United Nations FOURTH COMMITTEE, 1366th GENERAL MEETING Tuesday, 30 October 1962, ASSEMBLY at 3.10 p.m. SEVENTEENTH SESSION Official Records • NEW YORK CONTENTS ber of African employers was growing rapidly. The Page objective in Southern Rhodesia was the complete re­ Agenda item 56: moval of all racial distinctions and he thought that his Question of Southern Rhodesia: report of the country had gone further in that direction than some Special Committee established under Gen­ of the older countries. His party's election programme eral Assembly resolution 1654 (XVI) (con­ included the proposal that racial discrimination in tinued) public places should be made a criminal offence. General debate (continued). . . . • ...... 237 4. In agriculture, great progress had been made. As Consideration of draft resolution A/C.4/ a result of soil experiments, the white farmers had L. 750 (continued)...... 244 now achieved the highest output of corn per acre of any part of the world, including the United States. Chairman: Mr. Guillermo FLORES AVENDANO They had also built up a tobacco industry which made (Guatemala). Southern Rhodesia the second largest exporter of Virginia tobacco in the world and provided valuable revenue for the essential services provided by the AGENDA ITEM 56 Government. In African agriculture, too, the results of experiments had been applied and there had been Question of Southern Rhodesia: report of the Special Com· a most encouraging improvement in production per mittee established under General Assembly resolution acre. Irrigation had also been developed and there 1654 (XVI) (A/5238, chap. II; A/C.4/560, A/C.4/561, were a number of irrigation schemes specifically de­ A!C.4/564, A/C.4/565, A!C.4/568, A/C.4/569; AI signed to assist African farmers. The number of people who were rising above the general level of C.4/L.750) (continued) subsistence farming and becoming reasonably wealthy was rapidly increasing. The production of crops of all GENERAL DEBATE (continued) kinds was being developed. Already Southern Rhodesia 1. Sir Edgar WHITEHEAD (United Kingdom) said that had been able to make its part of the world self-sup­ he had come to the United Nations, as the Prime Min­ porting in sugar production. Thus great progress was ister of Southern Rhodesia, to explain something of the being made in the task of feeding the country's people, background in his country and of the plans and accom­ and infant and child mortality rates were now among plishments of his Government. the lowest in Africa. At the present rate of develop­ ment Southern Rhodesia would soon be able to make a 2. When the first white people had come to Southern real contribution towards relieving food deficiency Rhodesia in 1890, the population of the country had throughout the world. been about half a million; it had since multiplied to nearly 4 million, of whom 3,600,000 were Africans. 5. The type of pine which grew in America had been That figure would certainly double itself within twenty introduced in Southern Rhodesia with great success, years. That was one of the major factors to be taken and the country was now self-supporting in newsprint. into account when considering the economic and polit­ There had also been development over a tremendous ical future of the country; the need for industry and range of minerals. Southern Rhodesia already had economic development was paramount. steel works which were producing a vast variety of 3. The first form of government after the white man products for the local market and it was now economi­ had come to Southern Rhodesia had been a company cally possible to export pig iron to Europe with a government, a system which was now completely out profit after paying all the transport costs. of date. The first Constitution giving Southern Rhodesia some form of self-government had been introduced in 6. Thus more and more employment opportunities 1922 after a referendum in which the electorate, then were being provided for the people. Modern labour entirely white, had chosen self-government and had movements were naturally coming into existence, with rejected union with South Africa. During the ensuing the full encouragement of the Government, and anum­ forty years there had been many changes both in ideas ber of new labour laws, in conformity with the prin­ and in material conditions. Industry had developed ciples laid down by the International Labour Organisa­ enormously and the country had still been viable even tion, had been passed. There was a law under which no at the end of the Second World War. After the war trade union could be recognized unless its membership there had been a great burst of industrial activity and was open to people of all races. The old system of a considerable foreign investment in Southern Rhodesia. rigid minimum wage had been replaced by a minimum A certain standard of wealth had been achieved. There wage for each industry, fixed by boards in which the were now over 600,000 workers in employment and it workers had full representation. In most cases the was no longer true that all those workers had white wages paid were among the highest in Africa. The employers: at the last census there had been 56,000 principle of the rate for the job had been established; workers employed by African employers and the num- that meant that when Africans took over posts previ- 237 A/C.4/SR.1366 238 General Assembly - Seventeenth Session - Fourth Committee ously filled by Whites they received the wage that the had increased enormously and the number of children white man had been paid. in school had risen from 400,000 to 593,000, 9. Against that background, the political problems in 7. One problem which had been mentioned during the his country could be readily understood. In Southern Committee's discussions was the land problem. With Rhodesia there was a white community of about the population increase it was {\O longer easy for a 225,000 persons who had made a permanent home young man to obtain land when he married. In the early there. There were not, as in many other parts of days a certain amount of land had been set aside by Africa, expatriates living and serving in the country law for the use of the Africans only and the remainder had been divided into land for African purchase and and then retiring to their homes elsewhere. Some of land for European purchase. That had been done be­ his friends were the fifth generation born in Africa, cause at that time the economic position ofthe Whites None of the Whites had ties or