A/1/PV.50 General Assembly

Before putting to the vote the conclusions of the First Committee, I shall consult the Assembly on the question whether it wishes the vote to be taken by roll-call, or whether a vote by a show of hands would appear to be sufficient. Mr. VYSHINSKY (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (translated from Russian) : A show of hands will suffice. Decision : The resolution was adopted by thirty-two votes to nine, with one abstention. The meeting rose at 6~25 p.m. IflFTlETH PLENARY MEETING Held on Saturday, 7 December 1946, at 8 p.m. CONT~~NTS Page 121. Tributes to the memory 0 Mr. Simon Diamantop.oulos and Dr. Leo Rowe. . . . 997 122. Request for the inclusion of two additional items on the agenda: report of the General Committee , . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . 997 123. Election of six members of the Economic and Social Council (continuation) . . . . . 998 124. Appointment of external auditors : report of the Fifth Committee: resolution, . . . . 999 125. Election of three members of the Committee on Contributions and term of office of members elected to the Committee: report of the Fifth Committee: resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *....*.,* 999 126. Election of six members of the Economic and Social Council (continuation) . . . . . 1000 127. Simultaneous interpretation system: report of the Fifth Committee: resolution. 1001 128. Privileges and immunities of the Staff of the United Nations: report of the Fifth Committee : resolution . . . . . . . . . . . , . . -1002 129. Election of six members of the Economic and Social Council (continu$ion) . . . . , .1002 130. Tax equalization: report of the Fifth Committee : resolution . . , . . . . . . . . . , .1003 131.‘Date of the regular session of the General Assembly: report of the Fifth Committee : resolution . , , . . . . . . . . , . , . , . . -1003 132. Election of six members of the Economic and Social CounciI (continuation) . . . . .1004 133. Transfer of the assets of the League of Nations: report of the Fifth Committee: resolution . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . 134. Official seal and emblem of the Unitki 1004 Nations: report of the Sixth Committee: resolution . . . . . . . , , . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . .1005 135, Election of six members of the Economic and SociaI Council (continuation) . , , . .1006 136. Treatment of Indians in the Union of South Africa: report of the Joint First and Sixth Committee . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . .1006 President: Mr. P.-H. SBAAK (Belgium), Le PRESIDENT: Avant de mettle aux voix les conclusions de la Premikre Commission, je consuite 1’AssemblCe sur le point de savoir si elle entend prodder au vote par appel nominal ou si le vote B mains levies lui para& suffisant. M. VYCHINSKY (Union des RCpubliques socialistes sovi&iques) (traduit du ruse) : 11 suffit de voter a main lev&e. _ DBcision: La &solution est adoptke bar trente-deux voix centre neuf, et une abstention. La skance est Is&e ci 18 h. 25 ClNQUANTlEME SEANCE PLENlERE Tenue le samedi 7 dgcembre 1946, ci 20 heures, TABLE DES MATI&ES Pager 121, Hommage & la mimoire de M. Simon Diamantopoulos et du Dr Leo Rowe . . . . 997 122. Demande-relative & l’inscription de deux points suppltmentaires a l’ordre du jour. Rapport du Bureau . , . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . 997 123. Election de six membres du Conseil Cconomique et social (suite) . . , , . , , , . , . . . . 998 124. D@signation de Commissaires aux comptes. Rapport de la Cinquieme Commission, R&solution . . , * . . , . . . . 999 125. Election de trois ,k,drkb ‘$u Comitt des contributions et durCe du mandat des membres &us. Rapport de la Cinqui&me Commission. R6olution . , . . , , . . . . . . . . 999 126. Election de six membres du Conseil Cco- ’ nomique et social (suite) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1000 127. Systhme d’interpr&ation simultanke. Rapport de la Cinqui*me Commission. Rbolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..lOOl 128. Privilkges et immunitCs du personnel des Nations Unies. Rapport de la CinquiCme Commission. RCsolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1002 129. Election de six membres du Conseil tconomique et social (suite) . . . . . . . . . . . . .1002 130. PerCquation d’impats. Rapport de la Cinquihme Commission. Risolution . , . .1003 131. Date de la session ordinaire de l’AssemblCe &r&ale. Rapport de la Cinquisme Commission. Risolution . . . .1003 132. Election de six membres du Conseil &zonomique et social (suite) . . . , . . . . . . , . : 1004 133. Transfert des avoirs de la SociCt6 des Nations. Rapport de la Cinquitme pornmission. R&solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1004 134. Sceau officiel et emblhme de I’Organisation des Nations Unies. Rapport de la Sixibme Commission. R&solution . . . , . . .1005 135. Election de six membres du Conseil Cconomique et social (suite) . . . . , . . . . . . . *JO06 136. Traitement des Hindous Ctablis dans 1’Union Sud-Africaine. Rapport de la Commission mixte des Premi&e et Sixikme qommissions . . . . . . . . . . . . .1006 Prhsident : M, P.-H. SPAAK (Belgique). Le PRESIDENT: J’ai le triste devoir de vous annoncer la mort subite, survenue ce matin, d’un de nos collegues, membre de la d&!gation grecque, Son ExcelIence M. Simon Diamantopoulos. Je demande aux membres de 1’Assemblee de bien vouloir se recueillir un instant en souvenir de la m’tmoire de cet estim6 et agrtSable colEgue.

I have the sad duty of announcing the sudden death this morning of one of our colleagues; a member of the Greek delegation, His Excellency Mr. Simon Diamantopoulos. I ask the members of the Assembly to stand in silence for a moment in memory of this respected and delightful colleague. (Les membres de I’Assemblke g&&ale se lt?vent, et observent un moment de silence,) (The members of the General Assembly stood in silence for a moment). I Le PRI~SIDENT: Le Dr Leo S. Rowe, Directeur g&r&al de 1’Union panamCricaine, eminent serviteur de la paix et de la cooperation internationale, est mart tragiquement avant-bier.

Dr, Leo S. Rowe, Director-General of the Pan- American Union and eminent servant of the c&se of peace and international co-operation, died tragically the day before yesterday. (All the members of, the General Assembly rose.) I wish to express the keen regret which the General Assembly of the United Nations feels at the great loss suffered by his native land, the United States of America, and by his adopted countries, the other twenty American Republics. (Tous les membres de l’dssemble’e se Event.) Je tiens a exprimer les vifs sentiments de regret que 1’Assemblte g&&ale des Nations Unies eprouve devant la grande perte subie par sa patrie de naissance, les Etats-Unis d’Am&- rique, et ses patries de cccur, les autres vingt RCpubliques amCricaines. Depuis le debut du siecle, le Dr Rowe s’est int6ressC B l’&ablissement de meilleures relations entre les peuples americains et n’a pas h&it6 a donner les vingt-six derni&es annt5es de sa vie tr$s active au dEveloppement du mouvement panamtricain, dont le sucds dans le domaine des relations pacifiques entre vingt et une nations est un exemple pour Ie monde entier. Comme un des systemes regionaux prevus dans la Charte de San-Prancisco, l’organisation interamtricaine apporte une grande contribution juridique, sociale et Cconomique au mouvei ment plus universe1 des Nations Unies, Partout, dans les buts atteints par les conf& rences des Etats amEricains, dans les accords intervenus entre eux, on sent l’invisible in-’ fluence du Dr Rowe, dont les conseils opportuns, La connaissance profonde des probl&mes et surtout l’amour des peuples eux-m&mes, ont servi B rapprocher les inter&s nationaux jusqu% les exprimer en formules heureuses de compromis, acceptables par tous. Since the beginning of the century Dr. Rowe had worked for the establishment of better relations between the American peoples, and he did not hesitate to devote the last twenty-six years of his very active life to the development of the Pan-American movement, the success of which, in the field of peaceful relations between twentyone nations, is an example for the whole world. As one of the regional systems provided for in the San Francisco Charter, the Pan-American Organization makes a great legal, social, and economic contribution to the more universal movement of the United Nations. In all the achievements of the conferences of the American States and in the agreements reached between them, one feels everywhere the invisible influence of Dr. Rowe, whose timely advice, whose profound knowledge of the problems involved and, above all, whose love for the peoples themselves, served to bring national interests closer together until they could be expressed in apt formulas of compromise acceptable to all. In the name of this General Assembly I therefore express to our dear colleagues of the nations members. of the Pan-American Union our most sincere condolences for the great loss we have all suffered by the death of Dr. Leo S. Rowe. Au nom de cette Assemblee gtn&le, j’exprime done & nos chers coll@~es des nations membres de YUnion panamCricaine, nos condoleances les plus sin&es pour la grande perte que tous nous venons de subir par la mort du Dr Leo S. Rowe. 122. Demande relative 31 I’inscription de deux points suppl&mentaires & l’ordre du jour. Rapport du Bureau (document A/ 1991 122. Request for the inclusion of two additio;al items on the agenda: report of the General Committee (document Lh A[1991 Le PRESIDENT: L’ordre du jour appelle l’examen d’un rapport du Bureau sur une demande relative B l’inscription de deux points supplementaires 21 l’ordre du ,jour. Le premier des deux points a trait aux conditions dans lesquelles la Suisse pourrait Ztre , 'The PRESIDITNT (translated from French) : The first item on our agenda is the report of the General Committee regarding a request for the inclusion of two additional items on the agenda. The first of these two. items relates to the conditions on which Switzerland may become a

The General Committee has also considered a draft resolution submitted by the delegation of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic regarding the convening of the second session of the General Assembly iti Europe. The General Committee recommends that the Assembly consider this resolution at one of its next plenary meetings, when the permanent site of the United Nations has been discussed and decided. Decision : The proposal of the General Committee was adopted. 123. Election of six members of the Economic and Social Council kontinuation)

The next item on our agenda is the election of two members of the Economic and Social Council. The situ&ion at present is that after four ballots we have been unable to elect comltrics to the two remaining places on the Economic and Social Council. WC are now going to take a fifth ballot. The candidntcs are the Nethcrlands, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Turkey and Yugoslavia, Two of these four countries may he voted for. I will ask the two tellers who counted the votes at the previous ballots to take their places on the platform. (Adr. Papanek and Mr. P&rez Cisneros took their p/aces on ‘the platform.) Mr. ARCE (Argentina) (translated from French) : I should like to make a sug!cstion: Could we not continue our work durmg the voting?

