232. Editorial Note

On December 12, Dr. Herman Wells, the Representative in the Fourth Committee, expressed support for Somaliland independence in 1960. He stressed, however, the importance of finding a solution to the border problem prior to that date. Since the Ethiopians were opposed to mediation, the United States believed the best procedure would be to create an arbitral tribunal to resolve “differences of interpretation” of the 1908 Convention. (USUN Press Release 2844) The United States and the United Kingdom tabled a draft resolution (A/C.4/L.529) which was unanimously approved in revised form by the Fourth Committee on December 13 and by the General Assembly the following day. The latter body inserted the words “His Majesty the King of Norway” in operative paragraph 2. In the operative portion of Resolution 1213(XII), the General Assembly recommended: “the parties to establish, if possible within three months, an arbitration tribunal—consisting of three jurists, one to be appointed by Ethiopia, one by Italy and one by agreement between the jurists so appointed or, failing agreement between them, by His Majesty the King of Norway—to delimit the frontier in accordance with the terms of reference to be agreed upon between the two Governments, with the assistance of an independent person to be appointed between them”.

On December 17, Hagi Farah Ali thanked the United States for its help in bringing about a successful compromise which was more acceptable to his government than the draft resolution introduced by Ceylon, Greece, Indonesia, Liberia, and Sudan. (A/C.4/L.528) (Memorandum of conversation by Robert W. Huddleston, December 17; Department of State, IO/ODA Files: Lot 62 D 225, Somaliland)