S/PV.113 Security Council

The Australian delegation has listened with very deep interest to the statement which has just been ,made by the representative of the United States. If I may, I should like to take this early opportunity to express our appreciation of the way in which the United States representative has borne in mind the needs of this Council, ,and placed before it both the statement of the case and the relevant documents, in 'particular the commentary on the draft agreement which has been circulated to members. The position is now that the case in support of the United States submission has been put to the Council. For our part we should like to have an opportunity to study it in all its details, and in particular the statement presented to us ~day. ' Therefore, we would suggest to the Council that perhaps its convenience might be suited, and the wishes of the United States delegation would be in no way affected, if we adjourned the opening of a full debate on this subject, and fixed a date, let us say towards the end of next week, when we could take up this subject again. That would give us an opportunity for further consultation with our Governments and for further study of the material. The adjournment that I am suggesting would do no harm of any kind, since the situation in the territory which we are considering is fortunately stable, and thus would not be affected in any way by a short adjournment for further consideration.

I have no objection to the postponement of this question. I only want to say a few words on the substance of the case. The Soviet delegation considers that this question of the former Japanese 'mandated islands is within the competence of the Security Council and that the Council is entitled and able to take an appropriate decision on this matter, without delay. Nous avons prepare pour le Conseil de securite un commentaire des divers articles du projet d'accord et nous en avons fait distribuer des exemplaires. M. HASLUCK (Australie) (traduit de l'anglais) : La delegation de l'Australie a ecoute avec le plus vif interet l'expose que vient de faire le representant des Etats-Unis. Je voudrais, des maintenant, declarer que nous lui sommes reconnaissants d'avoir si bien compris les besoins du Conseil et de lui avoir soumis son expose ainsi que les documents qui s'y rapportent, notamment le commentaire du projet d'accord qui a ete communique aux membres du Conseil. Les Etats-Unis ont fourni au Conseil un bon expose de leur these. Pour notre part, nous VDU, drions pouvoir examiner cette these dans tous ses details et etudier, en particulier, l'expose que nous venons d'entendre. Nous suggerons done au Conseil qu'il serait peut-etre opportun et nullement contraire aux desirs de la delegation des Etats-Unis de rcmettre a une date ulterieure, peut-etre vel'S la fin de la semaine prochaine, l'ouverture d'un debat ge· neral sur la question. Nous aurions ainsi l'occasion de nous mettre en rapport avec nos Gouvernements respectifs et d'etudier plus afond les documents que l'on nous a presentes. Je ne crois pas qu'il y ait d'inconvenient a remettre la discussion: la situation dans les territoires en question est heureusement stable et ne saurait souffrir d'un retard de que1ques jours que nous consacrerions a un plus ample examen. M. GROMYKO (Union des RepubIiques socialistes sovietiques) (traduit du russe): Je ne vois pas d'inconvenient a ce que l'examen de la question soit ajourne. Toutefois, je voudrais dire que1ques mots quant au fond de la question. La delegation sovietique estime que la question des tIes anterieurement sous mandat japo· nais releve de la competence du Conseil de securite. Ce dernier est competent pour prendre sans autre delai, une decision en la matiere. 1. Delete the words "as an integral part of the United States" from article 3 ; 2. Insert the words "or independence" after the words "toward self-government" in article 6(1) ; 3. Re-draft article 15 as follows: "The terms of the present agreement may be altered, supplemented or terminated by decision of the Security Council." With the amendments provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Soviet document, which will shortly be distributed to all representatives on the Council, the text of the draft agreement would be more in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and the appropriate clam;es of this Charter concerning trust territories. With regard to the amendment in paragraph 3 of the Soviet document, the proposed new wording of article 15 of the draft agreement would be in closer conformity with the rights and powers which the Security Council has in deciding questions concerning strategic trust territories.

May I take it that there is no objection to the proposal for adjournment submitted by the representative of Australia?

As we are all in agreement, this subject will be taken up again on 7 March. The meeting rose at 4.25 p.m. Avec l'amendement qui fait l'objet du paragraphe 3 de la proposition sovietique, le nouveau texte de l'article 15 du projet d'accord tiendrait compte de fa<;on plus exacte des droits et des pouvoirs que possede le Conseil de securite pour regler les questions interessant les territoires strategiques sous tutelle. Le PRESIDENT: Puis-je considerer qu'il n'y a pas d'opposition a la proposition d'ajournement soumise par le representant de l'Australie? Le PRESIDENT: Puisque nous sommes taus d'accord, l'examen de cette question est ajourne au 7 mars. La seance est levee a16 h. 25.