It WOLI~C~ be rather dificult to work during the voting. I hope that we shall succeed in filling the vacant scats at the first ballot, (The votes of the delegations were taken in turn by secret ballot.) The PR~DXNT (translated from French) : I think after all that the suggestion of the reprcscntative of Argentina is a good one and that the Assembly can proceed to discuss the third item on the agenda, which should not raise any difliculties, while the tellers are counting the votes. b) De le soumcttt’e, HOW ~XBl1Zcl1, h la Sixikllle Commission, qui dcvra faire rapport 101~ de la s&ice pl&ni&e. I)&&ion: La proposition du Ijureau est adoptke. Le PR$SI~ENT: Le Bureau de l’&embEe a Cgalement &udiC un projet de &solution soumis par la d&l&gation de la RCpuhliquc socialiste sovi&ique d’Ukraine, tendant h la convocation en &rope de la seconde session de l’Assembl4e ggnCr&. Le Bureau recommande h l’Assernblt% d’examiner cette r&solution au COWS d’une prochaine s&nce plCniEre, lorsqu’il aura et6 discut& et dCcid6 du siege dE.finitif de l”Organisation. D6cision : La proposition du Oureau est adoptde. 123. Election de six membres du Conseil Bconomique et social (suite) Lc PR&IDENT : L’ordrc du jour appclle I’&xtion de deux membres du Con&l 4conomique et social. Voici comment la situation se prescnte, Aprc?s quatrc tours dc scrutin, nous n’avons pas rCussi & 4iie ties pays aux dcux postcs qui restent vncants au Conseil &conomique et social. Nouv allons proceder maintenant & un cinquiEmr tour clc scrutin, La candidats qui restent cn pr&sence sontt: les Pays-Bas, la R6publique socialiste sovibtique de Bi&orusrjie, la Turquic et la Yougoslavic. Lc vote: doit porter sur dcus de ces quatre pays. Je demanderai au.x deux scrutatcurs qui ont bien voulu faire le d&pouillement lam de scrutins prhctdents, de bien vouloir prendrc place a la tribune. (Al. Papanek et M. P&x Cist~eros prennent place A la tribune.) 14. ARCE (Argentine) : Jc d&-c faire uric suggestion: ne pourrions-noun pas continuw A travailler pendant qu”i1 est pro&f au scrutin? Le PR~IDENT: Travailler pendant le scrutin rcrait un peu dificile. J’espc\rc quc notis &ussirens B remplir lcs postcs vacanh au prcmiel tour de scrutin. (Le we a b.4 au scrulin secret, ct La tribune.) LC PRfiSIDENT: Je crois, $ la r&lcxion, quc la Proposition faite par le repr&cntant de l’Argentine est bonne et quc, pendant que les scrutateurs proc2dent au d6pouillement du scrutin, [‘Assemblbe pourrait aborcler la discussion du troisicme point de l’ordre du jour, qui par&t ne pas devoir soulever de diflicult&. Tlx PRESIDENT (translated from French) : I call upon Mr. Aghnides, representative of Greece, Rapporteur. Mr. ACKNIDES (Greece), Rapporteur : I am convinced that you do not wish me to read this long dorument (annex 41) . With your permission, I will only read the first part of the resolution : “The Generd Assembly resolves, “ (n) That the Auditor-General (or other ’ title) of the UKRAINIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC and the Auditor-General (or other title) of SWEDEN and the Auditor-General (or other title) of CANADA be appointed as external auditors of the accounts of the United Nations and of the International Court of Justice, and of such specialized agencies as may be designated by the appropriate authority. Should the necessity arise, an Auditor may designate a representative to sit on the Board in his absence.” I will limit myself to the perusal of this first paragraph,,. with your permission, because the other paragraphs deal with the functions and .attributions and other details concerning these Auditors. You realize why we say “the Auditor- General, or other title”. The Fifth Committee considered that certain countries may not use the title of Auditor-General, but may have another title to describe the person who is the best man for this%ype of auditing. I hope that the Assembly will accept the resolution and thus give the Secretary-General an opportunity to proceed with the implementation of the decisions contained in the resolution.

Le PRESIDENT: Je mets aux voix le projet de I put the resolution to the vote. :Csolution. D&sian : The resolution was adopted DOcision : La rksolution est adopke h l’unaunanimously. )zimitk. 125. Ellection of three members of the Committee on Contributions and term of office of members elected to the Committee: report of the Fifth Committee: resolution (document A/21 5)

The next item on the agenda is the report of the Fifth Committee on the election of three members of the Committee on Contributions and on the term of oflice of members elected to the Committee (annex 42). I call upon Mr. Aghnides, Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee. Je donne Ia parole a M. Aghnides, Rapporteur. Le PRESIDENT: Je dom-re la parole a M. Aghnides, representant de la G&e, Rapporteur. M. AGHNIDES (G&e), Rapporteur ( traduit cle l’anglnis) : Je suis certain qu’aucun des Membres de 1’AssemblCe ne d&ire que je donne lecturc de ce long document (annexe 41). Je me hornerai done, si vous le voulez bien, B lire la premiere partie de la &solution: “L’Assemble’e gknOrale dkcide: “a) Que le Vtrificateur g&&al des comptes (ou tout autre titre) de la RBPu- BLIQUE SOCIALISTE SOVISTIQUE D'UKRAINE et le Vtrificateur general des comptes (ou tout autre titre) de la WDE, et le Verificateur general des comptes (ou tout autre titre) du CANADA sont nommts Commissaires aux comptes des Nations Unies et de la Cour internationale de Justice, ainsi que des institutions spbcialis&es qui pourraient &tre d6ignCes par l’autorite competente. En cas de besoin, un Commissaire aux comptes peut dCsigner un repnCsentant pour le remplacer au Comit6 des Commissaires aux comptes.” Je ne poursuivrai pas plus avant, car les autres paragraphes traitent des fonctions et attributions des Coinmissaires aux comptes, ainsi que d’autres questions de dICtai relatives & ceux-ci. Vous zomprenez pour quellc raison nous disons ‘Ye Vkrificateur gCnCra1 des comptes, ou tout autre Litre.” La Cinquieme Commission a estim6 que .e titre de VCrificateur g&&al peut ne pas exister kms certains pays, oil l’on dksigne peut-&tre d’un zutre titre la personne la plus qualifiee pour zffectuer ce genre de verifications. J’esphe que l’Assembl& adoptera .la rtsoluion et qu’elle permettra ainsi au Secr&.aire gCl&al de donner effet aux dicisions formultes. 125. Election de trois membres au Cornit des contributions ef duke du mandat des membres Qlws. Rapport de la Cinquieme Commission. R&solution (document A/21 5) Le PRESIDENT: L’ordre du jour appelle maintenant l’lklection de trois membres au ComitC des contributions, et la fixation de la durCe du mandat des mimbres I%S, sur le rapport de la Cinquikme Commission (annexe 42). “1. The General Assembly resolves to amend rule 42 of the provisional rules of procedure for the General Assembly, to read as foIlows : Rule 42 “The members of the Committee on Contributions, no two of whom shall be nationals of the same State, shall be selected on the basis of broad geographical representation, personal qualifications and experience, and shall serve for a period of three years corresponding to three financial years, as defined in the regulations for the Financial Administration of the United Nations. Members shall retire by rotation and shall be eligible for re-election. The General Assembly shall elect the members of the Committee on Contributions at the regular session at which the term of office of members expires, or, in case of vacancies, at the next session. “2. The General Assembly declares the following persons to be elected for a three-year term as members of the Committee on Contributions under the terms of reference laid down in rule 42 (as amended) of the provisional rules of procedure for the General Assembly : Mr. K. V. DZUNG . . . , . . . . . . . (China) Mr. Jan PAPANEK . . . (Czechoslovakia) Mr. James 15. WEBB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (United States of America) ” You realize why the Fifth Committee has proposed the change in rule 42. This was in order to create a uniform procedure for the duration of the terms of ofice of members of this Committee, as we have done in the case of other committees, that is to say, they run from January to the end of December. I have the honour to submit this resolution and to request you to adopt it. Decision: The resolution was adopted unanimously. 126. Election of six members of the Economic and Social Council kontinuasion1

The result of the ballot is as follows: Number of Members voting. . ., . . .52 Number of blank or invalid papers. 0 Number of votes cast. . . . . . . . . , . .52 The two-thirds majority required for election is therefore thirty-five. La majorit requise des deux tiers est done de trente-cinq. “1. L’Assemble’e g&&ale de’cide de modifier comme suit l’article 42 de son reglement interieur provisoire : Article 42 “Les membres du Con-&t des contributions, appartenant tous a des nationalites difierentes, sont choisis de fa(;on a assurer . une large repartition geographique des sieges et en tenant compte de leurs titres et de leur experience personnels. La dur6e de leur mandat est de trois an&es correspondant B trois exercices financiers tels que les definit le reglement financier des Nations Unies. Les membres se retirent par roulement et sont rCCligibles. L’AssemblGe gCn&ale Clit les membres du Comitt des contributions au COWS de la session ordinaire pendant laquelle le mandat des membres vient P expiration ou, si une vacance se produit, au tours de la session suivante. “2. L’Assemblke g&&ale dkclare les personnes suivantes 6lues pour trois ans membres du Gomite des contributions, conformement a l’article 42’ (amend&) du rkglement in& rieur provisoire de 1’AssembltCe &&ale : M. K. V. DZTJNG . . . . . . . . . . . (Chine) M. Jan PAPANEK . . . (Tchtcoslovaquie) M. James E. WEBB ( Etats-Upis d’Amtrique) ” Vous comprenez pourquoi nous avons Cgalement propose d’apporter cette modification B Particle 42: c’est afin d’instituer une procedure uniforme en ce qui concerne la durte du mandat. des membres de ce cornit& ainsi que nous l’avons fait dans le cas d’autres commissions. En d’autres termes, les membres du cornit exercent leur mandat a partir du mois de janvier jusqu’a la fin de dgcembre. J’ai l’honneur de soumettre cette r&solution & 1’AssemblCe en la priant de l’adopter. ]Ddcision: La r&solution est adopt&e d l’unanimite’. 126. Election de six memkwes du Conseil Bconomique et social hlite) , Le PRESIDENT: Voici le resultat du scrutin: Nombre de votants . . . , . . . . . . . . 52 Bulletins blancs ou nuls . . . . . . . . , 0 Suffrages exprimts . . . . . . . . . , . . 52 (The votes of the delegations were taken in turn by secret ballot.) 127. Simultaneous interpretation system: 127, Systeme d’interpktation simultan6e. report of the Fifth Committee: resolu- Rapport de la CinquiQme Commistion (document A/21 0) sion. RQsolution (document A/21 0)

We will now consider the report of the Fifth Committee on the simultaneous interpretation system (annex 43). I call upon Mr. Aghnides, Rapporteur. M. AGHN~DES (G&e), Rapporteur ( traduit de Panglais) : J’ai I’honneur de p&enter a l’Assemblte les conclusions des dt?libtrations de la Cinqui&me Commission sur cette question. Elles Eigurent dans la rCsoIution dont je vais donner lecture : “L’Assemblke gknkrale, “Having considered the report of the Secretary-General and the observations made by several representatives in the Fifth Committee: Mr. AGHNIDES (Greece), Rapporteur : I have the honour to present the conclusions of the deliberations of the Fifth Committee on this question. They are in the resolution which is submitted and which I am going to read: “The #General Assembly, “Ayant examin le rapport du Secritaire g&&al et Ies observations prtsent4es & la Gin- , qui?me Commission par diffCrents reprtsentants : “1. Takes no decision, for the time being, “1. Ne prend aucune ddcision pour l’inson the simulta.neous interpretation system but tant sur le systkme d’interprttation simultan~e, recommends the continuation of the present mais recommande de continuer l’emploi du practices until the next session of the General syst;me actuel jusqu’8 la prochaine session de Assembly when a final decision should be 1’Assemblte g&&ale 06 une decision definitive taken. pourra .Ztre prise. “2. Requests the Secretary-General to equip before the next session a second conference room and a second committee room with simuItaneous interpretation apparatus. “2. Demande au SecrCtaire g&&al de faire Cquiper d’appareils d’interpretation simultarite, avant la prochaine session, une seconde salle de confe’rence et une seconde s&e de commission. “3. Refers the proposal for equipment of a second conference room and of a second committee room for consideration to the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, which should also examine the advisability, from a budgetary point of .view, of installing a wireless system of simultaneous interpretation in preference to the present equipment.” I have only one word to add, and that is to explain the reason why the last part of the resolution was included. It was considered by the Fifth Committee that it might be convenient to transport the movable apparatus for the purposes of any conference held under the auspices of the United Nations elsewhere than at the seat, and in the premises of, the United Nations. I have the honour to request you to adopt this resolution. Decision: The resolution was adopted unanimously. Le PRI~DENT: Nous allons examiner maintenant Ie rapport de la Cinquikme Commission sur le sys@me d’interprCtation simultan&e (annexe 43). Je donne la parole $ M. Aghnides, Rapporteur. I< 3. Transmet, pour examen, la proposition d’equipement d’ine seconde sallede conf& rence et d’une seconde salIe de commission au ComitE consultatif des questions administratives et budgttaires qui devra (galement examiner l’opportunitC, du point de vue budgetaire, de I’installation d’un systkme d’interprCtation simultan~e radiophonique de pre’- ftrence ?i 1’Cquipement ictuel.” J’ajouterai ici un mot ieulement pour expli-’ luer les raisons qui nous ont amen& 8 prf5voir le dernier point de la rtsolution. La Cinqui&me Commission a. estimg que, si des conftrences devaient avoir lieu en dehors du si&ge des Nations Unies, il serait peut Ctre commode de transaorter 1’Cquipement amovible, qui serait ainsi itilist pour les confCrences tenues sous Ies aus- Iices des Nations Unies ailleurs qu’au sitge de ‘Organisation. I J’ai l’honneur de soumettre la r&olution 5 ‘approbation de I’AssembICe. D6cision: La r&solution est adoptke a Puna- &zitk.

