76. Editorial Note
On September 12, U.S. Deputy Representative to the U.N. William E. Schaufele, Jr. made the following statement in the Security Council:
Mr. President, this is a moment of profound satisfaction for the United States. My government warmly welcomes the agreement for the independence of Guinea-Bissau, and strongly supports the admission of Guinea-Bissau to the United Nations.
In this connection, I would like to inform the council that the following statement by President Ford was issued by the White House today:
“The government and the people of the United States welcome the agreement in principle reached on August 9 between the Portuguese Government and representatives of Guinea-Bissau. We extend our congratulations to the leaders of both governments. We look forward to a productive and friendly relationship with Guinea-Bissau.
“I have instructed our representatives at the United Nations to support the application of Guinea-Bissau for membership in the United Nations.”
The United States has fully supported the legitimate aspirations of the people of Guinea-Bissau for self-determination. We are pleased to have Guinea-Bissau take its rightful place among the sovereign and independent nations of the world community and assume full membership in the United Nations.
In the months and years ahead, the United States will do its utmost to strengthen and multiply the bonds of friendship, cooperation, and good will between the governments and people of our two countries. We look forward also to the constructive contributions that Guinea-Bissau will make to the important work of the United Nations.
My government also wishes to congratulate the leaders of Guinea-Bissau and Portugal for the statesmanship, fortitude, and clear vision which they have demonstrated in achieving this momentous agreement. We have particularly noted that the mutual good will and shared aims which have characterized their negotiations have led not only to independence but also to the promise of a smooth and orderly transition beneficial to all the peoples of the area. The new and constructive phase in the evolution of Portugal’s relationship to the continent of Africa has already borne its first fruit.
Since the establishment of the United Nations hardly a generation ago the founding members have been joined by some 85 new nations. Embracing more than half the population of the globe, these new states have achieved full status in the society of nations, as symbolized by United Nations membership. The United States is proud of the contribution it has made to the continuing process of self-determination that has produced this impressive achievement in less than 30 years. Perhaps nothing we, the united nations, have achieved in carrying out the principles of our charter has had greater meaning than the fulfillment of the principle of self-determination. In keeping with its long-standing support for self-determination the United States strongly hopes that the evolution marked by the Security Council’s action today in respect of Guinea-Bissau will continue and that it will soon be reflected in additional achievements in the other African territories. The admission of Guinea-Bissau to the United Nations, and the process by which this gratifying moment in history has been reached give us great encouragement for the future.
Source: Department of State Bulletin, Vol. LXXI, No. 1836, p. 344.