Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, Council of Foreign Ministers, Volume II

C.F.M. Files: Lot M–88: Box 2061: CFM Documents

Memorandum by the United States Delegation at the Council of Foreign Ministers⁶⁶

secret
C.F.M. (46) 89

Paris, 15 May, 1946.

Italian Colonies

While there are wide difference in the proposals of the various delegations for the disposition of the Italian Colonies, there are common points of agreement. All the delegations are agreed that Italy should cede her sovereignty over the Colonies, although some would permit her to act as a trustee or co-trustee for the United Nations. All the delegations favor the widest measure of self-government for the Colonies, although they differ somewhat as to their present capacity for self-government and the time required to prepare them for independence.

One of the delegations has also suggested that the cession of some of the territory involved to an adjacent state and the integration of other territory with adjacent territory would be in the best interests of the inhabitants.

In these circumstances, further study might aid in finding solutions most conducive not only to the welfare of the inhabitants but to agreement among the principal Allies.

It is therefore proposed that the Italian treaty should provide:

1. That Italy should cede sovereignty of her African Colonies to the four principal Allied Powers subject to their undertaking within one year from the date the Italian treaty becomes effective:

(a) To provide trusteeship agreements under which Italy or one or more members of the United Nations or the United Nations itself should act as trustee or trustees of such territories in whole or in part and such trusteeship agreements may provide for the integration thereunder of such territories in whole or in part with adjacent territories with the consent of the state or states exercising sovereignty over such adjacent territories; or

(b) To provide for the cession of such territories in whole or in part to an adjacent independent state or states.

2. If within one year from the date that the Italian treaty becomes effective, the four Principal Allied Powers are unable to agree upon the proper disposition of the Italian Colonies, in whole or in part, which are ceded to them under, and subject to the conditions specified in, Clause 1 above, they shall make such disposition of those territories, the disposition of which they have been unable to agree upon, as the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations with the approval of the General Assembly may direct.

66. This proposal was originally circulated to the Council of Foreign Ministers by Secretary Byrnes at the Sixth Informal Meeting of the Council on May 13; see p. 360. The proposal was discussed again at the 17th Meeting of the Council on May 14, 4 p.m.; see p. 382. The text of this proposal was transmitted to the President and the Acting Secretary in telegram 2338, Delsec 500, May 13, from Paris, not printed (740.00119 Council/5–1346).