We will now deal with, the report of the Fifth Committee on the privileges and immunities of the Staff of’ the SUnited Nations (annex 44). I call upon Mr. Aghnides, Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee. Mr. AGHNIDES (Greece), Rapporteur: The report of the Fifth Committee contains the following draft resolution : “The General Assembly, CCHaz&2g considered the proposal of the Secretary-General that, in accordance with section 17 of article V of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, the categories of officials to which the provisions of articles V and VII shall apply should include all members of the staff of the United Nations, with the exception of those who are recruited locally and are assigned to hourly rates, “‘Ap;oroves the granting of the privileges and immunities referred to in articles V and VII of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, adopted by the General Assembly on 13 February 1946, to all members of the staff of the United Nations, with the exception of those who are recruited locally and are assigned to hourly rates.” Decision: The resolution wus adopted unanimously. 129. Election of six members of the Economic and Social Council kontinuation)

The result of the ballot which has just been held is as follows : Number of Members voting. . . . . (54 Number of blank or invalid papers. 0 N;lmber of votes cast .* . . . . . . a... 54 The two-thirds majority required for election is therefore thirty-six. The number of votes obtained is as follows : Number of uotes Byelorussian SSR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Netherlands ..a .,.... . . . . . . . . . . 28 Turkey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Yugoslavia . . . . . . . . . . . . ,....... 18 lhision: The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was elected a member of the Economic and Social Council for a period beginning I January 1947. of three years We have now to elect a member to fill the last vacant seat. The only remaining candidates art the Netherlands &id Turkey, which received twenty-eight and twenty-five votes respectively. Le PRESIDENT: L’ordre du jour appelle 1;s discussion sur le rapport de la Cinquihme Commission relatif aux privil&ges et immunitCs clu personnel des Nations Unies (annexe 44) I Je donne la parole B M. Aghnides, Rapporteur. M. AGHNIDES (G&e), Rapporteur ( traduit de Panglais) : Le rapport de la Cinquicme Commission contient la resolution suivante : ccL’Assemblke g&&ale, “Ayant examink la proposition du Secr& taire g&&al suivant laquelle, conformkment j la section 17 de l’article V de la Convention sur les privil&ges et immunit&s des Nations Unies, les catCgories de fonctionnaires auxquels devront s’appliquer les dispositions des articles V et VII devraient comprendre tours les membres du personnel des Nations Unies; B l’exception de ceux qui sont recrutCs sur place et pay& a l’heure, “Approuve I’octroi de privilEges et immunitQ mention&s aux articles V et VII de la Convention sur les privilkges et immunitCs des Nations Unies, adopt&e par 1’AssemblCe g&B& rale le 13 fdvrier 1946, B tous les membres du personnel des Nations Unies, .% l’exception de ceux qui sont recrutCs sur place et pay& Zi. l’heure.” Decision: La &solution est adopt&e ct l’una- &zitk. 129. Election de six membres du Conseil iconomique et social (suite) Le PRESIDENT: Voici le r&ultat du tout de scrutin auquel il vient &tre proctdh: Nombre de votants . . , . . . . . . . . , 54 Bulletins blancs ou nuls . . . . , . . . . 0 Suffrages exprim& . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 La majoritt requise des deux tiers est done de trente-six. Ont obtenu : Nombre de voix RSS de Bitlorussie . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Pays-Bas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . 28 Turquie . . . , . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 ’ Yougoslavie . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . 18 DBcision: La Rkpublique socialiste soviktique de Biklorussie est glue membre du Conseil kconomique et social pour une pkriode de trois ans commeyant le ler janvier 1947. Le PRESIDENT: Nous proddons ri 1’Clection au dernier si&ge vacant. 11 reste seulement comme candidats possibles les Pays-Bas et la Turquie, qui ont obtenu respectivement vingt- (The votes of the delegations were taken in turn by secret ballot.) 130. Pkriquation d’imp6ts. Rapport de la Cinquieme Commission. R&solution (document A/21 1) 130. Tax equalization: report of the Fifth Committee: resolution (document A/21 1) Le PRESIDENT: L’ordre du jour appelle l’examen du rapport de la CinquiEme Commission concernant la p&equation d’impets (annexe 45 ) .

We will now take the report of the Fifth Committee on tax equalization (annex 45). I call upon Mr. Aghnides, Rapporteur. M. AGHNIDES (G&e), Rapporteur (traduit de Panglais) : Je vais donner lecture de la r&olution sur la ptr;quation des imp&s: Mr. AGHNIDLS (Greece), Rapporteur: The resolution on tax equalization reads as follows: ‘{The <General Assembly resolves that: “In order to achieve full application of the principle of equity among Members and equality among personnel of the United Nations, Members which have not yet completely exempted from taxation salaries and allowances paid out of the budget of the Organization are requested to take early action in the matter. “The question of a staff contributions plan in lieu of national taxation is referred to the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, which may request the Secretary-General to submit new proposals to the next regular session of the General Assembly.” Decision : The resolution was adopted unanimously. D&+&n: La r&solution est adoptke d Punazimite’. 131. Date de la session ordinaire de I’Assembke g&r&ale. Rapport de la Cinquieme Commission. R.&olution (document A/209) 131. Date of the regular session of the General Assembly: report of the Fifth Committee: resolution (document A/209) Le PRESIDENT: L’ordre du jour appelle l’exanen du rapport de la Cinquieme Commission ;ur la date de la session ordinaire de l’Assem- )ICe g&&ale (annexe 46).

We will now deal with the report of the Kfth Committee on the date of the regular session of the General Assembly (annex 4G). Je donne la parole a M. Aghnides, Rappor- .eur. I call upon Mr. Aghnides, Rapporteur. M. AGHNIDES (G&e), Rapporteur (traduit le l’anglais) : Je vais donner lecture de la r&oution : Mr. AGHNIDES (Greece), Rapporteur : I will read the resolution : “The General Assembly resolves that rule 1 of the provisional rules of procedure shall be amended to read : “ ‘The General Assembly shall meet every year in regular session commencing on the third Tuesday in September.’ ” Decision : The resolution was adopted unanimously. Decision: La resolution est adoptke a l’unafbimitd. (Le vote a lieu au scrutin secret, d la tribune.) La parole est a M. Aghnides, Rapporteur. “L’Assemblke gknkrale decide: “1. En vue d’assurer l’application pleine et enticre du principe d’egalitt parmi les Etats Membres et du principe d’equitt a l’igard du personnel des Nations Unies, d’inviter les Etats Membres qui n’ont pas encore completement exonire de toute imposition les salaires et indemnites pay6 au titre du budget de I’Organisation, de prendre a bref dClai toutes mesures utiles en la mat&e. “2. De renvoyer la question d’un bareme des contributions du personnel destinC & remplacer les impositions nationales B la Commission consultative pour les questions administratives et budggtaires, qui pourra demander au SecnCtaire g&&al de presenter dc nouvelles propositions a la prochaine session ordinaire de 1’Assemblte g&r&ale.” “L’AssemblBe g&&ale d,&cide de modifier comme suit I’article 1 de son reglement inttrieur provisoire : “L’Assembl~e g&n&ale se’ &unit en session ordinaire chaque an&e le troisikme mardi de septembre.”

The result of the recent ballot is as follows: Number of Members voting. . . . . .54 Number of blank or invalid papers. 3 Abstentions . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . 2 The two-thirds majority required is therefore thirty-five. The number of votes obtained is as follows : Number of votes Turl<ey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...25 Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 We shall take another ballot. May I remind representatives that they. may vote for a single candidate only, which must be Turkey or the Netherlands? (The votes of the delegations were taken in turn by secwt ballot.) 133. Transfer of the assets of the league of Natkns: report of the Fifth Committee: resolution (document A/21 4)

We will now deal with the report of the Fifth Committee on the transfer of the assets of the League of Nations ( annex 47 > . I call upon Mr. Aghnides, Rapporteur. Mr. AGHNIDES (Greece), Rapporteur ( translated from French) : I am sure that the Members of the Assembly have had time to read this report and the accompanying resolution and will have studied them with all the attention they deserve. I will limit myself, therefore, to reading the resolution. I would draw your attention at the same time to the fact that there are other parts of this report which contain elements of considerable importance. These matters have, however, been very carefully and fully discussed. The resolution is as follows : “The General Assembly resolves that, “1. The Agreement concerning the exccution of the transfer to the United Nations of certain assets of the League of Nations and the Protocol concerning the execution of various op’erations in the transfer to the United Nations of certain assets of the League of Nations, arrived at in accordance with the provisions of the Common Plan with respect ato the transfer of certain assets of the League of Nations, are approved as they appear in annexes 1 and II to this resolution. “2. The Secretary-General is authorised to Prepare a definite schedule for establishing a final valuation of these assets, in accordance with the terms of the Common Plan, in con- . . Le PRI~DENT: Voici le r&&at du tour de scrutin auquel il vient d’$tre pro&d&: ,Nombre de votants . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Bulletins blancs ou nuls . . . . . . . . 3 Abstentions . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 La major& requise des deux tiers est done de trente-cinq. Ont obtenu : Nombre de voix Turquie .,.‘........... . . . . . . . 25 Pays-Bas . . . . . . . *.a,.*. . . . . . . 24 Nous allons pro&d& g un nouveau tour de scrutin. Je rappelle a tous les representants qu’ils ne peuvent voter que pour un seul candidat, lequel doit stre la Turquie ou les Pays-Bas. (Le vote a lieu au scrutin secret, ct la tribune.) 133. Transfert des avoirs de la Sock% des Nations. Rapport de la Cinqvihme Commission. RBsolution (document A/214) Le PR~SIDPNT: L’ordre du jour appelle l’examen du rapport de la CinquiPme Commission concernant le transfert des ‘avoirs de la SocXt6 des Nations (annexe 47). La parole est & M. Aghnides, Rapporteur. M. AGEINIDES (Grece), Rapporteur : Je suis persuade que les Membres de l’AssemblCe, apr&s avoir pris connaissance de ce rapport et de la r&olution qu’il contient, les ont ttudits avec l’attention qu’ils mtritent. Je me bornerai a VOW lire la rCsolution. Mais je crois devoir attirer votre attention sur les diverses parties du rapport qui contiennent des 61Cments assez importants. Des discussions approfondies orit eu lieu et nous avons examin trts soigneusement ces questions. Voici le texte de la r6olution: CcL’Assemble’e gknkrale dt!cide que: “1. L’Accord concernant l’exkution du transfert aux Nations Unies de certains avoim de la SocietE’ des Nations et le Protocole concernant l’exkution de diverses opCrations de transfert de certains avoirs de la SociCtC des Nations aux Nations Unies, qui ont tt6 conclus conform6ment aux dispositions du Plan commun relatif au transfert de certains avoirs I de la SociCt6 des Nations, sent approuds tels” qu’ils figurent aux annexes I et II de la prkente r6olution. “2. Le SecrQaire g&r&al est autorist a dresser un inventaire precis en vue. d”6tablir une 6valuation dtfinitive de ces avoirs, conformiment aux dispositions, du Plan commun, en se concertant avec le ComitC consultatif des questions administratives et budgCtaires et avec les autoritts de la SociCt6 La rksolution est adoptde d l’una- Decision : unanimously. The resolution was adopted fficial seal and emlalem of the nited ations: report of the Sixth Conamittee: resolution (documents A/204, and A/~~~/Add. 1)