loyalties outside the had been such that without such provisions they would boundaries of the country. They had fulfilled an in­ valuable service to the country and would continue have been able to buy up all the land in the country. to do so. The Africans, for their part, had only re­ The amount of land reserved for the use of the Africans had since been added to; at the present time about cently begun to take a keen interest in politics; as recently as 1953, when the plan for the Federation of four-ninths of Southern Rhodesia's land was so re­ Rhodesia and Nyasaland had been discussed, little served, about one-ninth was national land and the re­ interest had been found among the Africans. A sudden mainder was divided between land that might be bought and violent political change-over would be impossible, by people of any race and land that was available for particularly in a country where already 600,000 people purchase exclusively by white people or exclusively were dependent for their employment and livelihood by Africans. It was the Government's intention to do on the industries which had been built up. away with the latter distinction within the next year. The time had come when all available land in the 10. He was aware that there was a considerable country must be brought into productive use and, amount of suspicion among the Africans-particularly while the reserved tribal land would remain, all other among those who participated actively in politics-that land would become open to purchase by persons of the white minority intended to cling to power for ever. any race. Such purchase was being assisted by the That was quite untrue. He had told the predominantly subdivision of land into manageable holdings. Although white electorate that the Africans would undoubtedly some Africans preferred to continue with the tribal have a majority within fifteen years. That might seem system, an increasing number were anxious to pur­ a long time to the Committee, but the intention was chase land. About 7,000 had now purchased land and that from now on both Whites and Blacks should take he had recently given a pledge to the African National part at every stage of planning and development and Farmers' Union that another 3,000 farms of two to 500 that gradually the African majority would predominate, acres would be available during the next eighteen while the white minority would continue to perform months. Capital was being provided to help such pur­ their indispensable role. He was absolutely satisfied chase and everything was being done to stimulate the that that course was the wisest one in the condi­ growth of co-operatives. He would add that while there tions of Southern Rhodesia and it was gaining wide were still two farming organizations, one white and acceptance. one black, those organizations were co-operating and 11. Of the three alternatives which were open to his would, he was confident, soon unite to form one body. country, the first, that of maintaining white supremacy indefinitely, he had completely rejected: he had told s. While land was the first need of the Africans, the the Southern Rhodesian Parliament that white su­ question of education was also of the greatest interest premacy in Southern Rhodesia was as extinct as the to them. He had recently toured the country, including dodo. The second alternative was that followed in most all the remote rural areas, meeting and talking with of tropical Africa, where Europeans gradually dis­ the people, and he therefore knew what their needs appeared and were replaced by Africans. In Southern and interests were. According to the last estimate, Rhodesia that solution would be disastrous, for if the 95.1 per cent of the country's children were now re­ Europeans were driven out the economy that had taken ceiving five years of primary education. Figures for forty years to build would collapse. The resulting the remaining three years of primary education were 3ituation would probably be worse than that which had not so good, but the standard was very high and the 'irisen in the Congo. The third alternative was the one experts at the latest UNESCO meeting in Paris had which he was trying to follow. In the first place, every agreed that the final two years of primary education vestige of discrimination against the Africans must be would be counted as secondary education in most eliminated and made illegal. Secondly, all separation African countries which had a six-year primary of land between races, except for the old tribal land, course. Allegations had been made to the Committee must be abolished. Thirdly., people of all races must that the Government was holding back secondary be involved in planning and decision-making. Fourthly, education, but the fact was that during the four years the Government must show by its acts during the next that he had been Prime Minister secondary schools few years the absolute sincerity of its desire to build had increased in number from twenty-three to forty­ a new society. The attempt would be somethingunique two, The Government clearly cou-ld not be expected in Africa but he intended to make it succeed. to expand secondary education at the expense of uni­ versal primary education; none of the parents would 12. Turning to constitutional matters, he observed agree to that. The teachers were working very hard, that when he had taken office the Constitution that had many of them giving two courses a day. Some 1,100 been in force for some thirty-six years had given to 1,200 fully qualified teachers were being trained complete administrative power to the Southern Rho­ each year and a new higher-training school for teachers desian Government. On the legislative side, the all­ was being set up. There was also a training school white Parliament had had complete freedom except for technical teachers, with extremely high standards. in matters involving discrimination. There were During the last four years expenditure on education naturally certain matters, such as marriage laws, 1366th meeting - 30 October 1962 239 in which differences in law were quite proper, but to allow those who disagreed with it to lead a normal every measure of a discriminatory nature had required life. The meetings of other political parties had been the approval of the United Kingdom. During the early broken up; those who belonged openly to another polit­ days the United Kingdom had not shown any great in­ ical party had been ostracized or subjected to vio­ terest in Southern Rhodesia but later it had sent