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FOURTH COMMITTEE, 1737th GENERAL MEETING ASSEMBLY Monday, 4 December 1967, at 3.30 p.m. TWENTY-SECOND SESSION Official Records NEW YORK

CONTENTS never been discussed in its present form and depth, Page the General Assembly and the Special Committee had Agenda item 97: on previous occasions asked the specialized agencies Implementation of the Declaration on the and the international institutions associated with the Granting of to Colonial Coun­ United Nations to co-operate with the Organization tries and Peoples by the specialized agen­ in the process of , either by giving cies and the international institutions asso­ assistance to the people of the colonial Territories ciated with the United Nations (continued) or by refraining from assisting some colonial Powers. General debate (concluded). • • • • • • • • • • • 381 As documents A/AC.109/276.!/ and A/6825 showed, some of the specialized agencies had responded Agenda item 69: favourably but others had either merely taken note Question of : report of the Special Com­ of the requests or ignored them. The fundamental mittee on the Situation with regard to the issue should therefore be how to co-ordinate the Implementation of the Declaration on the activities of the United Nations and its specialized Granting of Independence to Colonial Coun- agencies in the field of decolonization. Co-operation tries and Peoples • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 383 between them in that should be reviewed. It was Agenda item 70: incomprehensible that the activities of the specialized Question of Oman (continued): agencies in furthering the purposes and principles of @) Report of the Special Committee on the the United Nations Charter by assisting the peoples Situation with regard to the Implementa­ of the in various fields should stop short at tion of the Declaration on the Granting of the colonial Territories, where they were sometimes Independence to Colonial Countries and desperately needed. Peoples,· (]}) Report of the Secretary-General 2. According to the Charter of the United Nations, General debate (concluded). • • • • • • • • • • • 384 the constitutions of the specialized agencies and the agreements concluded between the United Nations and Agenda item 23: the specialized agencies, the United Nations family Implementation of the Declaration on the of organizations should co-ordinate its. efforts in Granting of Independence to Colonial Coun­ furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter. tries and Peoples: report of the Special The objectives were, in the last analysis, the same; Committee on the Situation with regard to they were clearly described in the preamble to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Charter, according to which the United Nations family Granting of Independence to Colonial Coun­ of organizations should work together to promote the tries and Peoples: Territories not consi­ economic and social advancement of all peoples, dered separately (continued) whether dependent or independent, in conditions of Hearings of petitioners from British Hon- freedom, peace and security. There could be no duras (concluded). • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 387 peace unless the colonial peoples achieved freedom Requests for hearings (continued) and independence, and no economic and social pro­ Request concerning Antigua (agenda item 23). 390 gress for them without freedom. Those points were emphasized in the fourth and seventh preambular Chairman: Mr. George J. TOMEH (). paragraphs of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV). The objectives of the United Nations family of organizations, as set out in their constitutions, could In the absence of the Chairman, Mr. Braithwaite not, therefore, be fully achieved in a large part of (), Vice-Chairman, took the Chair. the world unless the obstacles to peace and freedom were eliminated. AGENDA ITEM 97 3. The specialized agencies could play a useful role, Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of not only in the liquidation of but, even Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples more, in overcoming the problems created by colo­ by the specialized agencies and the international nialism and in the reconstruction ofthe colonial Terri­ institutions associated with the United Nations (con­ tories. Their activities should not be limited to as­ tinued) (A/6700/Rev .1, chap. I, annex Ill, and chap. V, sisting the colonial peoples to free themselves from annex; A/6825) colonial rule; they should also contribute to the es­ GENERAL DEBATE (concluded) tablishment of new foundations in the economic,

1. Mr. ABDEL-WAHAB (United Arab Republic) said JJ For the printed text of this docwnent, see A/6700/Rev.l, chap. 1, that, although the agenda item under consideration had annex III. 381 A/C.4/SR.1737 382 General Assembly - Twenty-second Session - Fourth Committee social and educational sectors which would greatly ciple arose when it came to issuing guidance and assist the colonial peoples after they had achieved instruction in far-reaching policy matters, rather independence. Each specialized agency should, in its than simply co-ordinating activities. For many years own field, assist the liberation movements in their the competent United Nations bodies had exercised struggle, refrain from helping the colonial Powers, their powers to make specific recommendations to in particular those which violated the Charter, and the specialized agencies with great restraint. Sug­ provide all possible facilities to the liberation move­ gestions and appeals had been made to the specialized ments in their efforts to prepare the people for the agencies, especially concerning the practical co­ future administration of the Territories. ordination of their activities, and the general policies laid down by the competent United Nations organs 4. In considering the question of the co-ordination concerning economic development and social and of activities among the various members of the humanitarian questions had influenced the specialized United Nations family of organizations in the field agencies considerably. In the early years, steps had of decolonization, the Special Committee should been taken to bring the attitude of the specialized examine: first, the ways and means of co-ordinating agencies into line with that of the General Assembly such activities, in which it might be guided by United on political questions, but that practice had been Nations practices in the field of technical assistance discontinued. The direct appeals made by the General and receive help from the Enlarged Committee for Assembly, acting on reports of the Fourth Committee, Programme and Co-ordination and from the Secre­ to certain specialized agencies or other institutions tary-General; and secondly, the channels through for specific action concerning colonial Territories which assistance from the specialized agencies could had been individual and separate actions on the part reach the colonial peoples. On the second point, his of the Assembly, and the scope of such appeals had delegation thought that, in the case of the African been limited. In some cases, the appeals had led to Territories, such assistance might be channelled positive action, but in others the principles involved jointly through the liberation movements and the and legal considerations arising out of specific pro­ Organization of African Unity, as the regional or­ visions of the agreements between the United Nations ganization concerned. and