We shall now consider the report of the Sixth Committee on the official seal and emblem of the United Nations (annex 48). I call upon Mr. Bailey, Rapporteur of the Sixth Committee. ' Mr. BAILEY (Australia), Rapporteur : On behalf of the Sixth Committee I read the following resolution : “The General Assembly, “1. Recognises that it is desirable to approve a distinctive emblem of the United Nations and to authorize its use for the official seal of the Organization; “Resolves therefore that the design reproduced below shall be the emblem and distinctive sign of the United Nations and shall be used for the of&&l seal of the Organization. 2. Considers that it is necessary to protect the name of the Organization and its distinctive emblem and official seal; j “Recommends therefore: “(a) That Members of the United Nations should take such legislative or other appropriate measures as are necessary to prevent the use, without authorization by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and in particular for commercial purposes by means of trade marks or commercial labelq, of the emblem, the official seal and the name of the ‘United Nations, and of abbreviations of that name through the use of its initial letters; “ (b ) That the prohibition should take effect as soon as practicable but in any event not later than the expiration of two years from the adoption of this resolution by the General Assembly; “(c) That esich Member of the United Nations, pending the putting into effect within its territory of any such prohibition, q should use its best endeavours to prevent any use, without authorization by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, of the emblem, name, or initials of the United Nations, and in particular for commercial purposes by means of trade marks or commercial labels.” Decision : The resolution was adopted unanimously. Ddcision : nimitk. ckel et embl&me de I’Organisation des Nations Unies. Rapport de ICI SixiGme Commission. R&solution (documents A/204, etA/P04/Add. 1) Le PRI~DENT: L’ordre du jour appelle l’examen du rapport de la %&me Commission sur le 3ceau officiel et embl&me de l’organisation des Nations Unies (annexe 48). Je donne la parole & M. Bailey, reprksentant le I’Australie, rapporteur de la Sixi&ne Commission. M. BAILEY ( Australie) , Rapporteur ( traduit 3e l’anglais) : J’ai l’honneur de donner lecture, m nom de la Sixieme Commission, de la rtsolu- :ion suivante: “L’AssembUe g&&ale, “1. Reconnai’t qu’il est souhaitable d’approuver un emblkme distinctif des Nations Unies et d’en autoriser l’emploi comme sceau officiel de l’organisation; “L)kcide en cons4quence que le dessin reproduit ci-dessous sera l’emblt!me et le signe distinctif des Nations Unies et sera utilis6 comme sceau officiel de l’organisation. “2. Estime qu’il est ntcessaire de proteger le nom de l’organisation, son emblhme distinctif et son sceau ofliciel; crRecommande en conskquente: “a) Que les Membres des Nations Unies prennent toutes mesures appropriCes d’ordre 1Cgislatif ou autres, afin d’empecher l’emploi, sauf auto?isation du Secrktaire g&6 ral des Nations Unies, de l’embl&me, du sceau officiel et du nom de ‘Nations Unies’ ainsi que de I’abr6viation de ce noti en lettres initiales, notamment a des fins commerciales sous forme de marques de ’ fabrique ou de commerce; “b) Que l’interdiction prenne effet aussit& que possible, et de toute faGon au plus tard dans un dClai de deux ans d dater de l’adoption de la pr&ente rtsolution par . 1’Assembbte g&n&ale; “c) Que chacun des Membres des Nations’ Unies, en attendant que pareille interdiction soit mise en vigueur dans leurs territoires respectifs, fasse tout en Son pouvoir pour emp&cher toute utilisation de l’embl&ne, du nom ou des initiales des Nations Unies, notamment a des fins commerciales sous forme de marques de fabrique 0~ de commerce, sauf autorisation du SecrCtaire g&n&al de l’organlsation. D&i&n: La &solution est adopt&e d l’unaaimitk.

The result of the voting is as follows: Number of Members voting. . . . . 54 Abstention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Number of votes cast. . . . . . . . . . 53 The two-thirds majority required for election is therefore thirty-six. The number of votes obtained is as follows: Number of votes Turkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . 25 As no State has received a two-thirds majority, it will be necessary to take another ballot. I propose to postpone this further ballot until another meeting. Decision : The President’s proposal was adopted. 136. Treatment of Indians in the Union of South Africa: report of the Joint First and Sixth Committee (documents A/205 and A/205/Add.l)

We shall now consider the report of the Joint First and Sixth Committee on the treatment of Indians in the Union of South Africa. I call upon Mr. Viteri Lafronte, representative of Ecuador, Rapporteur. Mr. VITERI LAFRONTE (Ecuador), Rapporteur: The report and resolution presented by the First and Sixth Committee are as follows: “1. The General Assembly, at its forty-sixth plenary meeting, held on 31 October 1946, referred to the Joint First and Sixth Committee for consideration the question of the treatment of Indians in the Union of South Africa. “2. On 20 and 23 November respectively, the representatives of India and of the Union of South Africa submitted,written proposals concerning the Treatment of Indians in the Union of South Africa (documents A/C.1&6/3 and A/C.1&6/8). “3. In the course of discussion the representatives of the United Kingdom, the United States and Sweden presented a combined amendment to the resolution presented by the delegation of India (document A/C.1&6/20). The representative of Poland submitted a further amendment to this combined amendment (document A/C.1&6/22). “4. The representatives of France and Mexico a, submitted a joint amendment to the Indian ,+.resolution (document A/C.1&6/ 12). Before ‘th&,Committee proceeded to a vote, the reprea^. Le PRESIDENT: Voici le resultat du tour de scrutin auquel il vient d’&tre pro&de: Nombre de votants . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Abstention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T 1 Suffrages exprimes . . . , . . . . . . . . 53 La majorite requise des deux tiers est done de trente-six. Ont obtenu : Nombre de voix Turquie . . . . . . . . , . . . . , . , . . , . . 28 Pays-Bas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Aucun Etat n’ayant obtenu la majorit des 1 deux tiers, il est n&essaire de prootder a un 1 nouveau tour de scrutin. Je vous propose de 1 remettre ce nouveau scrutin a une prochaine ‘ 3iance. DCcision: La proposition du P&dent est , zdoptke. 136; Traitement des Hindous dtablis dam I’Union Sud-Africaine. Rapport de Ial Commission mixte des Premihre et Sixi&me Commissions (documents y A/205 et A/205/Add. 1) Le PRI~SIDENT: L’ordre du jour appelle l’exe men du rapport de la Commission mixte des Premi&re et Sixieme Commissions concernant le traitement des Hindous &ablis dans PUnion Sud-Africaine. I La parole est a M. Viteri Lafronte, rep&entant de PEquateur, Rapporteur. M. Viteri LAFRONTE (Equateur) , Rappor- 1 teur (traduit de l’angluis) : Je donne lecture du I rapport et de la resolution prCsentCs par la / Commission mixte des Premiere et Sixieme ~, / Commissions : “1. Li 3 1 octobre 1946, au tours de sa I quarante-sixi6me sCance plCniere, 1’Assemblte g&n&ale a renvoy& pour examen a la Commission mixte des Premiere et Sixikme Commissions la question du traitement r&ervC aux / Hindous dans PUnion Sud-Africaine. “2. Les reprdsentants de 1’Inde et de PUnion Sud-Africaine ont p&sent4 par Ccrit, respectivement le 20 et le 23 novembre, des proposition;s ~ relatives au traitement des Hindous &tab& dam 1’Union Sud-Africaine ( documents A/C. l&6 /3 et A/(%1&6/8). “3. Au tours de la discussion, les repr&sentants du Royaume-Uni, des Eta&U& d’Amerique et de la S&de ont p&sent6 en commun un amendement a la rtsolution de l’Inde (document A/C.1&6/20). A son tour, le reprtsentant de la Pologne a soumis un amendement a cet amendement commun (document A/C.ltt 6/22). "4. Les reprbsentants de la France et du Mexique ont p&sent6 en commun un amendement & la r&olution de 1’Inde (document A/C.!1 &6/12). Avant que la Commission ait pass6 au “The General Assembly, “Having taken note of the application made by the Government of India regarding the treatment of Indians in the Union of South Africa, and having considered the matter: “1. States that, because of that treatment, friendly relations between the two Member States have been impaired and, unless a satisfactory settlement is reached, these relations are likely to be further impaired; “2. Is of the of&ion that the treatment of Indians in the Union should be in conformity with the international obligations under the agreements concluded between the two Governments and the relevant provisions of the Charter; “3. Therefore requests the two Governments to report at the next session of the Gencral Assembly the measures adopted to this eff cct.”

