultanate hact now decided to begin running its had permission for two RAF staging posts, at Salalah own postal services. Despite the Committee's con and Masirah. There were no United Kingdom troops clusion that each of the arrangements was compatible stationed in the Sultanate, as Mr. de Ribbing's report with the sovereign status of the Sultanate, it was again confirmed; there were merely about thirty asserted in paragraph 619 that, when the arrangements contract officers of United Kingdom nationality and were considered collectively, some doubts were about thirty United Kingdom officers on secondment raised. In that regard, he would refer again to Mr. who were employed in the Sultan's armed forces. de Ribbing's report (A/5562), which haddemonstrated that the Sultan was in full control of his own affairs; 79. The Committee, because it considered that the moreover, the Sultan had made clear his own views system of rule in the Sultanate was autocratic, on the matter to the Ad Hoc Committee. As the expressed the belief in paragraph 679 that there was Committee stated in paragraph 618, the Sultanate substance to many of the claims of the Omani rebels had its own Department of External Affairs and no concerning the present situation. He did not understand agreement existed which called on the United Kingdom how the Committee had reached that conclusion. to handle the Sultanate's foreign relations. When the United Kingdom consented to act for the Sultan in the 80. It would come as no surprise that his delegation field of foreign affairs, it did so on the Sultan's had serious reservations concerning the conclusions in chapter V. With regard to the conclusion that the instructions and did not attempt to formulate policy. question of Oman was a serious international problem, 76. The Ad Hoc Committee had concluded, in para the Ad Hoc Committee had in fact been considering graph 621, that the Sultanate could not be considered in its report the internal affairs of a single country, a colony or protectorate in a formal sense and that not a dispute between two countries. The Ad Hoc none of the agreements between the Sultan and the Committee had not upheld the view that the Sultanate United Kingdom gave the latter any authority over of Muscat and the Imamate of Oman were two the Sultan or powers of administration in the Sultanate. countries, and even the Omani rebels did not seem to Yet the Committee claimed that the United Kingdom's recognize the existence of two independent States relationship with the Sultanate was a special and in Muscat and Oman. Secondly, the Committee con rather exclusive one. The relationship was certainly cluded that the problem derived from imperialistic not exclusive. If there was a "special" relationship, policies and foreign intervention in Muscat and Oman. whatever that meant, it did not follow that the There might be some substance to that conclusion relationship was one possessing a colonial flavour. if the Committee had been referring to the policies of It was to the credit of the Ad Hoc Committee that, certain Governments in supporting a reb0llious group 1571st meeting- 29 November 1965 341 in a sovereign State, but the Committee apparently and Oman, a sovereign and independent country whose meant that the United Kingdom Government exerted Government was in full control of its territory and, some undesirable influence over the affairs of on the other, a small group of individuals, some of Muscat and Oman. He believed that he had disposed whom had participated in an unsuccessful revolt of those allegations. Thirdly, the Committee asserted six years earlier against the legal authorities. The that the problem was giving rise to unrest and United Nations did not normally intervene in such suffering and that the parties should therefore enter situations or recognize them as problems. Con into negotiations. If there was unrest and suffering sequently, he hoped that the Committee would adopt among the small group of rebels who chose not to a simple resolution recommending to the General live in their own country, they should perhaps return Assembly that the "question of Oman" should be and make their peace with the legal Government of deleted from the agenda. Muscat and On,'1n. The Sultan had long expressed his willingness to offer an amnesty to all rebels. 82. Mr. AL-RACHACH (Saudi Arabia) said that the With regard to nc;gotiations, the Sultan had pointed United Kingdom representative's statement was in out, as quoted in paragraph 204, that a ruler could itself significant with regard to the question whether not be expected to sit in court as the equal of his the problem was a colonial one or not. The United subjects. As recorded in paragraph 481, the United Kingdom's representative had tried to suggest to the Kingdom continued to wish for a settlement whereby Committee that the Omani case was confused, but the rebels could return to Oman under terms satis there was surely no difficulty in seeing who, in fact, factory to the Sultan and themselves. There was no was the aggressor. With regard to his reference to need for any United Nations negotiation machinery Buraimi, there had never been any question of its since channels for contact between the Sultan and the "occupation" by Saudi Arabia because it was part of rebels already existed. With regard to the remaining the territory of Saudi Arabia. conclusions, in view of the Sultan's offer of amnesty 83. With regard to the remarks of the Costa Rican there was little that his Government could do; the representative concerning the co-operation of Govern Arab States were in a better position than the United ments with the Ad Hoc Committee, his Government's Kingdom to encourage the rebels to take advantage of desire had been to enable the Committee to know that amnesty. He had little doubt that, but for support the true facts so that the Omani people could exercise and encouragement from outside, the small group of their right to self-determination and independence. rebels would long ago have returned to their country to live in peace and share in its development. More 84. Mr. AL-DAOUD (Iraq) noted that the United over, more of the resources of the Sultanate could Kingdom representative had referred to the Omani then have been diverted to development to the benefit leaders as "rebels". He recalled that the patriotic of all its citizens; in the circumstances, the Sultan opponents of United Kingdom colonialism in other and his Government had been obliged to take the parts of the world had been referred to as rebels necessary action to ensure peace in the Sultanate and but were now recognized as the representatives of the maintenance of its territorial integrity. their people. 81. What, then, was left of the "question of Oman"? On the one hand, there was the Sultanate of Muscat The meeting rose at 1.35 p.m.
Litho m U.N. 77401-May 1966-2,250