a lence; one man had even been beaten to death for diplomatic mission, which was the existing link be­ attending a football match instead of a political meet­ tween the United Kingdom and Southern Rhodesia. In ing which he had been ordered to attend. It was for that connexion, he noted that the Committee had such action, and not for their opinions, that political reached the conclusion that Southern Rhodesia was not parties had been banned. Parties which were prepared self-governing. It was unfortunate to be told that, be­ to argue their case peacefully could do so without fear, cause for some thirty years his country had been un­ but he would continue to take action against parties able to receive the generous assistance provided by which refused to tolerate their opponents. Many of the the United Kingdom to its dependencies from Colonial people who supported his concept of non-racialism, Development and Welfare Funds, on the grounds that particularly Africans, had suffered terribly for their Southern Rhodesia was self-governing. beliefs, but they had stood firm because they were perfectly sincere. 13. On examining the old Constitution, he had come to the conclusion that it was out of date. For one thing, 17. It had sometimes been suggested that he used the rate at which Africans would be likely to obtain all-white, heavily armed security forces to maintain seats in Parliament under it would be unduly slow; his position as Prime Minister. That was quite untrue: moreover, many of its provisions needed to be half of the police reservists were Africans. Although amended. He had therefore suggested to the United the African who volunteered was paid only if he was Kingdom Government that a new constitution should called out for duty, the number of volunteers had in­ be discussed. The United Kingdom Government had creased from 6,100 to 7,500 since the banning of ZAPU. said that it would be necessary to have a full con­ Those people genuinely wanted to preserve law and ference with all political parties represented, and he order and to stop political intimidation. had readily agreed to that proposal. The conference 18. He believed that if the new Constitution was had opened in London in December 1960 and had been carried through in the spirit in which it had been continued in Salisbury, first under his own chairman­ drafted, it would be possible to built up a nation in ship and later under a United Kingdom chairman. With Southern Rhodesia of people of every race, to remove the exception of the right-wing European party, all all barriers between races and to create a society groups represented had given their assent to the final in which both human and natural resources were used agreement, except that all groups had reserved their to the greatest benefit of all the people. Those who position on the question of the franchise. It had not knew him realized that he had risked his political been until a full three weeks later that Mr. Nimmo, future, with a predominantly white electorate, in the President of the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union preaching that ideal. He believed that something could (ZAPU), had repudiated the agreement. be created in Southern Rhodesia which would be of real value to the world as a whole. 14. He himself had been particularly interested in the Declaration of Rights: being convinced that there would 19. Mr. SWAI (Tanganyika), speaking on a point of be an African majority in Southern Rhodesia within a order, said that it had come to the notice of some period of years, he had been particularly concerned members of the Committee that the Constitution of regarding the protection of minority rights. The device 6 December 1961 would go into effect as from which had been adopted at his suggestion was the pro­ 1 November 1962, that the present legislature would vision for a referendum among each of the four racial be dissolved and that elections would be held on groups before the entrenched clauses in the Constitu­ 14 December 1962. He asked the United Kingdom tion could be amended. It would be hard to conceive representative whether that was correct. any more effective safeguard for minorities. Another 20. Sir Edgar WHITEHEAD (United Kingdom) replied new device was the arrangement for any alleged in­ in the affirmative. There had been a public announce­ fringement of constitutional rights to go to the courts ment concerning the date of the forthcoming election. for a decision rather than to a political body in the That date had depended entirely on when delimitation United Kingdom; that, in his view, provided far better would be completed. For local reasons elections in protection. Southern Rhodesia could not be held in January or February, At one time it had been thought that it would 15. He knew that many people still felt that African be impossible to hold them before March 1963 but it representation in Parliament would be inadequate. had since been found practicable to hold them in There was now, however, a certainty that African December 1962. Had he wished he could have put the voters would control at least seventeen seats in the new Constitution into effect before coming to the United first election, and nothing could ?revent that number Nations. He had not done so because, had the Constitu­ from increasing. He did not think that that rate of tion come into force before 1 November, the voters progress was as unreasonable as it would be in a registered in August would have been disenfranchised country where Africans made up 98 per cent of the and that would have been wrong. population. All his Government asked was limited time to build a non-racial State. 