I call upon Field-Marshal Smuts, representative of the Union of South Africa. Field-Marshal fhUTs (Union of South Africa) : In moving the amendment standing in the name of the South African delegation I shall be quite brief; nor do I think that it need lead to any lengthy debate, especially in view of the very full discussions which have already taken place in the Assembly, the General Committee, and the two Committees to which the subject was referred for report. But I do submit that it is a matter of very great importance in regard to which South Africa is entitled to ask for a decision of the full General Assembly itself, and that the latter should not rest content with merely endorsing the resolution of the two Committees. In this connexion I would point out that the vote on the resolution was in effect indecisive. Out of a total of fifty-four members of the tTvo “L’Assemblke g&&ale, crPren.ant acte de la demande formulCe par le Gouvernement de 1’Inde et relative au traitement des Hindous itablis dans 1’Union Sud-Africaine, et aprb examen de la question : “1, Constate qu’en raison de ce traitement les relations de bonne amitie entre les deux Etats Membres des Nations Unies se trouvent altfXes et risquent de s’altCrer encore davantage B l’avenir, si un accord satisfaisant n’est pas real%; “2. Estime que le traitement des Hindous Ctablis dans I’Union doit Ctre conforme aux engagements internationaux rtsultant des accords conclus entre les deux Etats, compte tenu des dispositions de la Charte; “3. Invite, et conskquence, les deux Gouvernements a faire rapport, h la prochaine session de l’Assemblte gt?n&ale, sur les mesures prises ?L cet effet. ‘1 Le PR~IDENT: Je donne la parole au mar& :hal Smuts, repr&entant de l’Union Sud-Afriaine. Le marechal SMUTS (Union Sud-Africaiue) traduit de Panglais) : Dam mes commentaires ur l’amendement que j’ai dkpost au nom de la Itlegation sud-africaine je serai tout d fait bref; e ne pense pas non plus que cet amendement loive entrainer un debat prolonge, &ant don& urtout que l’Assemblte, le Bureau et les deux 3ommissions auxquelles on a renvoyC la quesion pour rapport, en ont dCji cliscutg d’une a$on tres approfondie. Mais j’estime qu’il s’agit i d’une question d’une haute importance, sur lquelle I’Union Sud-Africaine est en droit de .emander une dtcision de l’Assembl&e g&$-ale II&&e elle-m&me, et non pas une simple approlation par I’AssembXe de la r&solution prCparCe lar les deux,Commissions. Je soulignerai, B ce propos, que le vote auquel ette rtsolution a don& lieu n’a pas Qk, en fait, ,.,= ~*~~, # Ccisif. Vingt-quatre membres seulement sur les I need scarcely point out that for South Africa the condemnation involved in, the resolution now before the Assembly is a very serious matter, especially in view of the nature of the charges made against her. The Indian delegation itself originally emphasized its strong view of the importance it attached to the matter. The complaint against South Africa, it pointed out, had already impaired the friendly relations between two Member States and might lead to worse. From both the South African and the Indian viewpoints, therefore, the importance of the , matter must be evident to all, and it should not be left to the indecisive vote of the Committee, but should be passed on by the Assembly itself. The South African delegation claims this as a right and asks the Assembly to express its own view on a matter of such far-reaching importance. But besides the grave importance of this matter for South Africa, I have another reason for asking for the decision of the Assembly itself. The South African delegation wishes the amendment which I am moving to be voted on. That amendment was moved before the two Committees and found considerable support, but under the voting procedure followed, the Committees had no opportunity of voting on it. The amendment asks for the reference of the matter to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on the issues of law involved. It is clear, and it is admitted, that a question of .law is involved. Besides the questions of fact in ‘! dispute, there is also a very important issue of law, such as the application of the rule of ; domestic jurisdiction and the competence of the Assembly to pass on the facts disclosed in the Indian complaint and the reply of South Africa thereto. On this issue of law South Africa has a clear right to go to the Court for its opinion, and the Assembly has a clear duty to assist it in securing such an opinion. The Court is the very organ of this Organization established for the purpose of dealing with matters of that kind, and the Assembly should have the advisory opinion of the Court before it when it comes to pass judg n-rent on the facts. The Committees, under their It is surely for the Court to say whether, under the Charter, the Assembly has legal competence and jurisdiction to deal with the matter raised in the documents which India and South Africa have laid before it, and whether there are international obligations arising under agreements between the two Governments or under the provisions of the Charter which have been broken by South Africa. The complaint of India could only be based on legal obligations which South Africa has failed to observe, and these obligations must therefore be ascertained and reported on by the tribunal which has beer/ expressly created for such purposes. South Africa’s right to go to this Court cannot be denied her. The right of free access to the courts is one of the fundamental rights and freedoms which is not denied the individual citizen or subject of a State; still less should it be denied a sovereign State Member of this august Organization. In moving this amendment, South Africa is doing no more than claiming this fundamental right to have its international obligations determined by the Court and not by a mere political forum. To ‘deny South Africa that elementary right ‘would be not only unjust to her but also to strike at the very foundations on which this Organization has been built. _ The South African delegation has no intention of raising again the merits of the dispute. They have already been most fulIy discussed. We now only ask that the proper constitutional legal procedure should b owed to provide an answer to the question ether South Africa has broken any interna 1 treaty obligations or violated fundamental rights or freedoms enjoined upon her by the Charter. It not only welcomes that legal enquiry but also insists on it as a matter of right, which is granted as a matter of course in any well-governed democratic community, We ask this as a matter of major importance for South Africa and for this Organization, and I,move accordingly the following amendment : I,,,,* b “The General Assembly, having taken note of the application made by the Government of India regarding the treatment of Indians in the Union of South Africa and having considered the matter, is of the opiriion’ that, since the ,jurisdiction of the General Assembly to deal with the matter is in doubt and since the questions involved are consequtntly of a legal as well as of a factual nature, a decision based on authoritatively declared juridical foundations is the one most likely to promote realization of those purposes of the Charter ’ Document A/205/Add. 1. ’ Document A/205/Add.l. En proposant cet amendement, I’Afrique du Sud ne fait rien de plus qu’invoquer son droit Fondamental a vo& la Cour, et non pas une ;imple assemblte politique, diterminer le champ je ses obligations internationales. Refuser g 1’Afrique du Sud ce droit CKmentaire, non seulenent constituerait une injustice, mais porterait m coup aux fondations m&mes sur IesqueIles :ette Organisation a ttC ttablie. La dtltgation de 1’Union Sud-Africaine n’a ?as l’intention de discuter encore le bien-fond6 les faits allCguCs; on en a d6ja discut6 d’une ‘ason t&s compl&te. Aujourd’hui nous demanions seulement que I’on suive la proctdure jurilique et constitutionnelle prtvue pour dbterminer ii 1’Afrique du Sud a viol6 quelque obligation nternationale contenue dans un trait& ou si elle 1 m&onnu les IibertCs et les droits fondamentaux lent la Charte lui prescrit le respect. 11 n’est pas issez de dire que 1’Afrique du Sud se rkjouit de :ette enquete juridique, elle la r&lame comme m droit, un droit qui appartient & tout membre i’une communautC dCmocratique bien gouverl&e. Si nous p&entons notre revendication, :‘est que cette question rev& une importance najeure et pour l’Afrique du Sud et pour cette 3rganisation. Telles sont les raisons qui in- ;pirent notre amendement, dont voici le texte: a “L’AssemblCe g&.&ale, prenant acte de la demande formulCe par le Gouvernement de 1’Inde a propos du traitement rCservC aux Hindous dans 1’Union Sud-Africaine, estime aprts examen de la question, que, puisque sa * compttence en la mat&e fait I’objet de contestations puisque les questions dont il s’,a@t rev&tent ainsi un caractkre au4 bien juridique que pratique, c’est une dicision &ablie sur ,des bases rcconnues juridiquement comme autoristes, qui permettra de rCaliser au mieux les buts de la Charte, que tous les Membres de “The Assembly therefore resolves that, “The International Court of Justice is requested to give an adv$ory opinion on the question whether the matters referred to in the Indian application are, under Article 2, paragraph 7 of the Charter, essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of the Union.” The P~IDENT (translated from French) : I call upon Mr. Fahy, representative of the United States of America. Mr. FAHY (United States of America) : The ‘United States is unable to support the resolution suggested by the Joint First and Sixth Committee. Our reasons are clear and fundamentally simple. The second paragraph of this resolution states that the General Assembly (I quote from the resolution) “‘is of the opinion that the treatment of Indians in the Union should be in conformity with the international ‘obligations under the agreements concluded between the two Governments”, and the relevant provisions of the Charter. Obviously, the treatment of the Indians should be in conformity with obligations under agreements between the two Governments, if such a.greements have in fact been concluded. But that is the underlying question. The resolution, if agreed to, wotild constitute a finding on the part of the General Assembly that international obliga$ons do exist under agreements concluded between the two Governments. ‘The existence of such obligations is in doubt. !r his is a q uestion of law. C The Union of South Africa proposes that tde General Assembly request an advisory opinion of the Ii:terna.tional Court of Justice on this legal question. We think this eminently oper and that it is the wisest next step to take. How should the General Assembly approach the juridical question whether such agreements have been concluded between India and the Union? One can with reason support the resolution only if satisfied that there are binding obligations between the two Governments with respect to the treatment of Indians in South Africa, as a result of which agreements, the legislative and administrative measures applicable to the Inc!inns have been lifted out of the domestic jurisdiction of the Union. This quite clearly is a cliqputed issue of international law, It lies at the foundation of the pending resolution. Under Article 96 of the Charter the Assembly is authorized to request an advisory opinion on this question, as the Union proposes; The interested parties wouId thus be given the . . opportunity, before the international, judicial bo,dy, to argue the international judicial issue ‘<En conskquence, PAssemblde dkcide “De demander g la Cour internationale de Justice un avis consultatif sur le point de savoir;‘ si les questions soulevtes par 1’Inde dam sa demande relcvent Cventuellement aux termes de l’tirticle 2 paragraphe 7 de la Charte, de la comp&tence nationale de YUnion.” Le BRT~IDENT: Je donne la parole a h/l. Fahy, reprksentant des Etats-Unis d’Am& rique. M. FAHY (Bats-U& d’Amtrique) (traduit ie Z’anglais) : Les Etats-Unis ne peuvent ap- 3uyer la r6solution p&se&e par la Commission nixte des Premikre et Sixi&me Commissions, Vos raisons sont claires et essentiellement iimples. Aux termes du deuxi&~e paragraphe le cette &solution, et je le cite, l’Assembl&e gCl&ale “estime que le traitement des Hindous ltablis dans 1’Union Sud-Africaine doit $tre :onforme aux engagements internationaux rtiultant des accords con&s entre les deux Etats” :t tenir compte des dispositions de la Charte. I1 va de soi que, si les deux Gouvernements lnt, en fait, conclu B ce sujet des accords, ;l ‘aut &server aux Hindous un traitement conorme aux obligations souscrites. Mais c’est ustement I& que &side la question. En adopant qette rCsolution, 1’Assembl~Ce g&&ale afirmerait qu’il y a eu des accords conclus entre :es deux Gouvernements et qu’il existe done hes obligations internationales, Or, on ne peut af- ‘irmer l’existence de ces obligations. 11 s’agit la l’un point de droit. L’Union Sud-Africaine jropose que 1’Assemblke g&&ale demande l’avis :onsultatif de 1a Cour internationale de Justice ur cette question juridique. Nous estimons que :‘est I& la marche & suivre et la voie la plus sage )il il nous appartient maintenant de nous enpger. I f j t f c I C 1 C S C C E Comment 1’AssemblCe g&&ale pourra-t-elle rborder cette question juridique de savoir si ‘Inde et l’Union Sud-Africaine ont conclu de els accords? a 1 t On nc peut raisonnablement appuyer la rColution que si l’on estime que des accords lient es deux Gouvernements & propos du traitement . rdserver aux Hindous en Afrique du Sud, et lu’ainsi les mesures administratives et ICgislaives appliqukes aux Hindous se trouvent SOUSraites & la juridiction nationale de l’union. C’est a, 21 n’en point douter, une question ,de droit nternational, et qui inspire essenticllement la Csolution actuellement en tours d’examen. Conorm&~ent & 1’Article 96 de la Charte, l”Assembl& est en droit de solliciter sur cette question, omme l’union le propose, un avis consultatif. F: a 4 t t Ii ii I; fl b C On donnerait ainsi, aux parties en prgsence, occasion de dkbattre devant l’organisme judiiaire international, en invoquant tOuS les argu- 1’ C L The Union contends, in good faith, that it has entered into no international agreement with India with respect to this particular subject. It also contends, as a corollary, that the matter is essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of the Union. This latter contention,, if correct, would remove the problem entirely from the scope of the General Assembly’s power of, intervention because of Chapter I, Article 2, paragraph 7, of the Charter. [India, in equal good faith, contends, on the contrary, that there has been a violation of international agreements, and points to certain evidence of uch agreements iri the long history of the L’Union afFirme en toute bonne foi, & propos de ce sujet particulier, qu’elle n’a con& aucun accord avec 1’Inde; elle afirme tgalement, par voie de conskquence, que cette question rel&ve essentiellement du domaine de sa juridiction nationale. Cette derniere affirmation, si elle se r&Ye exacte, enlkverait B 1’AssemblCe g6n&ale, en raison du paragraphe 7 de 1’Article 2 du Chapitre I de la Charte, tout pouvoir d’intervenir en la mat&e. L’Inde a&me au contraire, avec une bonne foi &gale, qu’il y a eu violation d’accords internationaux, et invoque l’existence de certaines preuves ttablissant l’existence de tels accords au tours de la longue Evolution de ce 3ifErend. I The Union also points to the nature of the laws complained of, and contends that they are laws of purely domestic or local character, +pplicable in all substance only to her own nationals. India, on her part, also points to the nature of the laws in question, and urges that , their application to persons in South Africa of Indian descent is discriminatory on, racial grounds, in violation of those fundamental human rights which each Member is pledged, by the Charter, to promote. The Union denies that any fundamental human rights are involved in the local laws. L’Union invoque Egalement la nature m6me je la Xgislation incriminbe, et af?i~me qu’il s’agit IA. de lois d’un caract& purement national ou !ocal, uniquement applicables B ses propres ressort&ants. L’Inde, pour sa part, invoque &galepent la nature de la Legislation, et souligne que :on application en Afrique du Sud a des pertonnes de descendance hindoue constitue une discrimination raciale, et viole ces droits humains ‘ondamentaux que la Charte prescrit ?I, chaque Membre de dkfendre. L’Union nie qu’aucun lroit humain fondamental se trouve impliquC :n ces lois d’un car&&e local. In this situation it is proposed that the advice of the Court be sought on the underlying question of domestic jurisdiction, or, as otherwise stated, of international obligation. Our proper course would seem open before us. We should request such an advisory opinion. Perhaps we should do so whether or not the Union were willing ; our obligation to do so is increased when one of the parties to’ the dispute proposes such a course. Dans cet Etat du d&bat, on demande de sollicier l’avis de la Cour sur la question sous-jacente le savoir s’il s’agit E de juridiction nationale )u, au contraire, d’obligations internationales. I1 emble que notre voie soit toute tracee. Nous levons solliciter cet avis consultatif. Nous derrions peut-?tre m&me le faire, que’l’union Sudifricaitie le d&ire ou non; notre obligation se rouve accrue du fait que l’une des parties au lifErend demande une telle mesure. In the Joint Committee of the First and Sixth Committees there has been no such consideration of the question of international agreement between the two countries as can be given by the Co+‘. Indeed, the debate within the Committee, while it covered a wide range, was by no means devoted primarily to this legal question. It ‘was primarily a discussion of the political character of the problems, of the discrimination alleged, of the difficulties of the problem which the Union faces, of the question of fundamental freedoms in relation to discrimination, and of denials that fundamental freedoms were invoIved in the questioned laws or administrative measures, et cetera. La Commission rnixte des Premikre et Sk&me >ommissions n’a pas accord6 & la question d’un .ccord international con& entre les deux pays oute l’attention que peut lui apporter la Cour. ;ans aucun doute, les d&bats de la Commission, hien qu’ayant couvert un domaine Ctendu, n’ont ,as port6 essentiellement sur cet aspect juridique le ‘la question. Ces debbats se sont avant tout .ttach& au c8tt politique des probEmes, aux nesures discriminatoires all&&s, aux difficult4s iue rencontre la l’Union Stid-Africaine, a la question des libert& fondamentales en conlexion avec celle de la discrimination, et encore lux affirmations que les libertks fondamentales e sont pas impliquies dans les lois ou mesures dministratives en question, et ccetera. Les nombreux membres de la Commission, ui ont estim6 que I’AssembXe devrait solIiciter n avis de la Cour, ont dtlibCr4ment Cvitt [‘aborder ou d’apprkier les mkites juridiques [e la question, parce qu’ils ne voulaient paS, au Those numerous members of the Committee who thought that the Assembly should request the assist’ance of the Court, deliberateIy refrained from arguing or expressing an opinion on the merits of the legal question, because they did not 4 U d ,d This is not to involve the Court in political controversy, On the contrary, it is to remove the legal problem from the political debate. Political action would be suspended pending the nonpolitical consideration of the legal question by the organ of the United Nations especially constituted for that purpose. Even under Article 36 of the Charter, dealing with disputes before the Security Council which might endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, it is provided: “In making recommendations under this Article the Security Council should also take into consideration that legal disputes should as a general rule be referred by the parties to the International Court of Justice.” The theory embodied in this provision is clearly applicable here. Yet the draft resolution holds that international obligations under agreements concluded between the two Governments exist, a legal question strongly and vigorously contested by one of the parties to the dispute, In such a case the General Assembly should itself follow the rule the Charter enjoins upon the parties, even in those more serious controversies which threaten the peace. We are dealing here fundamentally with the methods by which the United Nations, under the Charter, conducts and determines the great variety of matters with which it must concern itself. Chapter III establishes, as the principal organs of the United Nations, a General Assembly, a Security Council, an Economic and Social Council, a Trusteeship Council, an International Court of Justice and a Secretariat. The General Assembly now convened is be- .* . ^_ Je crois que nous admettons tous que, si le vote de certains mernbres de la Commission mixte a C& influencC par leurs opinions sur le point de droit, la discussion n’a pas pris le caract&e d’un dCbat juridique, et n’a pas CtC dkgagCe de considerations politiques, ni dCgagte d’une naturelle repugnance chez tous a paraitre en& riner une forme quelconque de discrimination raciale. On voit par la combien il est important de soumettre le cas $ la,Cour. C’est le meilleur moyen de soustraire cette controverse juridique aux vicissitudes des considCrations politiques. De telles considCrations obscurciraient toujours la dkcision prise et feraient des parties innocentes les plus directement interesstes, les Hindous de 1’Afrique du Sud, les victimes de l’opposition que ne manquerait pas de soulever un effort destine a ameliorer .leur situation, mais un effort lui resulterait dune d&ision laquelle serait prise ici, dans ce forum ou sont dCbattues les controverses politiques, ‘et laisserait saris solution la question fondamentale des obligations juridiques. Nous ne cherchons pas a impliquer la Cour lans un diffCrend politique. Au contraire, nous %sirons abstraire le probleme juridique des %bats politiques. Toute decision de nature poli- :ique serait suspendue en attendant que l’organe les Nations Unies institu.6 sptcialement a cet :ffet ait proctdC a l’examen non politique de la question juridique. M&me aux termes de 1’Article 36 de la Charte, lui concerne les diffCrends port& devant le lonseil de sCcurit4 et susceptibles de menacer la naintien de la paix et de la sCcuritC internaionales, il est StipulC: “En faisant les recomnandations prevues au p&sent Article, le Conseil le sCcurit4 doit aussi tenir compte du fait que, l’une maniere g&-&ale, les diff&rends d’ordre uridique devraient $tre soumis par les parties a a Cour internationale de Justice.” I1 est tvident que ces dispositions s’appliquent, ,n substance, au cas que nous examinons. Cejendant, le projet de r&olution soutient qu’il xiste des obligations internationales assume% BX termes des accords conclus entre les deux :ouvernements, ce qui soul&e un point de droit ue conteste avec (beaucoup de vigueur I’une les parties au diffCrend. En l’occurrence, l’AsemblCe g&&ale devrait appliquer les r2gles que I Charte impose aux parties, m2rne dam lee ituations plus graves qui menacent la paix. 11 s’agit ici essentiellement des &thodes u’emploient les Nations Unies, en vertu de la jharte, pour Ctudier et r6oudre les questions t&s diverses dont l’organisation doit s'occupt~. Le Chapitre III de la Charte btablit, comme lrganes principaux des Nations Unies, une AsremblCe g&a&ale, un Conseil de stcuritk, un zonseil Cconomique et social, un Conseil de :utelle, une Cour internationale de Justice, et m SecrCtariat. Le prCsente Assemblhe g&r~rale commence .‘examen final des divers probl2mes dent elle a 5t& saisie pour cette session. Presque toutes CeS The General Assembly is treating the numer ous important matters before it as they shoulc be treated, in the light of full discussion ant political judgment. Let us then dispose of thi; one item also in the appropriate manner, b; fuI1 discussions, as have occurred, and by refer, ence of the legal aspect of the case to the Court Let us not cut across the whole work of this Gen era1 Assembly by departing in this one instanct from the method contemplated by the Charter Article 92 of which states: “The Internationa: Court of Justice shall be the principal judicia organ of the United Nations.” The General Assembly is not the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. The Statute of the Court is a part of the Charter. The Security Council is handling the matters within its jurisdiction; so is the Assembly; so is the Secretariat; so is the Economic and Social Council; so will the Trusteeship Council, now being established. Is the Court alone to be denied the function contemplated by the Charter? India’s application has had the full consideration of the General Assembly, in open and free exposition of her grievances and in the expressions of views thereon. Further consideration is not denied her by reference of the legal question to the Court. The Court, too, will hear her fully, freely and openly, and none can doubt that justice will be done, The next logical step, which the United States supports, is that the General Assembly request the opinion of the Court on the legal issue. We believe that this is not only right for the reasons I have stated but that it is desirable, as well as being the next step toward a solution likely to bring greater benefit to the Indians in the Union, who are directly concerned. The United States delegation feels that in such a situation where one party in good faith and on substantial grounds appeals for Court advice, she $ entitled to that consideration before the General Assembly takes action, on the assumption that a legal obligation exists under agreements concluded between the two Governments. We also believe that those in South Africa, of whatever race, will achieve a happier and more permanent solution if the General Assembly now follows this clear line contemplated by the Charter. The tension between the two nations needs alleviation. The Committee resolution is not likely to secure that result. The laws in question need amicable consideration, looking towards a mutually satisfactory status of L’AssemblCe gCnCrale Ctudie, comme elle doit les Ctudier, les nombreuses et importantes questions dont elle est saisie, c’est-a-dire qu’elle s’inspire d’une discussion pleine et entiere et de son ,jugement politique. Traitons done 6galement la question qui nous occupe de la man&e qui convient, c’est-b-dire en discutant d’une faGon pleine et enti&e, comme nous llavons fait, et en renvoyant B la Cour internationale de Justice I’aspect juridique du probl&me. N’allons pas 2 I’encontre de toute l’ccuvre de la pr?&ente Assemblee g&&ale en nous &arta$, dans ce cas particulier, de la mtthode prCvue par la Charte, dont l’Article 92 d&lare: “La Cour internationale de Justice constitue l’organe judiciaire principal des Nations Unies.” L’Assembl6e gCn&ale n’est pas l’organe judiciaire principal de I’Organisation des Nations Unies. Le Statut de la Cour constitue une partie de la Charte. Le Conseil de s&curit& s’occupe de questions qui sont de sa comp&ence; il en va de m&me de 1’AssemblCe g&r&ale, du SecrC- Lariat, du Conseil &.onomique et social, et du Conseil de tutelle qui est en tours de crtation. La Cour se verra-t-elle seule refuser les fonctions Iue lui attribue la Charte? L’AssemblCe gtnt- *ale a examint d’une man&e approfondie la lemande prbentte par Hnde: cet Etat a pu xposer librement et ouvertement ses griefs et :hacun a pu exprimer ses vues en la mat&e. Ce l’est pas refuser a l’Inde un plus ample examen lu probltme que d’en renvoyer l’aspect juridique 1 la Cour. L’Inde sera Cgalement entendue par a Cour, librement, ouvertement et d’tme malitre complete, et, nul n’en peut douter, justice era rendue. En consCquence, la suite logique du dtbat peut que, comme le recommandent les Etats- Jnis, 1’AssemblCe g&&ale demande B la Cour m avis sur l’aspect juridique de la question. Tous estimons, non seulement que cette mesure st justifiCe pour les raisons que je viens d’indi- ,uer, mais qu’elle est souhaitable; de plus, cette nesure constitue le nouveau pas qui m&era B a solution susceptible d’apporter Ies plus grands .vantages aux Ilindous de l’Union, c’est-a-dire la partie directement intCresste. La d&gation des Etats-Unis estime que, dans !ne situation oti une partie en appelle en mute tonne foi, et pour des raisons strieuses, a l’opi- .on de la Cour, cette partie a le droit que la Irise en ConsidCration par la Cour ait lieu vant que 1’Assembte agisse en prenant pour lrincipe qu’une, obligation juridique existe n vertu des accords conclus entre les deux Gouernements. Nous crayons Cgalement que, pour 3us les habitants de 1’Afrique du Sud, de uelque race qu’ils soient, on aboutira 8 une jlution plus heureuse et plus stable si PAssemllte se conforme maintenant a cette ligne de onduite tr8s Claire que pnCvoit Ia Charte. 11 aut porter rem&de a, la situation tendue qui xiste entre les deux nations. 11 n’est pas pro- Racial dserences, unfortunately, create stubborn problems, They are not soluble by fiat. They are soluble by remembering first principles, the equality of man in his natural rights, by patience and by the interior improvement of one’s thoughts and conduct, and by the spreading influence of men and women of good will. This is sometimes slow. We can make progress in this particular case if we are thoughtful about it, and take a course that is logically consistent, not only with the high purposes of the Charter but with the methods the Charter lays before us. We should not turn our backs upon those methods. We should not create new antagonisms. We feel certain that the method best calculated to bring good results is to submit the important legal questions to the institution created for the purpose of considering just such matters, meanwhile retaining jurisdiction here pending the advice of the Court on that question. We accordingly shall support the amendment proposed by the Union. It does not state the problem for the Court in terms entirely satisfactory to us. We think the narrower issue of international obligations under agreementi concluded would better state the question for the Court, rather than in terms of domestic jurisdiction. But since the Committee resolution prejudges the legal question we shall support the amendment requesting judicial advice on it. This is our view. Whatever you decide, we wish for India, for the Union, and for all persons resident in the Union, an increase in mutual friendship, and disinterested efforts to live and work together, as nations and as individuals, in accord and understanding, equals before the law as all are equal before the Supreme Judge.