certain specialized agencies had led to pro­ tracted discussions and the results of the appeals 5. The fact that in most of the remaining colonial had been inconclusive. Such cases had shown that it Territories the specialized agencies were not al­ was time to consider the questions of principle lowed to function should not prevent them from pro­ concerning the relationship between the United Nations viding the necessary assistance through the liberation and the specialized agencies. movements, which had been recognized by the United Nations as the authorities directly concerned. All 9. That relationship was being considered by an­ kinds of assistance should be provided to the colonial other Committee of the General Assembly, whose peoples in their struggle against foreign domination, mandate it was to deal specifically with such matters. a struggle which the United Nations had recognized In resolution 2188 (XXI) the Assembly had enlarged as legitimate. The specialized agencies should re­ the Committee for Programme and Co-ordination port in detail to the United Nations on their activities and requested it to undertake a general review of in the colonial Territories in order to enable the the programmes and activities in the economic, General Assembly to assess the situation. social, technical co-operation and related fields of all the organizations in the United Nations system. 6. He hoped that the representatives of the spe­ The Enlarged Committee for Programme and Co­ cialized agencies would be in a position to comment ordination had already started its work and, in its on the various proposals which had been made during report to the Economic and Social Council and the the debate and inform the Committee in detail of General Assembly,.Y had indicated the topics which their activities in the colonial Territories and of it would consider, first among which were the consti­ the problems which they were encountering in that tutional, legal and organizational issues, including area. the relations of the specialized agencies and other organizations with the United Nations, the adequacy 7. Mr. JOHANSON (Norway) said that the item of the agreements between them and the autonomy under consideration was an important one since of each organization. That programme had already certain previous decisions by the General Assembly been approved by the Assembly. recommending to the specialized agencies and other institutions various courses of action that had a 10. His delegation was concerned lest any decision bearing on the problems of southern could be of substance adopted by the Fourth Committee and followed up and detailed consideration could be given the General Assembly following the current debate to the possibility of the specialized agencies and might be understood as one which would affect the other institutions having a wider and more general issue of principle or prejudge any subsequent con­ role in such matters. sideration of that issue. His delegation felt that it would be premature to take any specific stand on 8. The issue was also important since it raised the constitutional question of the relationship between certain questions of principle. Chapters IX and X of the United Nations and the specialized agencies and the Charter provided for the establishment of a wide other institutions since delegations had not had time network of specialized agencies with specific tasks to prepare for it. in specialized, technical fields and for a system of co-ordination between those agencies and the United }:} Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, Resumed Nations through consultation. The question of prin- Forty-third Session, Supplement No. 10 (E/4435), para. 24. 1737th meeting - 4 December 1967 383

11. His delegation felt it necessary to stress the ferences among the agreements concluded between opinion that legal and constitutional questions would the United Nations and the specialized agencies, he not be prejudiced by the Committee's debate, and fully supported the position take:J. by the Secretary­ that, regardless of the title of the present item, any General in his report (A/ 6825) that it was incongruous resolution on the subject should be regarded as having that the International Bank for Reconstruction and specific objectives, not indicating a new departure in Development should grant loans to Portugal when the United Nations cons,titutional practice. whole international community had condemned that 12. In view of the continued interest that the Com­ country's colonial aims. Once the General Assembly mittee might be expected to take in the item under had declared that Portugal's actions were crimes discussion, it might be useful if the Secretariat against humanity, no specialized agency which was a member of the United Nations family should grant could, for the twenty-third session, provide a study any loans or assistance to Portugal. The same applied on the legal and administrative considerations re­ to . lating to the implementation by the specialized agen­ cies and the international institutions associated 16. Replying to the representative of Norway, he with the United Nations of policies recommended by thought that there had been sufficient time for dele­ the various organs and subsidiary bodies of the gations to take a specific stand and about thirty dele­ United Nations. It could be assumed that in preparing gations had done so. He did not agree that considera­ such a study the Secretary-General might wish to tion of the question by the Fourth Committee and the consult the Enlarged Committee for Programme and Special Committee would prejudge the work of other Co-ordination. United Nations organs which sought to clarify the relations between the United Nations and the spe­ 13. In offering those comments, his delegation was cialized agencies. On the contrary, it was al( the not insensible to the concern of other members of the more important for the Fourth Committee and the Committee that the whole United Nations family Special Committee to discuss the question thoroughly should contribute to the alleviation of human suffering, and state their position, as the competent organs to the economic, social and technical development of dealing with decolonization, to other organs which Non-Self-Governing Territories and to the attainment dealt with the wider problem of those relations. The of the goals of the Declaration on the Granting of time was ripe for the General Assembly to take a Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, aims decision, since at its three previous sessions it had that his Government had consistently endeavoured to taken a position on certain specific aspects of the pursue. problem. 