711C.02/3–3153
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Lodge) to the Secretary-General of the United Nations (Lie)1
Excellency: I have the honor to refer to the United States Representative’s note UN–1727/89, dated January 19, 1953, notifying you [Page 1443] that as a result of the entry into force on July 25, 1952 of the new Constitution establishing the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Government has decided to cease to transmit information on Puerto Rico under Article 73(e) of the Charter.
The attainment by the people of Puerto Rico of their new Commonwealth status is a most significant step. This is the kind of progress to self-government contemplated by the United Nations Charter. This is the democratic pattern of the free world—of goals set and hopes realized. The people of Puerto Rico expressed their view by resolution at their Constitutional Convention in the following words: “Thus we attain the goal of complete self-government, the last vestiges of colonialism having disappeared in the principle of Compact, and we enter into an era of new developments in democratic civilization.”
I invite your attention in particular to the enclosed letter of Governor Muñoz Marin of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in which, after requesting the termination of the transmittal of information under Article 73(e) with respect to Puerto Rico, and after recounting the development of the Island’s political progress, he says: “The people of Puerto Rico are firm supporters of the United Nations and this great organization may confidently rely upon us for a continuation of that good will.”
Let me add that the people of Puerto Rico at this moment are proudly cooperating to the utmost in the United Nations effort to repel aggression in Korea. The men of Puerto Rico who are bearing the hardships of battle with other United Nations troops have, by their courage and determination, demonstrated their strong love for freedom.
There are enclosed for the information of the Members of the United Nations the following documents2 in compliance with the terms of Resolution 222(III) of the General Assembly:
- (1)
- Text of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
- (2)
- Memorandum by the Government of the United States of America Concerning the Cessation of Transmission of Information Under Article 73(e) of the Charter with Regard to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,3
- (3)
- Copy of the letter dated January 17, 1953, from the Governor of Puerto Rico to the President of the United States.4
Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.
Ambassador
- Source text attached to Department of State circular airgram of Mar. 31, 1953, 4:10 p.m., infra. This note was delivered under authority of Department of State instruction 192, Mar. 11, 1953, not printed (350/1–1153). Under cover of the note the Department transmitted 3 documents with the request that they be transmitted to the Secretary-General. These included: (1) Text of the constitution of Puerto Rico, (2) Memorandum by the Government of the United States of America Concerning the Cessation of Transmission of Information Under Article 73(e) of the Charter With Regard to The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and (3) copy of the letter of Jan. 17, 1953, from the Governor of Puerto Rico to the President of the United States.↩
- None printed in Foreign Relations. ↩
- The “memorandum” was based largely on information contained in the Oct. 9. 1952 letter of the Acting Secretary of Interior, p. 1429. It consisted of six sections: “Introduction”, “Constitutional Development of Puerto Rico Under United States Administration”, “Development and Adoption of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico”, “Principal Features of the Constitution of the Commonwealth”, “Present Status of Puerto Rico”, and Conclusion.↩
- Not printed in Foreign Relations.↩