21. Mr. PASCUCCI-RIGHI (Italy) suggested that the statement by the United Kingdom representative should 16. Problems with regard to law and order had been be circulated as a Committee document. mentioned in the Committee. In Southern Rhodesia any one could hold whatever opinions he wished and could 22. Mr. JUARBE Y JUARBE (Cuba) said that the join a political party holding any principles he chose; statement in question deserved careful study, for it at one time, there had been about twelve political was a brilliant attempt to justify the prolongation of parties in the country. The one thing he had taken colonialism and the subjection of the African peoples action against was the refusal of a particular party of Southern Rhodesia by all the methods, including 240 General Assembly - Seventeenth Session - Fourth Committee racial discrimination, with which the Committee was 33. Mr. ACHKAR (Guinea) observed that Sir Edgar fully conversant. He therefore supported the Italian Whitehead, who had painted an idyllic picture of con­ representative's suggestion. ditions in Southern Rhodesia, had failed to answer 23. The CHAIRMAN said that if there was no objec­ certain important questions. In particular his dele­ tion the full text of the statement by the United King­ gation would like to know whether he thought that the dom representative would be circulated as a Com­ fact that the 1961 Constitution would be put into effect mittee document. on 1 November 1962 would ease the political situation in Southern Rhodesia. It was so deoided.l.l 34. Secondly, he would appreciate it if Sir Edgar 24. Miss BROOKS (Liberia) said that since, at the Whitehead would explain what he had meant when he resumed sixteenth session, the United Kingdom repre­ had said, soon after the banning of ZAPU, that a sentative had told the General Assembly that elections political vacuum had been created, and would state in Southern Rhodesia would not be held until spring what steps he was proposing to take to fill that vacuum. 1963, the statement just made by Sir Edgar Whitehead introduced a new element. She therefore felt that the 35. Thirdly, his delegation would like to know how full text of any questions put to him and of the answers many of the small-scale mining companies to which he gave should be made available to the Committee. the United Kingdom representative had referred in his statement were owned by Africans. 25. Mr. IPOTO (Congo, Leopoldville), speaking in exercise of his right of reply, said that the reference 36. Fourthly, he would like to know why, given the in Sir Edgar Whitehead's statement to the Congo was existing numerical relationship between the Europeans and the Africans, there were so few Africans in the most unfortunate for Sir Edgar himself was best placed to know of the economic interests involved in suborning Administration and in politics. Was that to be ex­ plained by the lower intelligence of the Africans or certain Africans. He wondered whether the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia could deny that mer­ was it a result of a conscious policy of discrimination? cenaries from his country were serving in Katanga 3 7. Fifthly, he would like to know whether Africans or that arms and even aircraft had crossed Southern had the necessary financial resources to buy the land Rhodesia on their way to that part of the Congo. put up for sale, to which Sir Edgar Whitehead had referred in his statement. 26. Sir Edgar Whitehead claimed tobelongtoamulti­ racial party which advocated equality between the 38. Sixthly, he would be glad if Sir Edgar Whitehead races. He failed to understand why the white settlers would comment on the statement in The Times of in Southern Rhodesia, who were late-comers on the London of 29 October 1962, to the effect that only scene, did not want to grant the indigenous inhabitants 10,000 Africans had been enrolled as voters, as the right to exercise their political rights. The argu­ against the original goal of 50,000, set by Sir Edgar. ments concerning literacy and responsibility were He would like to know the reasons for such a dismal invalid since it could not be said that all persons of failure of the registration campaign. European descent had the same education or were 39. Seventhly, he asked why the police in Southern equally responsible, nor had it been demonstrated Rhodesia committed acts of provocation at political that before a person could vote he should have gone meetings organized by African parties which did to school or should have a certain income. A man's not enjoy the blessing of the Southern Rhodesian attachment to his country was determined by many Government. factors other than self-interest. No convincing argu­ ment had been advanced in support of a policy which, 40. Eighthly and ninthly, he asked to what Sir Edgar sooner or later, would lead to violence in Southern Whitehead attributed the strained situation in Southern Rhodesia. Rhodesia and why Southern Rhodesia was interfering in the internal affairs of the Congo. 27. The CHAIRMAN suggested that the Committee should resume the statements in the general debate. 41. Mr. SWAI (Tanganyika) observed that the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia had tried to impress 28. Mr. YOMEKPE (Ghana) appealed to the represen­ upon the Committee that his intention was to build tatives who still had statements to make in the general a non-racial society in his country. That was a noble debate to defer them so that the Committee could put ideal with which no one would take issue. While questions to Sir Edgar Whitehead. Sir Edgar Whitehead had achieved some success in 29. Mr. ABDELLAH (Tunisia) and Mr. COLLIER removing certain discriminatory laws, there were (Sierra Leone) agreed. still substantial areas which he had hardly touched. 30. The CHAIRMAN said that if there was no objec­ 42. With regard to education, the Prime Minister of tion he would take it that the Committee decided to Souther.n Rhodesia had not convinced the Tanganyikan suspend the statements in the general debate in order delegation that he was giving due attention to secon­ to allow representatives to put questions to Sir Edgar dary education. Furthermore the educational picture Whitehead. presented to the Committee was distorted since the relationship between the expenditure on European It was so decided. educativn and African education had not been indicated. 31. Mr. RIFAI (Jordan) asked whether, if questions Again, the Prime Minister had not indicated whether were put to the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia it was his intention to integrate European and African and comments made on his statement, he would reply education. The removal of the educational barriers to them in a further statement at a later stage. now existing along racial lines would be an important contribution to the creation of an integrated society. 32. Mr. GODBER (United Kingdom) replied in the affirmative. 43. The account the Prime Minister had given of Southern Rhodesia's economic and social achievements lJ See A/C.4/57l. served to show that the indigenous inhabitants of the 1366th meeting - 30 October 1962 241 COWltry were fully qualified for the franchise, It should self-government granted to Southern Rhodesia Wider be remembered that the aims of the Africans in the 1923 Constitution and to indicate at what stage Southern Rhodesia were not necessarily confined to along the path of self-government Southern Rhodesia material benefits. They were longing for political now foWld itself. rights; without them, the material achievements would not satisfy the people. 