501.BB/12–3049: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom 2
4660. Pls inform FonOff US concerned over situation which developed relative to work Comite 4 of GA and hopes within next few months have full exchange of views colonial problems with UK, Fr, and Belg Govts. Our aims such consultation would be (a) explain fully our positions and the reasons behind them and in turn endeavor to obtain a full understanding of the problems faced by the colonial powers, (b) attempt to reach agreement on broad objectives in this field and (c) agreement to extent possible on means by which these objectives might be obtained. You may also inform FonOff we visualize later talks other administering States and other UN members. Objective latter would be to develop greater appreciation of the complexities of the problem and more workable and harmonious Comite 4 at next GA.
Pls express hope to FonOff that it not reach final conclusions or make public announcement respect this field until after consultations we have in mind take place.
For your background info only: You should know that UK, Belg and Fr Delegations resented bitterly certain positions taken by US in Comite 4 GA which at times caused distinct strains between Delegations at NY. This is cumulative result trusteeship and colonial areas field developments since establishment UN which reached climax recent GA session especially because of action taken relative Special Article 73(e) Comite which relates to Charter Chapter XI [Page 435] on direct colonial areas as contrasted to trusteeship although both considered as parts of the general colonial question.3
UK, Belg and Fr have been taking increasingly rigid positions and non-administering States have countered in like manner.
Most controversial resolutions were (a) the flying of the UN flag in Trust Territories (b) economic and social advancement in Trust Territories (c) the establishment of a Special Comite on info submitted under Article 73(e) for a three year period (d) voluntary transmission of political info (e) study of the definition of territories to which Chapter XI applies and (f) concentration by the Special Comite on a separate functional field each year.
US voted in favor of 16 of the 19 resolutions recommended by Fourth Comite to GA. It voted against the resolution concerning info under Part 1 of the Standard Form for submission of info on non-self-governing territories, abstained on the resolution relating to territories to which Chapter XI applies, and voted against the resolution which expressed regret that the Union of South Africa had repudiated its previous assurances to submit reports on South West Africa and invited the Union Government to resume the submission of such reports. All resolutions were adopted by more than two-thirds majority. Voting in general did not follow East versus West or colonial versus anti-colonial lines. In a number of instances the members of the British Commonwealth did not support the positions taken by UK, Belg and Fr.
The Brit, Belg and Fr delegations in Comite 4 strongly maintained that the Special Comite and GA had exceeded limits of the Charter [Page 436] and indicated their Govts might not be prepared to carry out a number of the resolutions adopted by GA field dependent territories. Since adjournment GA there have been indications from Lond, Brussels and Paris that those Govts may be preparing white papers and similar justifications of their attitudes over which Dept is deeply concerned.
US has sought to maintain its traditional position of encouraging the development of dependent peoples toward self-government or independence. We are mindful of our world-wide responsibilities ineluding those relating to areas such as Southeast Asia. We are also mindful of the problems of the states administering colonial areas and of our friendship toward them. In the light of these factors US in dealing with colonial questions has attempted to play a mediating role between the extreme points of view involved and to steer a reasonable and moderate course with twin objectives of neither jeopardizing the positions of the colonial powers nor alienating the friendship of emerging colonial peoples. Reason for suggesting consultation be held somewhat later on is to enable us to make careful analysis our own policy and current status colonial problems in UN. You should not imply either that there will or will not be any alteration in US policy as result Dept’s review position taken recent GA. As FonOff may already be aware, we expressly reserved our position on one res. in voting Plenary Session GA. We have in mind bi-lateral consultations. End Background.
- Repeated to Brussels (1518) and to Paris (5016).↩
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This sentence might better be read: “This is cumulative result of developments in the field of trusteeship and in the field of colonial areas since the establishment of the United Nations, which reached a climax at the recent General Assembly session especially because of action taken relative to the Special Committee on Information Transmitted Under Article 73(e) of the Charter of the United Nations which relates to Chapter XI of the Charter, on direct colonial areas, as contrasted to trusteeship [Chapter XII], although both are considered as parts of the general colonial question.” For text of the Charter of the United Nations, signed at San Francisco, Calif., June 26, 1945, see 59 Stat. 1031 or Department of State Treaty Series No. 993.
Chapter XI of the Charter is entitled “Declaration Regarding Non-Self-Governing Territories,” and consists of two articles: Nos. 73 and 74. Article 73(e) reads:
“Members of the United Nations which have or assume responsibilities for the administration of territories whose peoples have not yet attained a full measure of self-government recognize the principle that the interests of the inhabitants of these territories are paramount, and accept as a sacred trust the obligation to promote to the utmost, within the system of international peace and security established by the present Charter, the well-being of the inhabitants of these territories, and, to this end: . . . .
e. to transmit regularly to the Secretary-General for information purposes, subject to such limitation as security and constitutional considerations may require, statistical and other information of a technical nature relating to economic, social, and educational conditions in the territories for which they are respectively responsible other than those territories to which Chapters XII and XIII apply.”
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