ODA Files, Lot 60 D 512
Discussion Brief for Bilateral Talks on Colonial Policy To Be Held at London and Paris (Agenda Item IV (a) 1)
Item IV, (a), 1: Ewe Problem
I. Problem: To determine U.S. position on the question of Ewe or Togoland unification.
II. Recommended United States Position:
A. U.S. believes Anglo-French proposal to establish Joint Council of representatives both Togolands to advise on matters common concern two territories a forward step, but is concerned lest manner of implementing this proposal provoke Ewe boycott, extreme reaction in Fourth Committee by non-administering Members, and therefore hopes U.K. and France will work out manifestly fair and reasonable procedures for selecting members Joint Council.
B. U.S. considers Joint Council of doubtful value if it fails to get adequate participation and, therefore, hopes every effort will be made to obtain participation of all major groups at each stage in establishment and functioning of Council, such participation being in our view even more important than prompt establishment of Council.
C. U.S. also considers that, whether or not it proves possible to obtain participation unification groups, steps taken by the two Administering Authorities should be such as to obtain, if possible, majority support in Fourth Committee.
D. U.S. is of opinion that successful establishment of fully representative Joint Council likely to avoid move in Fourth Committee to send special U.N. mission or investigator to examine situation on spot, especially in view plans regular U.N. Visiting Mission to go to Togolands in 1952; however, should method of establishment of Joint Council arouse widespread substantial opposition in the General Assembly, administering authorities might well be confronted with proposal for special investigation, and U.S., in these circumstances, might have to reconsider its position on this point.