49. Much had been said in the Committee about progress in Southern Rhodesia and the standard of 44. Addressing a gathering of the United Federal living of the Africans, which was alleged to be above Party in the Rhodes Memorial Hall on 20 September that prevailing in other African coWltries. In that 1961, Sir Edgar Whitehead had explained that he had connexion, he could refer the Committee to the facts oeen successful in his efforts to ensure that control and figures commWlicated by Mr. Burdett-coutts, the of Parliament would remain with the upper-roll voters. petitioner, from which it was clear that some Africans On that occasion, he had gone on to say that he was were paid £2.10.0 a month. In Ghana the minimum satisfied that government would remain in civilized wage was 't3 a month. Since Mr. Burdett-coutts must and responsible hands. He would appreciate it if Sir have obtained his figures from Southern Rhodesian Edgar Whitehead would explain what he had meant by Government sources, it followed that all the statements that. about industrial development and the high standard of living in Southern Rhodesia were inaccurate. 45. The Committee had been told that the Whites in Southern Rhodesia lived in fear of being swamped by 50. Mr. BOZOVIC (Yugoslavia) said that his dele­ the African masses. In particular, they feared that if gation had the impression that Sir Edgar Whitehead Africans were to rWl the coWitry its economic and had not told the Committee enough about the political administrative life would be chaotic. That view was platform on which he and his party intended to fight not shared by responsible African politicians. In that the election. He had repeated his previous statement connexion, he would draw Sir Edgar Whitehead's atten­ that Africans would have a majority in the Legislative tion to the answers given by Mr. KaWlda with regard Assembly in fifteen years, but with his knowledge of to Northern Rhodesia, which were published in the the situation in Mrica today he surely could not con­ September 1962 issue of the magazine Spearhead. sider such a long delay to be realistic. The Yugoslav Replying to a question about what his party's attitude delegation would be interested to know what steps the to the Europeans would be once it had come to powe;r, Government of Southern Rhodesia intended to take, Mr. Kaunda had recalled that time and again he had once it had been returned to power, with regard to made it clear that the colour of a man's skin did not political freedom and to the situation in Southern COWlt; what coWlted was his behaviour. He had declared Rhodesia generally speaking, and whether it intended that Europeans would be welcome in Northern Rho­ to amend the Constitution so as to increase the number desia, not so much because of their capital or their of Africans in the Legislative Assembly, Sir Edgar technical knowledge as because they were fellow had also stated that he intended to introduce legislation human beings, and that acceptance on any other basis abolishing discrimination in public places. Did he would be artificial and temporary, and morally and think that such legislation would also abolish discrimi­ spiritually wrong. In that connexion, the Tanganyikan nation in the political and economic fields and, if so, delegation would be glad if the Prime Minister of did that mean that he was goingtochange those provi­ Southern Rhodesia would say to what extent the polit­ sions in the Constitution which limited the right of ical situation in Southern Rhodesia was the result of Africans to elect a number of representatives corre­ the white settlers' fear of the African majority. sponding to their number? 46. It would be wrong for the destiny of a nation to 51. Sir Edgar Whitehead had told the Committee that be built upon the performance of one individual. The one of his supporters had said that he knew that the 1961 Constitution did not guarantee that Southern next Prime Minister would be an African but that as Rhodesia would move along the lines advocated by long as that African belonged to his party he would Sir Edgar Whitehead, and that was why the Committee not mind. The question was, however, whether an was concerned to ensure that the arrangements made African Prime Minister who did not belong to that for the future of the coWltry would be independent of party would be acceptable to him and to those who the performance of individual leaders. supported him. 47. Mr. YOMEKPE (Ghana) recalled that Sir Edgar 52. The requirements for the registration of voters Whitehead had indicated that the Southern Rhodesian on the "A" roll were so high that few Africans could Government would not register any trade Wlions which hope to fulfil them in the foreseeable future. The Com­ did not include members of the two races. Since there mittee had been told, however, that there had been so were certain occupations, such as domestic service much progress in education that many might qualify and farm labour, which were performed exclusively for the "B" roll. He asked whether, in the event of, say, by Africans, hewouldliketoknowwhethertrade Wlions a million Africans qualifying for the "B" roll, they which were all-African through no fault of their own would be entitled to elect more than fifteen members would be refused registration. If the answer to that to the Legislative Assembly. question was in the affirmative, he would like to know whether or not Sir Edgar Whitehead regarded that as 53. From the beginning of the debate no United King­ discriminatory. dom representative had mentioned the Federation. At the present time there was already an African ma­ 48. Sir Edgar Whitehead was no doubt aware of the jority in Nyasaland and the Africans might possibly processes which had led territories formerly Wider obtain a majority in Northern Rhodesia. He would like United Kingdom administration to independence. At to know whether, in a Federation where two of the one time or another in those processes they had passed three members had an African majority Government, through stages of self-government. He would like Sir and supposing there were anAfricanmajorityGovern­ Edgar Whitehead to explain to the Committee in what ment at the Federation level, the Government of way that self-government differed from the form of Southern