I call upon Mr. Castro, representative of El Salvador. Mr. CASTRO (El Salvador) : The delegation of El Salvador deems it necessary to make a short statement in connexion with the draft resolution which the Joint Committee of the General Assembly has introduced to this plenary meeting in regard to the treatment of Indians in the Union of South Africa. The delegation of El Salvador has given this draft resolution its most sympathetic consideration, as there is no subject that may be considered of greater importance for the United Nations than the definite assurance to every human being that his fundamental rights will be respected in every country of the world. Le PRfisn 4NT: Je donne la parole a M. Castro, reprtsentant du Salvador. M. CASTRO (Salvador) ( traduit de Z’anglais) : La $%gation du Salvador juge ngcessaire de faire une courte dlclaration A propos du projet de rCsolution relatif au traitement des Hindous en Afrique du Sud que la Commission mixte a p&end & cette s6ance pl6nitre. La d&gation du Salvador a examin ce projet de rCsolution avec beaucoup de sympathie, car rien ne saurait &tre considAcomme plus important pour les Nations Unies que de donner snettement l’assurance B tous les &tres humains que leurs droits f&lamentaux seront respect& dans tous les pays du monde. “The Gelleral Assembly declares that-it is in the higher interests of humanity to put, an immediate end to religious and so-called racial persecution and discrimination, and calls on the Governments and responsible authorities to conform both to the letter and to the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations, and to take the most prompt and energetic steps to that end.” The delegation of El Salvador places its full confidence in the fact that the Government of the Union of South Africa was represented here by its delegation when we gave our unanimous approval to the, Egyptian resolution. It is for us, therefore, to assume that the same Government will’ as a consequence, and in like manner as the Governments of the other States Members of the United Nations, take the necessary steps to comply with the letter and the spirit of the Egyptian resolution. It is with this hope in mind that the delegation of El Salvador will Support the amendment to submit to the International Court of Justice the question of the competence of the General Assembly in the matter that has been submitted by the delegation of India.