14. Mr. KARASIMEONOV (Bulgaria) thanked all the 17. The statement made by the representative of speakers who had supported the initiative of the Bul­ Portugal at the previous meeting had merely been a garian delegation in proposing the inclusion of the repetition of old arguments already rejected by the item on the agenda. The debate had shown that the United Nations and by the specialized agencies. It was question was important and that it was time to har­ impossible to enter into a discussion with a delegation monize the activities of the United Nations in the which considered all United Nations activity in de­ field of decolonization with those of the institutions colonization, including the adoption of resolution 1514 which formed an integral part of the United Nations (XV), illegal. He reminded the representative of family. Most speakers had agreed that the specialized Portugal that the Declaration contained in resolution agencies, each in its own field, should assist the 1514 (XV) was a historic document, that Organization in the implementation of resolution 1514 were not displaced persons but people who had fled (XV), a conclusion based on both the Charter and the the colonialist terror and that the national liberation agreements concluded between the United Nations and movements were not illegal but the true representa­ the specialized agencies. The suggestions and recom­ tives of the people struggling for their freedom. For mendations made during the debate would be taken that reason, his delegation and those of the majority into account by the Bulgarian delegation and any other of Member States wanted all the members of the sponsors in the preparation of a draft resolution on United Nations family to participate actively in the the subject. The core of those recommendations was process of decolonization. that the specialized agencies should take steps to implement resolution 1514 (XV) and to render humani­ 18. He was sure that the debate which had taken tarian assistance to the peoples under colonial domi­ place would enable the General Assembly to formu­ nation, especially to the people and national liberation late the necessary directives to the specialized movements in southern Africa. He considered the sug­ agencies and the institutions associated with the gestion that the Economic and Social Council should be United Nations so that they could fulfil their role asked to assist the specialized agencies in furthering in the final elimination of colonialism. the. process of decolonization quite satisfactory. The sponsors of the draft resolution should also take into consideration the suggestion that the Secretary­ AGENDA ITEM 69 General should be asked to assist the specialized agen­ Question of Fiji: report of the Special Committee on cies and to report to the General Assembly at its the Situation with regard to the Implementation of twenty-third session on the implementation of any the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to resolution adopted. Colonial Countries and Peoples (A/6700/Rev.l, chap. VII) 15. Referring to the statement made by the repre­ sentative of at the previous meeting, he 19. Mr. ESFANDIARY (Iran), Rapporteur of the said that while he would not deny that there were dif- Special Committee, introduced the chapter of the 384 General Assembly - Twenty-second Session - Fourth Committee Special Committee's report concerning Fiji (A/6700/ the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Oman.:Y The Rev.1, chap. Vll), which was submitted pursuant to establishment of a sub-committee on Oman would operative paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution help the Fourth Committee to follow up new develop­ 2185 (XXI). He drew attention to paragraph 45 of ments in the Territory. He would like to see the chapter Vll of the report concerning the appointment International Red Cross permitted to investigate the of the Sub-Committee on Fiji. The majority of mem­ conditions of the political prisoners, in view of the bers of the Special Committee had urged the adminis­ reports of torture by British officers and in view of tering Power to reconsider its decision that a visit the fact that the Special Representative of the Secre­ by the Sub-Committee to the Territory would serve tary-General, Mr. de Ribbing, had not been allowed no useful purpose. The text of the resolution adopted to visit Ajallah prison. by the Special Committee appeared in paragraph 101. He commended the report to the Fourth Committee. 23. The isolation of the Territory gave rise to some concern. Travel to and from the Territory was pro­ hibited and the traditional Moslem people of Oman AGENDA ITEM 70 could not even make a pilgrimage to Mecca. Oman was becoming a prison. In paragraph 115 of his Question of Oman (continued):* report,.i/ Mr. de Ribbing had referred to the indica­ (g) Report of the Special Committee on the Situation tions mostly cautiously expressed, of a certain with regard to the Implementation of the Declara­ amount of discontent and criticism in the Territory. tion on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Oman was a police state and the suffering inflicted Countries and Peoples (A/6700/Rev.l, chap.XIII); on the people could not be allowed to continue without (!1) Report of the Secretary-General (A/6909) resolute action by the United Nations. The concept GENERAL DEBATE (concluded) of independence introduced by the British had com­ pletely isolated the "independent sultan" from the 20. Mr. SHAMMOUT (Yemen) said that, despite ex­ Arab world. Muscat and Oman were not members of haustive consideration of the question of Oman by the any international or regional organization, such as Fourth Committee and other United Nations organs, the United Nations or the League of Arab States, and and despite the scores of resolutions and decisions it might be asked why Oman had not been admitted to adopted, the Government's position the Commonwealth. The United Kingdom had a special had not changed and, according to its representatives, skill in attempting to evade its responsibilities as a would not change. That position was in keeping with Member of the United Nations. Despite clear evidence the United Kingdom Government's traditional position of its persistence in flouting United Nations resolu­ on colonial issues; it was to seek to evade the imple­ tions, the United Kingdom Prime Minister had claimed mentation of United Nations decisions in respect of that no nation in the world was doing more for, through the Territories under its administration. Not once and with the United Nations than the United Kingdom during the five years in which the question of Aden under the Labour Government. had been discussed had the United Kingdom responded positively to decisions taken by the United Nations. 24. Mr. MYFTIU (Albania) said that in Oman, as in There was one additional factor in respect of Oman­ other regions of the world, the colonialist Power was oil-which made the United Kingdom even more stub­ endeavouring t:- perpetuate the corrupt colonialist born. As the prospect of oil in Oman increased, the regime. Oman was one more example of how the im­ United Kingdom tightened its grip and strengthened perialist and colonialist Powers were resorting to its military presence. every possible form of exploitation in order to seize the wealth of other countries and to enrich themselves, 21. His country was happy to see the United Kingdom to the detriment of the vital interests of the peoples. troops leave South Yemen and hoped that the end of the United Kingdom's military presence in the whole 25. There were irrefutable historical facts to show area might be approaching. The situation, however, that Oman had always been an independent and sove­ was not encouraging. Transfers of troops from one reign State and that its people not only had never base to another and the expansion of other military recognized the authority of the Sultan of Muscat but, bases in the area did not indicate any good will on the on the contrary, had resisted the occupation of their part of the United Kingdom or any desire to allow the country by taking up arms in order to regain freedom people of the area to live freely and in peace. The and independence. expansion of the United Kingdom bases at Sharjah and Bahrain was alarming. The Committee should condemn 26. As far as the Sultan himself was concerned, it the United Kingdom's persistence in strengthening and had been