Rhodesia would be prepared to execute the 242 General Assembly - Seventeenth Session - Fourth Committee policy of such an African majority Government of was being done in Southern Rhodesia could be described the Federation in every field in which the Federation as "too little, too late". He wondered whether, after was competent. That would be the test ofthe sincerity hearing the opinions expressed in the Fourth Com­ of Sir Edgar Whitehead's belief in African majority mittee, the Prime Minister thought that his policy rule. could be carried out, and, in particular, whether he felt that the Southern Rhodesians, who in education 54. Mr. GRINBERG (Bulgaria) wished to know what and political ability were at least the equals of the was the exact purpose of Sir Edgar Whitehead's ap­ people of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, would pearing before the Committee. He was undoubtedly accept a situation in which they were politically less aware of the terms of General Assembly resolutions well represented than those people. He also wondered 1747 (XVI) and 1755 (XVII), but he had informed the whether the Prime Minister felt that the freedom Committee that his Government had decided to put achieved by many other African countries was going the new Constitution into effect in a few days' time. to be disregarded by the Africans in Southern Rhodesia, The Bulgarian delegation therefore wondered whether especially since they knew that they had the support of he had come merely in order to say that he was in­ practically the whole of Asia and Africa. Further, he different to the decisions of th6 General Assembly or wondered whether the Southern Rhodesian Government whether upon his return to Southern Rhodesia he in­ believed that a Constitution which still had strongly tended to implement those decisions. discriminatory elements would help to develop the 55. Secondly, Si.r Edgar Whitehead had expressed the Territory in a peaceful way. The Prime Minister had belief that the new Constitution would give the Africans expressed regret that there was distrust of the Gov­ an opportunity to advance to a stage at which they ernment among the Africans in Southern Rhodesia. would have a majority in the legislature of their own In view of all the discriminatory laws that had been country. He asked whether Sir Edgar considered that passed and the sufferings the people of the Territory the present stage was the final stage before independ­ had undergone, the Government was hardly entitled to ence and when he thought Southern Rhodesia might be expect trust. expected to be independent. 60, Mr. EOUAGNIGNON (Dahomey) observed thatSir 56. Thirdly, Sir Edgar had stated that if the Whites Edgar Whitehead had come to power four years pre­ knew that they would be discriminated against by any viously, when Southern Rhodesia had already been future African Government they would leave the coun­ self-governing for thirty-six years. Nevertheless he try. Could he point to anyofthepredominantly African had several times appealed to the United Kingdom Gov­ parties which advocated the expulsion of the white ernment for financial assistance, which had been re­ minority, and could he say what he meant by discrimi­ fused on the grounds that such assistance was reserved nation? The Africans in the Territory appeared to for Non-Self-Governing Territories. The fact that he want equality between the races; would the Prime had made such a request appeared to indicate that Sir Minister regard that as discriminfltion against the Edgar Whitehead himself was not convinced of the Whites? Territory's self-governing status; indeed the very 57. Mr. PALAR (Indonesia) said that he had been fact that he had considered it necessary to come to struck by Sir Edgar Whitehead's statement that every­ the United Nations and to justify himself was a dis­ body was entitled to his opinion. Presumably he had avowal of the argument that Southern Rhodesia was meant that everyone was entitled not only to have self-governing. If that was a correct interpretation of his feelings the chief misgivings of the delegation of opinions but to act upon them. That was a very bold statement and surely there must be limits. For in­ Dahomey would be allayed. stance, Sir Edgar probably did not think that Africans 61. Mr. EBAGNITCHIE (Ivory Coast) observed that in Southern Rhodesia were entitled to hold communist the percentages of school attendance given by the beliefs and to act accordingly. Members of ZAPU had Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia had been very been placed under restriction or imprisoned for trying encouraging. At the same time the Prime Minister to spread their doctrines by means that were not had mentioned fifteen years as the probable period usually employed in a democratic society. Southern that would elapse before there was an African majority Rhodesia, however, was not a democratic society. in the legislature and there appeared to be some in­ The fact was that the members of ZAPU had been consistency between that estimate and the figures of trying to persuade their own people not to participate school attendance. In the Ivory Coast, where the in an election on the basis of the new Constitution, figures for school attendance were much lower, every­ which was discriminatory. Surely no member of the body had the right to vote. Fourth Committee could be in favour of discrimination. The members of ZAPU had used the only means that 62. The Prime Minister had said that he did not allow were open to them and he had every sympathy with the establishment of trade unions on a racial basis. their activities. It would be interesting to know whether he also forbade the establishment of political parties on a racial basis 58. Sir Edgar Whitehead had stated that his Govern­ and, if so, whether he considered that to be democratic. ment was determined to enforce the new Constitution on 1 November. That would create a very serious 63. The Prime Minister had stated that the new Con­ situation; some of the petitioners had stated that they stitution abolished the laws which had reserved certain wanted a different constitution or death. He asked land for the Africans. Did he not consider that, on the whether it was true that the 1961 Constitution, which pretext of abolishing discrimination, the new Constitu­ had been rejected three times by ZAPU and by an tion would merely favour the white minority, who were overwhelming majority in a referendum, was coming economically stronger? into force and whether the Southern Rhodesian Govern­ ment regarded it as a good Constitution. 64. The Prime Minister had stated that no change could be made in the Constitution without the consent 59, He had listened with some alarm to the Prime of all racial groups in the Territory. It would appear Minister's statement because he considered that what that he might best protect the interests of the 3 million 1366th meeting - 30 October 1962 243

