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— : ; ' ; : and constructive disarmament negotiations. We of force against the territorial integrity or political inde- hope for positive and tangible response from the pendence of any State, or in any other manner incon- Soviet Government when the Disarmament Com- sistent with the purposes of the United Nations. The aim of a system of world-wide disarmament is to mission resumes its work. prevent war and release the world's Imman and economic The resolution as adopted by the Political resources for the purposes of peace, Committee does not in any way preclude the sub- 1. Takes 7vote of the report of the Disarmament Com- mission [and commends the Commission mission by the Soviet Government in the Dis- for its efforts to curry out the instructions laid down by the General armament Commission of any proposals the Soviet Assembly at its sixth regular session] ; Government, or any other member for that matter, 2. Reafflrms General Assembly resolution 502 (VI) desires to put forward. For our part, we pledge and requests the Disarmament Commission to continue its work for the development ourselves to continue to work constructively for by the United Nations of comprehensive and co-ordinated plans providing for a genuinely safeguarded .system of disarmament and at the same time to give sympathetic and (a) the regulation, limitation and balanced reduction of all armed forces and armaments; honest consideration to any concrete and practical (b) the elimination and prohibition of all major proposals which the Soviet Government may make weapons, including bacteriological, adaptable to mass toward this end. destruction (c) the effective international control of atomic energy to ensure the prohibition of atomic weapcjiis and the use of atomic energy for i)eaceful purposes Text of Resolution only. The whole programme to be carried out under effective D.N. doe. A/L. 149 international control in Adopted April 8. 1953 such a way that no State would have cause to fear that its security was endangereil The General Assembly, 3. Requests the Commission to reiwrt to the General Reoognizinq that Assembly and to the Security Council no later than 1 September 1U53, and hopes that all the members of the Under the Charter of the United Nations all States Commission will co-operate in efforts to produce construc- are bound to settle their international disputes by peace- tive proposals likely to facilitate its task. ful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered, and to refrain ' The clause in brackets was deleted from the Com- In their international relations from the threat or use mittee I text of the resolution, on a Soviet motion. Puerto Rico's New Self-governing Status U.S./U.N. press release dated March 21 Puerto Rico expressed their view by resolution at their Constitutional Convention in the following Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., U.S. rep- words resentative to the United Nations, announced on March S3 the transmittal to Secretary-General Thus we attain the goal of complete self-government, the Trygve Lie of the new Constitution of the Com- last vestiges of colonialism having disappeared in the principle of Compact, and we enter into era monwealth of Puerto Rico and other documents an of new developments in democratic civilization. pertaining to the Commonwealth''s new self- governing statiis. Following is the transmittal I invite your attention in particular to the en- letter: closed letter of Governor Muiioz Marin of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in which, after re- I have the honor to refer to the U.S. representa- questing the termination of the transmittal of tive's note UN-1727/89 dated January 19, 1953,' information under article 73 (e) with respect notifying you tliat as a result of the entry into to Puerto Rico, and after force on July 25, 1952, of the new Constitution recounting the develop- establishing the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, ment of the Island's political progress, he says: the U.S. Government has decided to cease to trans- The people of Puerto Rico are firm supporters of the mit information on Puerto Rico under article United Nations and this great organization may con- 73 (e) of the Charter. fidently rely upon us for a continuation of that good will. The attainment by the people of Puerto Rico Let me add that the jieople of Puerto Rico at this of their new Commonwealth status is a most sig- moment are proudly cooperating to the utmost in nificant step. This is the kind of progress to self- the U.N. effort to repel aggression government contemplated by the U.N. Charter. in Korea. The of Puerto This is the democratic pattern of the free world men Rico who are bearing the hardships of goals set and hopes realized. The people of of battle with other U.N. troops have, by their courage and determination, demonstrated their ' Bulletin of Feb. 9, 1953, p. 229. strong love for freedom. 584 Department of State Bulletin ; wealth of Puerto Rico. The United States Government are enclosed for the information of the There desires that the United Nations be fully informed of the doc- members of the United Nations the followin<r background of this decision. Accordingly, and in pursu-. memorandum has been uments in compliance with the terms of Resolution ance of Resolution 222 (III), this prepared and, together with a copy of the Constitution of '2-2'2 (III) of the General Assembly: the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and a letter from the Governor of Puerto Rico is transmitted to the Secretary of the Constitution of the Common- (1) Text General for circulation to the Members of the United wealth of Puerto Rico.^ Nations for their information. the (2) Memorandum by the Government of Concerning the Cessa- United States of America Constitutional Development of Puerto Rico Under tion of Transmission of Information Under United States Administration Article 73 (e) of the Charter With Regard to the. 5. Puerto Rico has been administered by the United Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, States since 1898 when Spain ceded its sovereignty to the January 17, 1953, (3) Copy of the letter dated Island under terms of the Treaty of Paris. Puerto Rico from the Governor of Puerto Rico to the Presi- had a military government until 1900 when the United Congress enacted the first organic law providing dent of the United States. States for a civil form of government. The establishment of the Commonwealth in July 1952 marks the culmination of a steady progression in the exercise of self-government MEMORANDUM BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE initiated by the first organic law. known as the Foraker Act, OF AMERICA CONCERNING 6. The first organic law, UNITED STATES provided for a Governor appointed by the President of THE CESSATION OF TRANSMISSION OF IN- the United States, with the advice and consent of the legislative assembly in UNDER ARTICLE 73 (e) OF THE Senate of the United States, a FORMATION which the lower house was elected but the upper house CHARTER WITH REGARD TO THE COMMON- was composed of the heads of executive departments of by OF PUERTO RICO the government and five other persons, all appointed WEALTH the President with the advice and consent of the Senate and a supreme court, the members of which were also appointed by the President with the advice and consent Introduction of the Senate, justices of the lower courts being appointed by the Governor with advice and consent of the upper States Government, in pursuance of 1 The United house of the legislature. The act provided for Puerto Charter of the United Nations, has, Article 73 (e) of the Rico's representation before all departments of the Fed- Resolution 66 (I) adopted by the in accordance with eral Government by a popularly elected Resident Com- United Nations on December 14, General Assembly of the missioner. The Resident Commissioner has a seat in the annually to the Secretary General since 1946, transmitted House of Representatives of the Congress of the United Puerto Rico. During this period 1946 information on States. advances have been made in the growth and successive 7. In 1917, the scope of self-government was increased institutions in Puerto Rico development of self-governing with enactment by the Congress of a second organic law vesting of powers of government in the Puerto and in the known as the Jones Act. Under it, the people of Puerto elected representatives. This Rican people and their Rico elected both houses of their legislature, and the popu- culmination with the establish- process has reached its elected upper house advised and consented to the Puerto Rico and the pro- larly ment of the Commonwealth of Governor's appointment of justices of the lower courts. this Commonwealth on mulgation of the Constitution of The President retained authority to appoint the Governor, 25, 1952. of the de- July , ^ ^ the justices of the supreme court, the heads of the Commonwealth of 2. With the establishment partments of justice and education, and the auditor, but the people of Puerto Rico have attained a Puerto Rico, all other heads of executive departments were appointed self-government. Accordingly, the Gov- full measure of by the Governor. The people of Puerto Rico became citi- States has decided that it is no ernment of the United zens of the United States. The protection of a bill for it to submit information on Puerto longer appropriate of rights patterned on the bill of rights of the United Article 73 (e) of the Charter. Rico pursuant to States Constitution was extended to Puerto Rico. Pro- the General As- 3.