amply proved in the Committee that his maintaining military bases in the area and should ac­ authority did not derive from the will of the people cept nothing less than the total liquidation of its mili­ and that he was a puppet in the service of the colonial tary bases in the whole region and the total withdrawal Power, which was using him to disguise its occupa­ of United Kingdom troops. The peace and security of tion of the entire region. The false argument of the the whole area, including Yemen, would continue to be United Kingdom that Oman had always been under the threatened as long as the United Kingdom occupied authority of the Sultan of Muscat and that United King­ any part of the area. dom armed forces had intervened in response to the appeal of the Sultan, who had allegedly been threatened 22. His delegation supported the demands of the peititioners heard by the Committee and reaffirmed Y Official Ri!cords of the General Assembly, Nineteenth Session, its support of the points set out in paragraph 689 of Annexes, annex No. 16, document A/5846. .i/ Ibid., Eighteenth Session, Annexes, agenda item 78, document • *Resum~d from the 1734th meeting. A/5562. 1737th meeting- 4 December 1967 385

by an invasion from outside, were dilatory tactics assigned to it under the Charter and help the people whose sole purpose was to justify the imperialist in their struggle for freedom and independence. intervention and occupation of the country. The real 30. In view of the stubborn efforts of the colonialist reason for the 1955 aggression against Oman had been its position as an important strategic point and imperialist Powers to perpetuate the colonial regime, the valiant people of Oman were convinced between Europe and the East. Its importance had in­ that armed struggle was the only way to recover creased considerably as a result of the present their freedom and indep~ndence. His delegation was situation in southern Africa, where the oppressed sure that if the Omani people persisted in their peoples had undertaken a resolute struggle against struggle, with the soli.darity and assistance of the imperialism and colonialism, and of discovery of revolutionary peoples of the world, they would finally the new oil deposits in the country and the Imam's be victorious. The Albanian delegation would support refusal to grant the United Kingdom exclusive rights any measure designed to help them in their fight for to prospect and exploit those deposits. freedom. 27. The colonialists had resorted to various means 31. Mr. SAMMAH (Afghanistan) said that his dele­ of repression in their efforts to stamp out the national tion's position on the question of Oman was well liberation movement of the Omani people. Hundreds o_f known. In all colonial questions, Afghanistan had al­ thousands of patriots had been thrown into prison and ways supported the colonized peoples who were tens of thousands were obliged to live in exile, their fighting for their sacred right to self-determination only crime being that they wished to live in freedom, and independence. Afghanistan opposed colonialism to see their country independent and sovereign and to in all its forms and manifestations and held that it enjoy its riches. The situation in the country was should be completely eliminated. That position was deplorable; the people lived in total ignorance and based on the relevant provisions of the Charter and were subjected to merciless exploitation. 1n addition on the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to to the old-established oil companies, Colonial Countries and Peoples. It was deplorable monopolies such as Phillips of America, that the United Kingdom Government had been reluc­ American Independent Oil Company, and other com­ tant to heed those basic principles and sought to panies registered in the United States held important evade its responsibility in Oman by claiming that the concessions at Abu Dhabi and in other Sheikhdoms. Territory was an independent and . The Thus United States imperialism had implanted itself United Nations bodies which had been entrusted with in that area not only in order to plunder the country's the consideration of the question of Oman had f0und riches but above all, in collusion with the other im­ that the Territory was in no way an independent State. perialist Powers and under their direction, to utilize In adopting resolutions 2073 (XX) and 2238 (XXI), it as a bridge-head against the national liberation which confirmed that fact, the General Assembly had movements and to encourage aggression in that part recognized the inalienable right of the people ofOman of the world. The recent imperialist-2!ionist aggres­ to self-determination and independence. His delega­ sion, encouraged and supported by United States im­ tion regretted that the United Kingdom Government perialism, against the Arab countries and the had failed to comply with the relevant General As­ manoouvres and trickery which had followd that aggres­ sembly resolutions; it urged that Government to sion were instructive in that regard. recognize its obli.gations and allow the people of Oman to exercise their right to self-determination 28. After the proclamation of the independence of and independence. South Arabia, the imperialist military bases in Oman had been strengthened, aggravating an already dan­ 32. In conclusion, he assured the people of Oman of the full support of his Government and people in gerous situation in the region. Those bases were a source of danger not only to Oman and the Arabian their just and noble struggle. Peninsula but to the national liberation movements 33. Mr. MWEMPU-SAMPU (Democratic Republic of the people of Zimbabwe, and other the Congo) said that his delegation wished to asso­ colonial countries. It was common knowledge that the ciate itself with other delegations which had spoken imperialist and colonialist Powers, headed by the on the question of the future of Oman in order to United States, were supplying oil from Oman and stress the urgent need for the United Kingdom to pro­ other bases in the region to the racist cliques in ceed with the decolonization of the Territory without Southern and South and to the delay, in accordance with the Declaration on the Grant­ Portuguese fascists. i.ng of Independ~nce to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 34. The p1·esent political climate in the region left 29. Despite the resolutions adopted by the United no doubt regarding the firm resolve the Omani people Nations since it had first taken up the question in to break the chains of United Kingdom colonialism 1957, the situation had become worse and the reso­ in orr:ler to reco·1er their freedom and dignity. lutions had remained a dead letter. The inability of the United Nations to help the oppressed peoples t::> 35. In its reseluti0ns on Oman the General Assembly throw off the colonial yoke was the result of the con­ consistently reaffirmed the inalienable right of the trol which United States imperialism exercised over people of the Territory to self-determination and to the Organization and which had increased in recent the utilization of their natural resources and recog­ years as a result of the collusion between the two nized the of their struggle to regain those great Powers. Only by ridding itself of the baleful rights of which they had been robbed. Moreover, the influence of the United States and its allies would Assembly constantly called upon the United Kingdom the United Nations be able to carry out the task to discontinue its policies of repression, support for 386 