African inhabitants by immediately applying the proce­ sentative' s views on the r~gime, based on racial dis­ dure for the revision of the Constitution and obtaining crimination, which had been imposed on the.people of the consent of all racial groups before it was put into South Africa. effect. He wondered whether the clause in question had 72. Thirdly, he wondered how Sir Edgar could speak not been inserted in the Constitution to prevent any hopefully of peaceful evolution in Southern Rhodesia modification in the direction of justice for the African when the Constitution which it was proposed to intro­ inhabitants. duce excluded democracy and ensured a two-thirds 65. Under the previous Constitution the United King­ majority in the legislature for the Europeans. dom hR\• tad the right to veto any discriminatory law; under the new Constitution that right had been abolished 73. Fourthly, he would like to know whetherthecolo­ and replaced by recourse to a court of law. He sug­ nial authorities were satisfied that their repressive gested that the Africans did not wish to see the United measures would not lead to an armed conflict similar Kingdom abandon its responsibilities and that their ap­ to the one which had taken place in Algeria. prehensions were justified or at least understandable. 74. Fifthly, he wondered whether Sir Edgar regarded the agreements reached between France and Algeria, 66. Mr. MARSH (Jamaica) observed that the Prime providing guarantees for the European community in Minister of Southern Rhodesia had spoken of the sus­ Algeria, as providing a blueprint for a similar settle­ picious nature of the Africans in a manner which ment in Southern Rhodesia. seemed to suggest that such suspicions were almost criminal, and had gone on to stress the fact that Euro­ 75. Finally, the United Kingdom representative had peans had a place in Southern Rhodesia. The Fourth claimed that certain political parties in Southern Rho­ Committee, however, had never suggested that Euro­ desia had been banned not because of their opinions peans had no place in the Territory. The Prime Min­ but because of their methods. In banning ZAPU, how­ ister appeared to misunderstand the essential ingre­ ever, the Southern Rhodesian Government had quoted dient of partnership. Jamaica was an example of how that party's programme as including the maintenance a black majority could live with and respect a white of peaceful and friendly relations with friendly nations, minority, on a basis of mutual respect and tolerance; the elimination of exploitation, the creation of a just the onus was on those who at present possessed eco­ social order and the fostering of what was best in nomic and political power to show the genuineness of African culture, and had commented that such a pro­ their motives so that the suspicions of the Africans gramme was quasi-communist, Pan-African and ra­ would be dispelled. cialist. He would also like to refer to the recent amendment to the Unlawful Organizations Act provid­ 67. With regard to the Prime Minister's statement ing that the Government could ban any organization that he had been refused assistance from Colonial which propagated the opinions of an unlawful organi­ Development and Welfare Funds, it was a matter of . zation. He wondered how Sir Edgar could expect the record that Southern Rhodesia had received funds for Committee to take his version of the facts at face development from the United Kingdom. value when it knew the record of the Southern Rho­ 68. The question of Southern Rhodesia's relationship desian Government and the contempt that Government to the United Kingdom had again been raised; in his had shown for the basic rights of the majority, for view there was no doubt that a self-governing colony the resolutions of the United Nations and for the prin­ was still a Territory in which the United Kingdom ciples of the Charter. Government had the right to intervene. 76. Mr. EREBIH (Mauritania) wondered whether, in 69. Mr. GUELLAL (Algeria) said that despite what view of the urgent need for the Committee to come to the United Kingdom representative had said at the a decision on the draft resolution before it (A/C.4/ 1364th meeting regarding the dual capacity in which L. 750), representatives might be willing to forgo the Sir Edgar Whitehead would address the Committee, right to put further questions to the United Kingdom his delegation regarded Sir Edgar simply as a mem­ representative. ber of the United Kingdom delegation. Although the 77. He would also suggest thil.t the Rapporteur should Committee had awaited Sir Edgar's statement with be authorized to submit his report direct to the Gen­ great interest, all that it had heard was a pathetic eral Assembly. apology for colonialism and a demonstration of the 78. After a procedural discussion, the CHAIRMAN cynicism and sterility of the United Kingdom dele­ noted that there was general agreement that represen­ gation's arguments. The statement had served to con­ tatives should continue to put questions to Sir Edgar firm his delegation's fears that unless the United Whitehead. He appealed to representatives to be con­ Kingdom took action quickly the United Nations would cise in their questions. be faced with an explosive situation in Southern Rhodesia. 79. Mr. COLLIER (Sierra Leone) said thattheUnited Kingdom representative had spoken beguilingly re­ 70. The United Kingdom representative had suggested garding the guarantees entrenched in the 1961 Consti­ that government would be in the hands of the Africans tution. He wondered whether there was any specific within fifteen years. He had' also let it be understood guarantee in the Constitution that, as Sir Edgar ap­ that there was a body of opinion in the Territory op­ parently expected, the Africans would have a majority posed to immediate moves towards African rule and in the Legislative Assembly within fifteen years. In independence. He would like to know whether Sir view of the fact that at least twice in the past the Edgar would accept a referendum under United Nations •franchise qualifications had been raised, he would auspices to determine the wishes of the Southern ·like to know how the majority could be prevented from Rhodesian people on the matter. altering the qualifications again. 71. Secondly, in view of the fact thattheUnited King­ 80. He would also like to know whether the entrenched dom representative had identified himself with African principles in the Constitution applied retroactively to nationalism, he would be interested to know that repre- existing legislation. 244 General Assembly - Seventeenth Session - Fourth Committee