’ I call upon Mrs. Pandit, representative of India. Mrs. PANDIT (India) : For nearly a week and at prolonged sittings of the Joint Committee of “.L’Assemblke gknkrale dkclare qu’il est dans I’intCr& sup&ieur de l’humanitt de mettre un terme immCdiat aux persEcutions et aux discriminations religieuses ou dites raciales, et invite les Gouvernements et les autorit@s responsables B se conformer a la Charte des Nations Unies, dans sa lettre et son esprit, et a prendre, & cette fin, les mesures les plus promptes et les plus tnergiques.” La dCltgation du Salvador fonde tout son :spoir sur le fait que le Gouvernement de /Union Sud-Africaine ttait rcpr&entt? ici par 3a dCltgation lorsque nous avons don@ notre Lpprobation unanime fi la rCsolution propo&e par l’Egypte. Nous pouvons done prCsumer lu’en consCquence, ce m&me Gouvernement, tout comme les Gouvernements des autres Etats Membres des Nations Unies, prendra les mesures aCcessaires pour se conformer & la lettre et [‘esprit de la r6olution Cgyptienne. C’est avec cet espoir que nous donnerons notre appui & l’amendement qui tend & soumettre B la Cour internationale de Justice la question de la compitence de 1’AssembXe gin&ale en ce qui concerne le probltime soulev6 par la d&gation de 1’Inde. Le PRI~SIDENT: Jd donne la parole B Mme Pandit, reprisentant de I’Inde. Mme PANDIT (Inde) (traduit de l’an$ais) : Pendant pr8s d’une sematie, au tours de skances The resolution now presented to us as a result of these joint deliberations is not the one that the Indian delegation submitted to the Committee, but represents a middle way placed before it by France and Mexico and approved by the majority of the Committee. India has accepted that decision, and 1 am here today to ask the Assembly to endorse it. The Union of South Africa, in the amendment presented today, however, asks you to reverse the decision reached in committee by the majority of the representatives; further seeks to restrict even the scope of the visory opinion which it desires to obtain from the International Court of Justice to the much more restricted and narrow issue of whether this problem is within the exclusive domestic jurisdiction of the Union Government, and the United Nations therefore not competent to pronounce its opinion. 0 The United Kingdom, whose interest in this question is both natural and obvious, had for years the opportunity and responsibility of taking this step. This has not happened. The argument therefore that this is the most apt and appropriate procedure comes late in the day and’ is far-fetched. IIt is too late now to argue that fundamental violations of the principles of the Charter are matters of domestic jurisdiction of Member States. If this were the case, the Charter would be a dead letter, and our professions about a free world, free from inequalities of race, free from want and free from fear, an empty mockery. i i will not at this stage take this Assembly through the details of the c before the United Nati very briefly what the m the first place, let me say t to come to a decision, it is not necessary for it to pronounce on disputed points of fact. The admissions made by the South African Government in regard to racial discrimination and racial segregation, its repeated attempts to embody them in law, and its unquestioned practices in ~NSS violation of the Charter constitute an imlktme~~t which is proven by these admissions. The second set of facts, also beyond dispute, is that over many years my ‘Government, irrespective of its constitution and character, has appealed, complained, protested, sought compromises and agreements, and finally has been forced into retaliation and to bring this matter before the bar of world opinion. The Union Government has taken no step, and even dur&t the proceedings in this Assembly, despite the suggestion we have thrown out, has not The third fact beyond dispute is that the . Union Government is a signatory to the Charter and the head of that Government the reputed author of the Preamble, and that both he and his Government stand deeply committed to honour the obligations that both the spirit and the letter of the Charter impose. I want to carry this Assembly with me in these matters which, I submit, arc common ground, If I do so, as I feel I must--$mless the fifty-four nations assembled here place on the Charter a meaning and a significance far below what its words convey, what its spirit demands, and what we have asked the world to accept; in other words, unless our professed allegiance to it is a mockery-then the issue rests no longer with India or with South Africa, but with us, the nations of the world assembled here, which have taken upon them. selves the clefense of the law, ethics and moralit) of nations. Therefore, I deliberately refrain from entering into legal and meticulous arguments. The essence of the South African case, and oj which we complain, is not a denial of the law and the practices, but, on the other hand, the assertion that segregation and discrimination are esential to the maintenance of western standards of life. The presence of Indians, Asiatics-our very existence in South Africa-is a threat to western civilization: if this be true, then the existence of Indians, other Asiatics, and all non- Europeans is a threat to western civilization. But western civilization is not confined to any continent and, on the theory of the Union Government, the defense of western civilization essentially demands segregation as part of the world social system. In other words, the ghetto is to be legalized as part of the world’s stable organization. In fact, this is what the Union Government has invited us to do.’ ” We have been encouraged by the fact that the vast majority of the Member States are fully conscious of the high obligations imposed by the Charter and that the provisions of the Charter do not remain a dead letter, because the only condition on which the3 loyalty of the world’s people can be enlisted in favour of the United Nations is in tliis manner. Thi representative of the Union Government throws a slight at this Assembly by seeking to dismiss it as. a mere political forum, I do not know quite what he means, The representatiyes must judge for themselves whether ,they are competent to pronounce on the vital issue of the violation of the basic principles on which this Organization is built. South Africa says it is mopstrous to condemn her, but we condemn not I ma&ien du niveau de vie occidental. La $rCsence d’Hindous, d’Asiatiques-notre existence ’ en Afrique du Sud-serait ufie menace pour la civilisation occidentale: si cela est vrai, l’exi& tence m&me des Hindous, des autres Asiatiques et de tous les non-EuropCens menace ggalenient cette civilisation. Mais la civilisation occidentale n’est limitte & aucun continent et, si l’on adopte la th&se du Gouvernement de I’Union, $1 est indispeniable pour dtfendre la civilisation occidentale d’introduire la $grCgation dans le sys&me social du mohde entier. Autrement dit, il faut Kgaliser le ghetto et le considCrer comme faisant partie d’une organisation stable du monde. C’est LB, en fait, ce que le Gouvernement de 1’Union nous invite a faii+e. Le fait que la grande majoritf des E&s Membres ont pleine conscience des hautes obligations que leur impose la Charte, et de ce que les stipulations de la Charte ne doivent pas rester lettre morte, a et6 pour nous un encouragement, car c’est 12 la seule condition capable d’assurer aux Nations Unies la fidClitC des peuples du monde. Le reprtsentant du Gouvernement de 1’Union fait un affront B cette Assemblte, en cherchant $ la ramener au niveau d’une simple tribune politique. Je ne sais pas trh bien ce qu’il veut dire. Les reprCsentants devront juger par euxm$mes s’ils ont compQence pour se prononcer sur ce problkme essentiel que constitue la violation des principes fondamentaux qui sont g la base de notre Organisation. L’Afrique du Sud The resolution asks both South Africa and, let it be added, India to report on this issue. I would like to ask the representatives who voted against us in the Committee what they object to in the resolution before us. Do they object to our putting our faith in ‘the wisdom of the hssembly? Do they object to an appeal being made to a Member State? Do they deny that there has been serious impairment of relations between two States? .Do they object to a report being made by the Member States concerned as to how matters stand at the next session of the Assembly? I cannot imagine that any one of the representatives can object to any of these considerations. We appreciate fully the difficulties and embarrassment of many countries on different questions, but on this question there has been little basic difference of opinion, and abstention in this instance can only indicate to the world a lack of concern in a vital human problem. I ask you not to abstain. Let us have the courage of our convictions and vote for the Charter. To the United Kingdom and to her Dominions I will permit myself to make a special appeal, even at this late stage. The Government of the United Kingdom has all along, through statements made by Secretaries of State and others, deprecated the discrimination against Indians in South Africa. The United Kingdom and her Dominions, with the exception of South Africa, at the Imperial Conference in 1921 expressly passed a resolution to the effect that Indians in any of the Dominions should not be discriminated against. I would only remind them of this resolution and of their past attitude in this matter. I trust they will live up to the professions made in the past and lend full support to the recommend:ltions of the Joint Committee. Let us attempt to realize the tremendous responsibility that we, as Members of the United Nations, have at this stage. We are the trustees of the future, the architects of a new yorld. If we continue to act in accordance with old prejudices and old conceptions which we have so often condemned, we shall betray the trust reposed in us. Millions of voiceless people who, because of their creed or color, have been relegated to positions of inferiority, are looking to us for justice, and it is only on the foundation of justice that we can,create a new world order. We have given much thought to the problems arising from the invention of the atom bomb, I ask you to reject the amendment and to pass the resolution originally sponsored by France and Mexico and passed by a vote of a majority of the Member States. We must create for the United Nations the abounding confidence of the common people in it as a defender of justice, public law and morality. This, and nothing less, is what I ask you to do. I ask for no favour for India. I ask for b no pity, no mercy, no concession for t e Indian population of South Africa, who have, in my humble opinion, raised the standard of human dignity by inviting suffering and offering resistance to injustice. It is not they who have lowered the standard of western, or any, civilizationi I ask for the verdict of this Assembly on a proven violation of the Charter; on an issue which has led to acute dispute between two Member States; on an issue which is not confined to India or South Africa, and, finally, on an issue the decision on which must make or mar the loyalty and confidence which tbP, compan people of the world have placed in us. (Mige is an appeal to a conscience-to the conscience of the world, which this Assembly is.3