General Assembly - Twenty-second Session - Fourth Committee an unrepresentative regime and maintenance of mili­ relationship between the United Kingdom and the tary bases and depots, which were designed to con­ Sultanate of Oman would reveal. One of those instru­ solidate its presence in the Territory in order better ments ran as follows: to exercise its domination there. "I, Zaeed bin Khalifah, Chief of Abu Dhabi, in 36. The United Kingdom refused to co-operate with the presence of Lieutenant Colonel A. C. Talbot, the United Nations and to comply with those provi­ C.I.E., Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, do sions. It sought to justify its position by claiming hereby solemnly bind myself and agree, on behalf that the sovereignty of the Sultanate of Muscat and of myself, my heirs and successors to the following Oman was based on treaties concluded between the conditions, viz.: two parties and that the United Nations was not com­ "1. That I will on no account enter into any petent to discuss the question. That false position agreement or correspondence with any Power other had been clearly set out in the reply, dated 17 Feb­ than the British Government. ruary 1967 (see A/6909, para. 4), which the United "2. That without the assent ofthe British Govern­ Kingdom representative had transmitted to the Secre­ ment I will not consent to the residence within my tariat and rn which he stated that: territory of the agent of any other Government. ". . . the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman is a "3. That I will on no account cede, sell, mortgage sovereign and independent State and that the rela­ or otherwise give for occupation any part of my tions between the United Kingdom and the Sultanate territory, save to the British Government. n§J were those normally enjoyed between two indepen­ dent and sovereign States. My Government's posi­ 41. If the United Kingdom sought to exercise its tion of principle remains that, under the Charter, tutelage of the Territory of Oman by that instrument the United Nations have neither the right nor the or others of the same nature, the time had come for competence to discuss the internal affairs of the it to withdraw "in proper order", for it could not Sultanate of Muscat and Oman. mortgage the future of an entire people by exclusive agreements which isolated that people completely and "It follows, therefore, that this resolution, which indefinitely from the international community and relates exclusively to matters within the domestic bore witness to a constant concern to safeguard the jurisdiction of the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, principle of "private preserves". A glance at those does not conform with the principles of the Charter. 11 agreements showed that they had been obtained only The letter added that, in view of those considerations, after a long campaign of intimidation and coercion of the Special Committee was not entitled to consider the people of Oman and had not been freely granted. the question of Oman. The reason why the United Kingdom maintained un­ representative institutions in the region was that they 37. The Congolese delegation did not intend to re­ were still the safeguard of its colonial enterprise. open the legal debate on a subject involving all aspects 42. The policy of the colonial Powers had always of colonization. There was no longer even any question, been characterized by recourse to the traditional for documentary purposes, of requesting an advisory authority in order to establish themselves in a region opinion of the International Court of Justice concerning by invoking a particular agreement concluded with the present validity or non-validity of the treaties con­ that authority. He would give an example, taken from cluded between the United Kingdom and the Sultanate, the evolution of his own country, to illustrate that evil for the shameful verdict which the Court had handed procedure, which concealed intentions to dominate and down in the case of South West Africa was still fresh exploit. It would be recalled that after the 1885 Berlin in the memories of all. Conference the area of within the 38. The important thing for the time being was to present borders of the Democratic Republic of the ensure the implementation of the resolutions on Oman, Congo had been proclaimed and recognized as the "In­ for they had been adopted in full knowledge of the dependent State of the Congo 11 • The Belgian facts and after the United Nations had sent a special at that time had administered that State through his representative to the region whose report, after an local resident in collaboration with the traditional inquiry and examination of the facts, had clearly re­ authorities who held the real power. All kinds of vealed the colonial status of Oman. It was the duty of treaties had been concluded to legalize that ·colla­ the United Kingdom to comply in good faith with the boration. The passage of time, however, had shown will of the majority of the Organization of which it was that the existence of the so-called Independent State a Member instead of clinging to intricate points of of the Congo was nothing more than a colossal bluff law which had become obsolete. when, faced with financial difficulties in maintaining the rate of exploitation in that artificial State, the 39. It was unthinkable that the United Nations, which monarch had not hesitated to cede the territory to defended the cause of the emancipation and indepen­ his country, Belgium, which had immediately con­ dence of peoples throughout the world, could refuse to verted it into a Belgian colony from 1908 until 1960, recognize the sovereignty of the Territory and people when the Congolese people had become masters of of Oman if those people did in fact possess all the their own destiny. By having the territory proclaimed necessary attributes. the Independent State of the Congo in 1885, the Belgian monarch had simply wished to frustrate the designs 40. The legal arguments to which the United Kingdom of others on the area in order to carry out his own resorted in order to justify its domination of Oman concealed a skillful diversionary manreuvre which an 1/ !bid., Twenty-first Session, Annexes, addendum to agenda item 23, examination of the legal instruments establishing the document Aj6300jRev.l, chap. Xlll, annex !1. 1737th meeting - 4 December 1967 387 exploitation scheme under which the Congo, as a tries and Peoples: Territories not considered sepa­ colony, was later to serve the interests of his country. rately (continued)* (A/C.4/694/Add.1)