81. The United Kingdom representative had claimed in view of Sir Edgar's assurances regarding the high that ZAPU and other political parties had been banned level of African wages in Southern Rhodesia, hewould because they had organized acts of violence and arson. like him to comment on the statements by the peti­ He would like to know whether legal proceedings had tioners Mr. Hlazo and Mr. Butler that agricultural been instituted against ZAPU itself in connexion with labourers earned between £2 and '£5 per month, and such incidents. on the question whether, in that situation, the income qualifications for the franchise were justified. 82. The Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia had presumably come before the Committee in order to 88. Mr. AGUIRRE (Uruguay) said that he would be persuade it to take certain decisions. He would like grateful if Sir Edgar Whitehead could explain why it to ask whether Sir Edgar intended to take any action had been decided to advance the date of the elections regarding the resolution already adopted by the Gen­ under the new controversial Constitution. Secondly, eral Assembly calling for the release of Mr. Nkomo he wondered what was the basis of Sir Edgar's con­ (1755 (XVII)). fidence that there would be an African majority in the legislature within fifteen years, in view of the time 83. Much had been said regarding the relationship of which could reasonably be expected to elapse before Southern Rhodesia with the United Kingdom, and Sir most of the Africans could fulfil the income and educa­ Edgar had suggested that Southern Rhodesia enjoyed tional qualifications for the "A" roll. independent status. lf that was so, he would like to know why Sir Edgar's supporters had been so anxious 89, Mr. EL-SHAFEI (United ArabRepublic)observed to do away with the powers reserved to the United that the constitutional relationship between the United Kingdom under the old Constitution. Kingdom and Southern Rhodesia was the subject of ·controversy. The United Nations had reached certain 84. Mr. MONGUNO (Nigeria) expressed appreciation conclusions on the matter but he would like to have to the United Kingdo~ for allowing Sir Edgar White­ some further comments from the United Kingdom head to address the Committee as a member of its representative. He noted that in the Constitution of delegation in accordance with the practice followed 1961 there were two provisions for United Kingdom on previous occasions with regard to other repre­ intervention in the internal affairs of Southern Rho­ sentatives of Governments of Non-self-Governing desia: they related to amendments to the Declaration Territories. of Rights and to the franchise regulations. 85. After seventy years of white rule in Southern Rhodesia, the legislature still included not a single African. The assurances that had been given regard­ CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT RESOLUTION A/C.4/ ing African advancement were not backed up by guar­ L. 750 (continued) antees under the new Constitution, and he wondered 90. Mr. HOUAISS (Brazil) said that he would like to whether the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia submit an amendment (A/C.4/L. 751) to draft reso­ believed that, in view of the white minority's record, lution A/C.4/L. 750 on behalf of the delegations of verbal assurances would be sufficient to allay the Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Uruguay genuine fears of the Africans. Would not a better basis and Venezuela. Despite the Burmese representative's for allaying those fears be the c'reation of an equitable appeal to members to save time by refraining from political balance between the racial communities in submitting unnecessary amendments, the delegations the legislature and the Government? He pointed out concerned felt that an amendment to operative para­ that, whereas Mr. A. D. Butler, who had appeared graph 4 was of great importance. The intention of that before the Committee as a petitioner and who hoped paragraph was presumably that the Acting Secretary­ to stand as a United Federal Party candidate in the General should use his good offices with the United forthcoming elections, had said that he wanted to see Kingdom Government and other parties concerned to an African majority in the Assembly within two to secure the implementation of the General Assembly's four years, Sir Edgar had spoken of a delay of fifteen resolution. If so, it seemed right that the Acting years. If opinions were so varied even within Secretary-General should be given a certain amount Sir Edgar's party, was it not true that the pros­ of freedom of action and the wordi11g "make such pects of an eventual African majority were entirely arrangements ... as to secure the implementation ... " hypothetical? seemed unfortunate. The amendment which the seven 86. Mr. ABDELLAH (Tunisia) said that Sir Edgar Latin American delegations were proposing for the consideration of the sponsors was designed to rectify Whitehead's reply to the Tanganyikan representative's that point. question regarding the date of introduction of the new Constitution had served to confirm the urgent need 91. Mr. YOMEKPE (Ghana) said that he would like for action to prevent a fait accompli. to assure the Brazilian representative that the appeal 87. He would like to know whether Sir Edgar White­ made by the representative of Burma on behalf of the sponsors of the draft resolution had not been intended head realized that the discrimfuatory Constitution of to limit the right of representatives to make sugges­ 1961 had been rejected by all African opinion in Southern Rhodesia and condemned by the United Na­ tions. The sponsor:.; would certainly give serious con­ tions General Assembly. He would also like to know sideration to the amendment. whether Sir Edgar's Government intended to imple­ ment General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV). Finally, The meeting rose at 7 p.m.

Litho in U.N. 77401-September 1963-2,475