I call upon Mr. Wellington Koo, representative of China. Mr. Wellington Koo (China) : At this late hour I do not propose to detain the Assembly longer than is necessary. In fact, I do not wish to prolong the debate. After hearing the very moving speech and appea1 from the Chairman of the Indian delegation, the Assembly should proceed to express its view by a vote. But, as several speakers have emphasized the legal aspect of this question and urged that that aspect should be settled first by a reference to the International Court of Justice, I feel that the Chinese delegation should make clear its position. We voted for the proposed resolution originally presented by France and Mexico in the Committee, and I shall try to explain the reasons why we did so after hearing the legal argu- Le PRI~IDENT: Je done la parole & M. Wellington Koo, reprksentant de la Chine. M. Wellington Koo (Chine) (traduit de Panglais) : A cette heure tardive, je ne me propose pas de retenir I’AssemblCe plus longtemps qu’il ne sera ntcessaire et je ne voudrais pas prolonger :e dCbat. Aprts avoir entendu le discours et l’appel t&s 6mouvants du chef de la dtlCgation de l’Inde, nous devrions passer au vote par lequel 1’Assemblte exprimera sa man&e de voir. T&tefois, comme certains orateurs ont in&i: 3ur l’aspect juridique du probl?me et sur la &cessit& de rtgler, cet aspect en en r&f&ant d’abord B la Cour internationale de Justice, j’estime que la dCltgation de la Chine doit prB ciser son attitude. Nous avons vote pour la r&solution primitive ment pr&ent6e par la France et le Mexique B la Commission, et j’essayerai d’exposer pour quoi nous avons pris cette position, apr2-s avoir enten- ,’ What are the facts? Because of certain laws of a discriminatory character, at least claimed by the Indian delegation to be of a discriminatory character, relations between two Members of the United Nations have been, not only impaired, but completely suspended. The feeling in India is so intense about this law in the Union of South Africa that all trade has been suspended. I believe I am correct in saying) that there is a law in India which forbids all/ imports from the Union of South Africa and all; exports to South Africa from there. That same, law in India even prohibits transshipment of: goods which are destined for the Union of South; Africa. That is the state of affairs. ‘We regard it as a very serious position. It has been said that we should not let it driftand continue. It is, as I say, essentially a political case, and it will be in the interest of the United Nations to make every effort to put an end to the situation as quickly as possible, , 1 I have emphasized that it is the duty of the United Nations to deal with the case promptly, in a manner which will lead to an amicable settlement between the parties. Naturally, we of, China feel greatly interested in this case. I think I pointed out in the Committee that the particular law to which the Indians of India mainly object is a law which applies not only to Indians but to all Asiatics and that, according to the law itself, the term “Asiatic” means “any Turk or any member of a race whose national home is in Asia and includes women of whatever race who have entered into marriage with an Asiatic.” That is the scope of the law, and the discrimination applies particularly to the acquisition and renting of property, and requires that Asiatics should be confined to certain areas in one province, and in another province should buy property only from another Asiatic. I need not go into this case in detail. I am addressing you today not because we of China are aflected by this law. We look upon this Act as a discriminatory Act, but we are in conversation, we are in contact, with the Government of the Union of South Africa, ‘and we hope to be ‘able to settle the matter in an amicable way. Therefore, I am addressing you today on this ‘question,, not because of our own particular innous esptrons pouvoir aboutir & un r6glement % .‘amiable. Je m’adresse done a vous aujourd’hui, the case, the proposal is scarcely objectionable in En fait, si l’on consid?re cet aspect insoltment, abstraction faite de tous les faits en cause, on ne principle. But can we take the legal aspect of the case, entirely apart from the facts of the case? peut gukre y voir d’objections de principe. Mais The facts of the case are such as I have menpouvons-nous consid6rer l’aspect juridique de tioned‘ They constitute a situation which we can cette affaire indtpendamment de tous les faits not allow to drift. de la cause? Les faits sont ceux que je viens d’indiquer. Nous ne ’ pouvons permettre h la situation tinsi c&e de suivre son tours. What are the advantages and the disadvan- Quels sont les avantages et les dksavantages tag& of referring the matter to the International du renvoi de l’affaire devant la Cour de Justice? Court of Justice ? In the first place, it is clear En premier lieu, il est kvident que la Cow ne that the Court can only give a decision in one peut dmettre un avis que dans un sens ou dans way or the other; it can decide that this matter is l’autre: clle peut estimer, c’est une premikre within the competence of the United Nations, in possibilitk, que cette affaire est de la comp6tence which case the situation remains the same, and des Nations Unies, auquel cas la situation reste the Assembly will have to take it up and deal la meme et l’Assembl6e g&n&ale devra reprendre with it. That means a delay of several months, and in the present situation, in the present unla question et s’en occuper, Cela signifie un resettled condition of the world, ‘is it wise for us tard de plusieurs mois et, &ant don& la situation actuelle et les conditions d’instabilitd monto ,let the strained situation remain as it is? Are we sure that it will not be aggravated in the diale, cst-il sage, que nous laissions subsister cette situation tendue? Pouvons-nous $tre stirs qu’elle interval? There is the other alternative: the Court ne s’aggravera pas dans l’intervalle? may decide that the matter is not within the Reste l’autre possibilitC: que la Cour Cmette competence: of the United Nations, namely, that l’avis que l’affaire n’est pas de la compgtence de it is essentially within the domestic jurisdiction l’organisation des Nations Unies, c’est-&-dire of the Union of South Africa. Would such a lu’elle rel?ve essentiellement de la comp6tence nationale de 1’Union Sud-Africaine. Une telle decision help South Africa to settle this case, or Gcision aiderait-elle 1’Union Sud-Africaine a make it easier to deal with, and afford the necessary relief to, the Indians? That is the question :&gler le probEme, permettrait-elle d’en facili- :er la solution et de donner aux Hindous l’assisalso for us to consider. :ance ntcessaire? C’est la aussi un point que nous levons considtrer. There is another aspect to consider. In view 11 est encore un autre aspect qu’il faut conof the important issues involved in this case, I”’ ;id&er. Etant don& l’importance des questions Issues which affect, as I said in the Committee, ‘the honour of a whole continent, the pride of lue soul&e le cas qui nous occupe, questions half of the human family, the dignity of man lui, je l’ai dit en Commission, mettent en cause himself, are we sure that the Court will be able ‘honneur de tout un continent, la fiert6 de la to reach a ,unanimous decision? I hope it will. noitit de la grande famille humaine et la di- But none of us can be sure, and we know that ;niti: de l’homme m&me, pouvons-nous Ctre certhe world tribunal is composed of representatives ains que la Cour pourra donner un avis a l’unalimite? from all races, at least the principal races.1 Je l’espke, mais nul de nous ne peut en !tre sfir, et nous savons que le tribunal mondia! :st composC de reprisentants de toutes les races, lu moins des prirkipales races. Suppose we get a divided opinion. Would Supposons que les avis soient partag&, cela that help us very much? Would that help the lous aiderait-il beaucoup? Cela contribuerait-il prestige and authority of the Court itself? If it 1 maintenir le prestige et l’autoritk de la Cour is a divided opinion, maybe the majority opinion :lle-m&me? Si les avis sont partagks, il y aura will be on one side, the minority opinion on the leut-Ctre d’un cot6 une majorit:, de l’autre une other. That opinion will expose the Court to @norit& Cette divergence d’opinion exposera criticism and to praise in some quarters, and to a Cour a des critiques m$lCes de louanges de la criticism in others. ’ Iart des uns, et a des critiques tout court de la lart des autres. Are we justified, in the early stage of the exist- Au moment oi3 la Cour en e6t encore au stade ence of the Court, in putting such a heavy strain nitial de ses travaux, avons-nous le droit d’imon that tribunal, whose authority and prestige we loser parklle Gpreuje a ce tribunal, &ant dorm6 There are three paragraphs to the resolution, and as the representative of India has said, it is so simple and so mild that really no one could take serious objection to it. In the first paragraph, it simply states a fact: that the friendly relations between the two Member States have been impaired and that unless a satisfactory settlement is reached these relations are likely to be further impaired. Can anyone object to statini a fact, stating a probability for the future? In the ‘second paragraph the resolution simply expresses the opinion that the treatment of Indians in the Union should be in conformity with the international obligations under the agreements concluded by the two Governments and the relevant provisions of this Charter. I know there is some difference of opinion as to whether an international obligation exists under the so-called Cape Town Agreement. We are of the opinion that there does exist an obligation under that Agreement, which is of long standing; it was made in 1926, exactly twenty years ago, and both sides have acted in accordance with it. For the sake of argument, could anyone doubt that obligations exist for all Member States under the provisions of the Charter, and under the Charter itself, which you find clearly stated in Article 1, paragraph 2 : “To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights of peoples”, and in paragraph 3: “To achieve international cooperation . . . in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion?” There can be no doubt that every Member State has incurred, by signing the Charter and ratifying it, a definite obligation under the Charter, so that we need not refer to the Court to say whether a Member State has or has not obligations under the Charter. As to the last paragraph of the resolution, it requests the two Member States “to report at the next session of the General Assembly the measures adopted to this effect.” I entirely share the view of’ the Indian delegation that this resolution is a very mild one, and that it really amaunts to nothing but an offer of good offices. Even good offices simply point to a way for the parties to ” ease the situation and to effect a settlement. I submit that, if we are to carry out the purposea of our Charter, the basic object of our Je suis d’avis que ,$i nous voulons atteindre les juts que nous propose la Charte, ce qui est la Pour rCsumer, je pense que nous devrions nous abstenir de toute mesure qui provoquerait un retard susceptible d’entrainer une aggravation de la situation, qui pourrait compliquer la question ou imposer une charge trop lourde rZ la Cour internationale de Justice. Nous pensons que ce sont l& des inconvEnients qu’il faut t!viter par tous les moyens. En condquence, la d&5- gation chinoise se range ;i l’avis exprimk par la dElCgation de I’Inde. Nous esperons que 1’AssembEe fera de mitme et mettra cctte rCsolution aux voix. Personally, having known the l?ield Marshal for the past quarter of a ‘century, and knowing Je connais personnellement le marEcha1 Smuts dtpuis vingt-cinq ans, je sais ce qu’il a fait dans his past record, I shall always look upon him as one of the greatest living internationalists, and le pass4 et je le considererai toujours comme l’une des plus grandes personnalitCs internatio- I feel certain that, in his own heart, he is most anxious to find a way out ,that will settle this nales actuelles. Je suis certain qu’il a a cceur de trouver une solution permettant de rtgler cette unfortunate issue between two Members of the United Nations, and I believe, if the Assembly flcheuse affaire qui oppose deux Membres de does adopt this resolution, that he will be the last l’organisation des Nations Unies et jc crois que, si 1’AssembEe adopte la rtsolution, le mart?chal person not to try his best to give satisfaction to the General Assembly. Smuts sera le dernier L refuser son contours pour donner satisfaction d I’AssembEe.

It seems to me that we cannot conclude this debate tonight. I propose to adjourn the discussion until our meeting tomorrow. The meeting rose at Il.35 p. m. FIFTY-FIRST PLENARY MEETlNG Held on Sunday, 8 December 1946, at 4 p. m. CONTENTS Page TABLE DES MATI~RES Pnges 137. Treatment of Indians in the Union of South Africa: report of the Joint First and Sixth Committee (continuation of the discussion) . , . . , . , . , . . . . . . , . . . . . .1023 President : Mr. P.-H. SPAAK (Belgium). 137. Treatment of Indians in the Union of South Africa: report of the Joint First and Sixth Committee (documents A/ 205 and A/285/Add.l) (continuation of the discussian) Le PRESIDENT: Nous allons poursuivre la dis- :ussion sur le rapport de la Commission mixte les Premihre et Sixikme Commissions relatif au raitement rtservC aux Hindous dans 1’Union ;ud-Africaine. I call upon Mr. de la Colina, representative of Mexico.

We will continue the discussion on the report of the Joint First and Sixth Committee concerning the treatment of Indians in the Union of South Africa. Mr. DE LA COLINA (Mexico) (translated from Spanish) : I shall endeavour to be brief, the more so since on this occasion I shall speak in my own language: Le PRESIDENT: I1 semble impossible de terminer la discussion de cette question ce soir. Je propose de remettre la suite & demain. .La sknnce est levke d 23 h. 35. CINQUANTE ET UNIEME SEANCE PLENIERE Tenue le dimanche 8 dkcembre 1946, (i 16 heures. 137. Traitement rCscrvE aux Hindous dam 1’Union Sud-Africaine. Rapport de la Commission mixte des l?remi&re et Sixi&me Commissions (suite de la discussion) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...1023 Prksident: M. P.-H. SPAAK (Belgjque) , 137. Traitement r&er& aux Hindous dans I’Union Sud-Africaine. Rapport de la Commission mixte des Premiere et SixiBme Commissions (documents A/ 205 et A/205/Add.l) (suite de la discussion) Je donue la parole a M. de la Colina, rep& entant du Mexique. M. DE LA COLINA (Mexique) (traduit de ‘espagnol) : Je vais m’efforcer d’&tre bref, d’auant plus qu% cette occasion je parlerai dans ma >ropre lange.