43. That example, which was not unique in the his­ HEARING OF PETITIONERS FROM BRITISH HON­ tory of colonialism, revealed the true motives of the DURAS (concluded) (A/C.4/694/ ADD.1) foreign colonial Powers, which, whenever there was a territory which they wished to exploit exclusively, At the invitation of the Chairman, Mr. C. Lindbergh raised the banner of that territory's sovereignty by Rogers and Mr. V. H. Courtenay, representatives of invoking agreements established with the traditional the People's United Party (PUP) of British , authorities. took places at the Committee table. 49. Mr. ROGERS (People's United Party) said that 44. To argue that Oman had attributes of sovereignty the Committee was familiar with the question, and independence was nothing more than a clever having heard statements by various petitioners, the manoouvre designed to conceal a colonial situation most recent of which had been made at the 1719th from the knowledge of the internatiopal community. meeting, when the Committee had heard the leader of the minority party in the Belizean National As­ 45. The United Kingdom should realize that and sembly. On that occasion the representative of Guate­ should immediately renounce its designs of domina­ mala had ably restated his country's claim to the tion over the people of Oman. The United Kingdom's petitioner's country, but in terms which did justice refusal to leave the region could be explained only by to neither, ignoring both the adherence of the Guate­ the fact that the Arabian Peninsula was of both eco­ malan people to the principles of political freedom nomic and strategic value to the United Kingdom: and the just aspirations of the Belizean people to ob­ economic, because it offered the possibility of vast tain that freedom. The Guatemalan representative oil resources for the United Kingdom and ports of had restated his country's claim not in human terms call for shipping en route to Asia; strategic, because but in terms of territorial integrity, of the reincor­ after the United Kingdom's expulsion from Aden that poration of land, apparently regarding the wishes of region, which was equipped with airfields and military the Belizean people, the inhabitants of the land, as bases, offered a combined military infra-structure of no account. Even in his own terms, however, the within the South-East Asia Treaty Organization Guatemalan representative had not made his case. (SEATO). He had failed to prove that possessed any sovereignty rights in Belize. If Guatemala had 46. His delegation did not think that the United Nations such a right, it should be possible to determine that wished to impose institutions which were not in keeping right on juridical grounds. Although repeatedly in­ with the wishes of the people of Oman, for those people vited by the United Kingdom Government to state its would have complete freedom to adopt institutions of case before the International Court of Justice or to their own choosing once the United Kingdom had eva­ submit it to international arbitration, Guatemala had cuated the territory it occupied. His delegation's con­ consistently refused to do so. It could only be con­ cern was that the United Kingdom should cease to jectured that that refusal arose simply from a lack invoke agreements concluded in the past with un­ of faith by the Guatemalan Government in its own representative regimes in order to justify its presence territorial claims. in the Territory, suppressing the nationalist move­ ments which were struggling to secure national sove­ 50. If the Guatemalan claim to Belize could not be reignty for their Territory. established on juridical grounds and if it totally ignored the wishes of the people of Belize in the 47. The delegation of the Democratic Republic of matter, it seemed dear that its claim was without foundation. While recognizing the de jure sovereignty the Congo endorsed the General Assembly's resolu­ tions which regarded Oman as a Non-Self-Governing of the United Kingdom, the PUP considered that de factor sovereignty over the country resided solely Territory to which resolution 1514 (XV) should be in the people who occupied it. applied. It would work with other delegations which cherished peace and justice to ensure the triumph of 51. The historical origin of Belize differed little the purposes and principles of the Charter in that from that of the other countries of the Naw World. It Territory. was composed of people of different races, most of them originating in the Old World, but in time they 48. Mr. JOUEJATI (Syria) proposed that the state­ had achieved a national identity and become . ment of the representative of the Democratic Republic There had been many challenges to the right of set­ of the Congo should be reproduced in extenso in the tlement, resulting in a great many treaties between summary record of the meeting. Great Britain on the one hand and Spain and Guatemala on the other. There was no need to dwell on those It was so decided. treaties: Guatemala did not set any great store by them-it did not wish to subject them to examination by the International Court of Justice-and neither did AGENDA ITEM 23 the people of present-day Belize. The Belizeans Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of claimed the right to freedom by virtue of their un­ Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples: interrupted existence as a recognizable political, report of the Special Committee on the Situation social and cultural entity over a considerable period with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Coun- *Resumed from the 1719th meeting. 388 General Assembly - Twenty-second Session - Fourth Committee of time. The people's sovereignty had developed in social and cultural rights indispensable for his dig­ the course of 350 years of history spent in occupa­ nity and the free development of his personality. tion of their land. To suggest that geographical con­ Those paragraphs were perhaps intended to refer to siderations or considerations of territorLl integrity the rights of individuals within a State, but they must should take precedence over the expressed wishes of surely apply to a collection of individuals threatened a people regarding their future was unacceptable in with absorption into .a foreign State. Absorption of any circumstance, but such a construction was even the people of Belize by the people of Guatemala would more invalid in the case of a population which had undoubtedly be a denial of the human rights of the been in possession of its land for 350 years. If, Belizeans, who differed in history, tradition and cul­ however, they were called on to state their claim to ture from their American neighbours. The goal sovereignty in legal terms, the people of Belize could of the Belizeans was not subjection to any other do so. By the Treaty o£17 86 between Great Britain and people but the attainment of full sovereignty. Spain, Spain had agreed on terms for the British occu­ pation of Belize. Not since 1816 had Spain shown any 54. Turni.ng to the United Nations Charter, he drew interest in the observance of any of the provisions of attention to the terms of Article 1, and expressed the Treaty. In 1821 and had the hope that Guatemala would abide by the spirit gained their independence by revolution from Spain of that Article in its dealings with Belize. The and Spain's interest in the area had ceased. The new Belizeans had been encouraged by the decision of Latin American republics had soon evolved the doc­ the United Kingdom and Guatemalan Governments trine that each of them inherited all the sovereign to submit their dispute to mediation and trusted that rights of Spain over the corresponding divisions of an honourable settlement of the dispute would thus former colonial jurisdiction. Most international law­ be r8ached. Under Article 73 of the Charter, the yers, however, considered that an insurgent population United Kingdom had accepted tr~ obligation, inter obtained rights only over territory which it actually alia, to develop self-government, to take due account occupied at the time of acquiring independence: it of the political aspirations of the people and to assist could not, by the act of revolution, acquire rights over them in the progressive devdopment of their free other populations or territories. Applied to Belize, political institutions. That Article should prevent the the Latin American doctrine meant that Mexico had United Kingdom from taking any action which would inherited sovereignty over one part of British Hon­ lead not to freedom for