UNP files, lot 58 D 742, “Committee on Information, 1954, Report of Rapporteur, Res., etc.”
Memorandum by the Deputy Director of the Office of Dependent Area Affairs (Robbins) to the Director of That Office (Gerig)
- Subject:
- Preparation for the Committee on Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories
I have had preliminary discussions of the draft agenda of the 73 did Committee with officers of the Non-Self-Governing Territories Branch. As a result, it is suggested that you may wish to undertake discussions shortly with Mr. Strand, Director, Office of Territories, Department of the Interior, and certain other members of his staff, concerning preparations for the 1954 session of the Committee on Information. Inasmuch as the Office of Territories has been drastically reorganized during the past year it may be necessary for you to “sell” Mr. Strand on the importance of U.S. participation in the work of the Committee and the need for effective backstopping of the U.S. Delegation by the Office of Territories in cooperation with other agencies of the Government. It is suggested, therefore, that in your discussions with Mr. Strand you make the following points:
(1) The large majority of Members of the United Nations believe that there is no field in which the United Nations can do more important [Page 1380] work than in the colonial field. For that reason they are constantly urging increased UN activity in the colonial field and an extension of UN supervision over colonial territories. The General Assembly’s Committee on Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories is a product of the interest of the majority in colonial problems. Through this Committee and in other ways constant pressure is put upon the UN Members which administer non-self-governing territories to account for their stewardship and accelerate the rate of development of their territories.
The United States has sought to make the Committee a constructive force and to avoid its use as a propaganda forum for the more “irresponsible” of the anti-colonials. To this end it has endeavored to channel the Committee’s discussion toward a constructive exchange of experiences between administering and non-administering Members concerning common problems they may have faced in promoting the advancement of underdeveloped peoples. Maximum participation by administering authorities in the discussion of the technical aspects of economic, social and educational developments is essential, therefore, if the constructive work of the Committee is to be continued.
(2) At its forthcoming session the Committee will devote major attention to the consideration of economic conditions and problems of development in non-self-governing territories. It would be helpful, therefore, if the Office of Territories would begin the preparation of papers bearing on economic conditions in United States territories with special reference to the particular aspects of the economy listed on the Committee’s agenda, a copy of which is attached. It would be especially helpful if some general papers were prepared on such topics as: The Virgin Islands Corporation and its Contribution to the Economy of the Territory; Economic Development Plans for American Samoa and Guam; The Integration of Federal Activities in Alaska; and, The Economic Development of Hawaii.
(3) It would be additionally helpful if an officer from the Department of the Interior could be assigned to the U.S. Delegation who would be able to contribute substantially to the Committee’s discussion of economic problems.
(4) We also strongly urge that an indigenous inhabitant from one of our territories be appointed to the U.S. Delegation. This person should be one who could make an effective contribution to the Committee’s discussions. It is especially urgent that this be done inasmuch as the United States is largely responsible for the resolution which calls for administering Members to attach such inhabitants to their delegations. We have considered in relation to the draft agenda what person might be chosen from our territories to serve on the Delegation. High Talking Chief Marioto Tuiasosopo, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and now Member of the Senate would make a favorable impression and contribution. From another area, Mr. Victor Bornn of the Virgin Islands, bank official and businessman of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, who has developed the local cooperatives (formerly governmental but now private) would make an excellent impression. Both are dark-skinned gentlemen. If the procedure suggested by this resolution is not followed, it will become increasingly difficult for the U.S. to oppose more extreme proposals to provide more direct participation of inhabitants in the work of the Committee.