the people of Belize but to duras and Central America over another. In the in­ their subjugation under Guatemala. terpretation of the majority of international lawyers, 55. Moreover, paragraph 2 of the Declaration on however, since Belize had not been occupied by the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries or Guatt?malans at the time of Latin American and Peoples stated that all peoples had the right to independence, no rights of sovereignty over it could be self determination and, by virtue of that right, acquired by either republic. The Belizean people freely determined their political status and freely supported the latter view. pursued their economic, social and cultural develop­ 52. Implicitly, at least, Guatemala would seem to ment. Despite that provision, Guatemala persisted have accepted the same view in 1859 in signing a in its claim to Belize. Its attitude in that regard not treaty with Great Britain defining the frontiers of only soured relations between the two peoples but Belize. If subsequently the terms of that treaty had hindered the economic, social and cultural develop­ not all been carried out, and the United Kingdom and ment of Belize, which desired nothing better than to Guatemala had not co-operated in building a road live in peace and friendship with its neighbours. He from to the Atlantic coast, that did pointed out in that regard that the great country of not affect the validity of the treaty as a whole. The Mexico, although it could make the same claim as existence of Belize had not depended on the building Guatemala, with equal cogency, to part of the terri­ of the road and Belize still existed within the boun­ tory of Belize, preferred to adopt a twentieth century daries agreed by the treaty, boundaries which had approach to the problem. been generally respected by Guatemala up to recent times. 56. He wished now to remove any doubts which might exist regarding the attitude of the PUP, the party form­ 53. Belize's claim to independence, a claim upheld ing the , in regard to the Guate­ not only against Guatemala but also against the malan claim. His party was pledged to obtaining un­ United Kingdom, was based on the right to self­ conditional and unfettered independence for Belize. determination. The people of Belize had been engaged It had led an unbroken existence since its formation for the past eighteen years in a struggle against colo­ in 1950 and had enjoyed majority support throughout nialism and their aim was full and sovereign inde­ that period. It had won eight out of nine elective seats pendence as a nation. It was stated in the first in the Legislative Assembly in 1954, and all nine in preambular paragraph of the Universal Declaration 1957; under the new Constitution of 1960 the PUP had of Human Rights that recognition of the equal and won all eighteen elective seats, and at a further inalienable rights of all members of the human election in 1965 it had won sixteen out of eighteen family was the foundation of freedom, justice and seats. The grounds on which it had sought and been peace in the world: article 20 (2) laid down that no given the support of the people had always included one could be compelled to belong to an association; repudiation of Guatemala's claim to the Territory. article 21 (3) stipulated that the will of the people In its 1965 election manifesto, the PUP had ex­ must be the basis of the authority of government; pressed its support for the policy set forth by the and article 22 stated that everyone, as a member of Premier in 1962, when he had given an assurance society, was entitled to realization of the economic, that his Government would not accept integration, 1737th meeting - 4 December 1967 389

reincorporation or assimilation by any other country the United Kingdom surrendered its responsibility and expected Belize's neighbours to acknowledge its for the conduct of the Territory's affairs. Never­ right to self-determination as guaranteed by the theless, he wished, in the presence of the Committee, Charter. to c:tll on the United Kingdom Government to fulfil its obligations and lead the people of Belize to abso­ 57. In the early 1950s the United Kingdom had not lute independence in accordance with the United welcomed the demands for independence and in 1951 Nations Charter. the Council, on which the PUP had ob­ tained a majority, had been dissolved for refusing 60. Party political debate in Belize was free and to support approved policy. In 1955 two of the leaders vigorous; the Press was free; free and fair elections of the party had been imprisoned for sedition. In were held from time to time under adult suffrage. In 1957 the party had won a great victory at the polls the quest for office, opposition spokesmen were under Mr. George Price. An attempt had been made tempted to distort facts. He would not attempt to to label the PUP pro-Guatemalan, but the electorate answer the allegations made in the Committee by a had not been deceived. In 1957, while leading a dele­ representative of the Opposition at the Committee's gation to London to seek further constitutional ad­ 1 719th meeting, but he would be ready to answer vance, Mr. Price, exercising his rights as a free any questions members might wish to put to him in citizen, had had a meeting with the Guatemalan that regard. The distortion of fact was part of the Minister without disclosing the fact to the Colonial price which must be paid for democracy. Office, with the result that he had been removed from 61. Seeking to enhance Belize's national identity, the Executive Council. the PUP had proposed a new name for the country, 58. At that time the question of the federation of the free of colonial connotations. There was also a de­ United Kingdom colonies in the had been sire for a Belizean anthem and for a flag, and the under discussion and the PUP leaders had never PUP's proposals in that regard had been included in concealed their distrust of federation, believing that the 1965 manifesto, which had been endorsed by the the logic of geography dictated that Belize should people. find its destiny as a Central American country-but 62. The economic progress of the country was es­ as a sovereign country and not a satellite. In 1960 sential to political independence. Belize was an under­ both the political parties of Belize had undertaken developed country and needed to attract foreign in­ not to support political integration or a political vestments in order to help increase its production. alliance with any Central American neighbour, though International finance, however, tended to shy way both parties had admitted the desirability of friendly from countr·ies whose future seemed uncertain, and relations with those nighbours. In 1961 the Govern­ Belize could be regarded as such a country so long ment of Belize had obtained associate membership as the Guatemalan claim persisted. for Belize in the Economic Commission for . In March 1964 Mr. Price and two of his 63. With regard to Belize's second great need-that Ministers had gone on a good-will tour of Central of securing the friendship of its neighbours and of America, though unfortunately they had not been Guatemala-the PUP could not imagine anything more invited to Guatemala. In each of the countries visited unhelpful than that Belize should proceed to inde­ the Premier had made it plain that he would welcome pendence with the Guatemalan claim still unsettled. support for his country's right to self-determination Apart from the economic considerations, Guatemala's as a free nation. In an interview in , he claim inhibited friendship and cultural exchanges had stated that Belize did not wish integration, asso­ between the two peoples. Consequently, the PUP had ciation or federation with Guatemala. In an earlier welcomed the current effort at mediation of the dis­ statement in 1962, Mr. Price had declared that pute by an ambassador appointed by the President Belize did not propose to disappear, or to be taken of the United States. The mediation effort had been over by any country, and that its aims were self­ preceded in 1962 by a conference held at San Juan, government within the Commonwealth and indepen­ , between representatives of the United dence. In 1965 he had called on Belizeans to put Kingdom, Guatemala and . At that their country's good before selfish interests and to Conference, the British Honduran delegation had work for independence, while extending the hand of declared that, in the twentieth century, peoples could friendship to all friendly peoples and asking them to no longer be treated as chattels and the colonial respect Belize's aspirations to be a free and separate peoples must choose their own destiny; if the people State and retain its Belizean identity. of British Honduras decided to join Guatemala, the United Kingdom must not seek to prevent them from 59. The two great needs of Belize were: first, to doing so, but if they chose not to join Guatemala build up the country economically, socially and poli­ it would be equally unworthy of a friendly neighbour tically so that it could stand on its own feet; and to try to induce them to do so. secondly, to secure the friendship of its neighbours, and particularly Guatemala. The goal of securing the 64. Subsequent to the Conference, the proposal for United Kingdom's agreement to Belizean indepen­ the submission of the dispute to mediation had been dence had already been achieved. The United Kingdom accepted by the Belizeans. The United States lawyer Government had made it clear that Belize could have who had been appointed mediator enjoyed the full independence when it asked for it. The PUP did not confidence of the PUP. That party realized that doubt that assurance and had no evidence of any plot mediation required a readiness by the disputants to between the United States, the United Kingdom and yield ground, but it trusted that the United Kingdom Guatemala to make Belize part of Guatemala when would not yield so much ground as to render the 390 General Assembly - Twenty-second Session - Fourth Committee result unacceptable to the Belizeans. The United elusively to Trust Territories, and Belize was not a Kingdom had given an assurance that no solution to Trust Territory under any interpretation of the situa­ the dispute would be imposed that was not in accor­ tion. It was, in fact, a disputed territory. dance with the wishes of the people. Agreement 67. Mr. Rogers had said that Guatemala did not wish had been reached between the two political parties in the matter to be referred to the International Court Belize on how the mediator's proposals should be of Justice. In that connexion, he would draw attention dealt with in the event of disagreement between them: to Article 1 of the United Nations Charter. the will of the people would be determined by a refe­ rendum or some other means mutually agreed. The 68. The CHAIRMAN, interrupting the representative PUP earnestly heped that following the satisfactory of Guatemala, observed that the Committee had not settlement of the Anglo-Guatemalan dispute the PUP yet taken up the question of British Honduras. He would be able to lead Belize to independence. He had asked whether the Guatemalan representative would no doubt that Guatemala, too, wished to see the be willing to postpone his statement until that time. dispute settled, particularly as it had agreed to the 69. Mr. CASTILLO ARRIOLA (Guatemala) said that step of referring it to mediation. He therefore hoped he was not making a detailed statement, but con­ that a form of accommodation would be reached that would be acceptable to both sides. Since the very firming his Government's position and stating some existence of Belize as a nation was at stake, there basic points of principle. He would, however, postpone were clearly effective limits to what the Belizeans his statement if that was the Committee's wish. could agree to. Within those limits, they were pre­ 70. Mr. CARRASQUERO () said that the pared to be flexible. petitioner had expressed his views at length and had 65. The fact that the mediation had proceeded largely referred frequently in his statement to Guatemala. in secret did not cause the PUP great concern. It had Guatemala had a right to reply to those statements been agreed that the proceedings should be confiden­ and the Venezuelan delegation therefore wished to tial, and in any case it was relevant, as far as the express reservations regarding the position taken charge of secrecy was concerned, that the' United by the Chair. Kingdom could not in international law sign any agree­ 71. The CHAIRMAN said that he had not ruled the ment before Belizean independence which would re­ Guatemalan representative out of order, nor had that main binding on Belize after independence. Should representative asked to exercise his right of reply. mediation fail and should the situation develop un­ He had merely asked the Guatemalan representative favourably, the people of Belize would have no hesi­ to postpone his statement and that representative tation in appealing to the United Nations to bring had seemed prepared to do so. about a just solution to the problem. The PUP had always expressed the hope that the independence 72. Mr. CARRASQUERO (Venezuela) recalled that movement would enjoy the protection of the United it was the Committee's practice to allow interested Nations, and in the 1965 manifesto it had been stated States to make statements after the hearing of peti­ that the PtJP would send a delegation to the United tioners. The Venezuelan delegation was aware of the Nations to make known the desire of the Belizeans problems which arose if representatives were al­ for independence and their recognition of the geogra­ lowed to raise extraneous subjects, but. in the present phical fact that Belize was part of tl.e Central American case he felt that the speaker could have been allowed mainland. However, the PUP saw no need for active to continue. United Nations intervention at the present stage. It was the party's intention to lead Belize to indepen­ Requests for hearings (continued) dence with the co-operation of the United Kingdom REQUEST CONCERNING ANTIGUA and, it was hoped, of Guatemala also. (AGENDA ITEM 23) The petitioners withdrew. 73. The CHAIRMAN said that he had received are­ 66. Mr. CASTILLO ARRIOLA (Guatemala) said that quest for a hearing concerning Antigua from Mr. he wished to reaffirm in every detail the position he Halstead, Vice-President of the Antigua Workers had stated at the 1719th meeting, when the Committee Union. If he heard no objection, the -request would be had heard Mr. Goldson. While reserving the right to circulated as a Committee document. speak at greater length when the subject was taken It was so decided.EJ up by the Committee, he thought it essential to state that his delegation did not recognize Mr. Rogers, any The meeting rose at 5.35 p.m. more than Mr. Goldson, as having the status of a petitioner. Article 87 of the Charter, authorizing the _§} The request was subsequently circulated as document A/C.4/ General Assembly to accept petitions, referred ex- 694jAdd.3.

Lnho in U.N. 7740!-November 1968-2-,350