S/PV.1134 Security Council

accordance with previous decisions of the Security Council in this matter, 1 shall invite the representatives of Madagascar, Indonesia, India, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Pakistan and Tunisia to take places at the Council table. Al the invitation of the President, Mr. L. Rakotomalala (Madagascar), Mr, L. N. Palar (Indonesia), Mr. Narendra Singh @dia), Mr. C. B. Rogers-Wright (Sierra Leone), Mr. J. R. Grimes (Liberia), Mr. A. Hamdani (Pakistan) and Mr. XaTeb SIim (Tunisia) Cook places at the Council table.

The Council Will now continue its discussion of the draft resolution oontained in document S/5769. The first speaker on my list is the representative of Brazil, to whom I now give the floor. 3. Mr. de Carvalho SILOS (Brazil) : Once again the Council is faced with the grave question of the racial polioies pursued by the Government of the Republic of South Africa. This issue-and let it be said at the very beginning-is one of the most appalling questions of our times. The case before us is at the same time a very simple and a very complex one. It is not difficult to establish the international nature of the question as it is evidenced by the continued and flagrant violation by a Member State of its fundamental commitments under the United Nations Charter. Wbat is not easy is to devise ways and means-within the imperfect framework of the worldcommunity-tocope with conduct that amounts to overt defiance of one of the main purposes of our Organization. 4. The Council has received valuable reports [S/5658, annex] L/ from the Committee of Experts appointed the Secretary-General andfrom the Special Committee u Officia1 Records of the Security Council, Nineteenth Year, Supplement for April, May and June 1964. 5. Je classerai categories. la coopération ensuite prendre enfin les mesures Ma delegation des deux comites. 6. nationale importante sociale reconnaissants si remarquablement que nous tructive partage bilites proposition concours Bvbnements faits deraisonnable projet. 7. Le attention semblent car elles ni premiere sation ment k l’etranger Il s’agit l’Organisation tres utile en essayant libre prives elementaires, notre suggestion qu’elle Sec&taire et en saisisse Unies, neuvieme 7. The Committee of Experts has also drawn our attention to two other recommendations in which 1 see greater practical merits, for they do not depend on the goodwill or on the co-operation of the South African authorities. The first is the establishment of an education programme under the auspices of the United Nations for non-white South Africans outside their country. This is indeed an area in which the United Nations cari play a forceful role by trying to help redress the balance in favour of those who are being ruthlessly deprived in their own homeland of the most elementary rights, rights to which this Organization is dedicated. My delegation views this suggestion with great interest. We believe that it should be transmitted immediately to the Secretary- General for urgent consideration and subsequent submission to the competent organ of the UnitedNationsthe General Assembly-at its nineteenth session, 8. We corne now to the third category of proposais, those which refer to measures to be taken by each Member State. In the light of the long history of failure and frustration resulting from the unoooperative attitude of South Africa, this is actually the only avenue which is left open to the world community to press for improvement in the racial situation in that Member State. 8. Nous de propositions, chaque Etat Membre longue suite d’échecs de toute c’est à la communautb situation 9. Two most recent developments in that country confirm these unfavourable prospects. The Minister of the Interior of the Government of Pretoria has indicated the possibility of another extension of the socalled General Law Amendment Act, and a group of leaders in the fight against apartheid has just been sentenced to life imprisonment. 9. Deux en Afrique défavorables. ment de Pretoria du General groupe de dirigeants viennent 2/ Same text as A/S692 and A/5707 respectively. (Sec Officia1 Records of the General Assembly, Nineteentb Session, Annexes). 21 officiels 11. The South Afrioan Government. in subscribing to the Charter of the United Nations, automatically accepted the obligation to have its racial policies accord with the standards set by the world Organization. It bas, by its adherence to the Charter, assumed a commitment with each of our countries, and with the membership as a whole, to co-operate in the attainment of common ends, among which we regard as the most valuable respect for the dignity of the human person. 12. We have conceived of this Organization as the “centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends”, to use the words of Article 1 of the Charter, What value can the United Nations have if its fundamental purposes cari be re peatedly and deliberately ignored, not by individuals or private associations under the authority of a Member State, but by the very Government of a Member State? What cari we expect but the mockery and defiance of world public opinion if we continue to tolerate and condone such a deplorable state of affairs? Is it not permissible for the membership of our Organisation to strive to aohieve oompliance with one of its more fundamental concepts? It is more than that. It is the moral and politioal obligation of each of us to co-operate in the adoptionof concerted measures to prod the South African authorities into taking a stand more in keeping with their obligations under the Charter, Indeed, the South Afrioan Government can- 1 not invoke the Charter in order to be allowed to dis- / regard the very purposes of that Charter. TO acoept suoh absurd reasoning would be tantamount to exonerating South Africa of its obligations as a Member State. 13. The reports before us suggest the adoptionby the Seourity Council of economio sanctions against the Government of South Africa, The appointment of an expert committee to study the logistics of sanctions appears to my delegation to be an appropriate course of action at this stage of the question, SO that the Council, without too much delay, may be enabled to reassess the situation in South Africa andrecommend to the membership specific sanctions that may be advisable and feasible. 14. Condemnation of racial discrimination, especially in the abhorrent form it has developed in South Africawhere it is praised and pursued as the doctrine of the 15. It is thus with a profound sense of sorrow that we take this matter up in the Council once again. We find it very difficult to understand the survival, at this juncture of our Century, of such backward conceptions that SO basely vilify and dishonour mankind. 15. C’est donc avec une extrême tristesse que nous examinons une fois de plus cette question au Conseil de securité. Nous avons beaucoup demal 51 comprendre que puissent survivre, a notre époque, des conceptions tellement retrogrades qui avilissent et deshonorent aussi bassement le genre humain, 16. With such a fundamental issue at stake, let us hope that the United Nations cari prove its usefulness and that the Council Will be able to adopt effective measures in every way consistent with its responsibility in maintaining international peace and security with due respect for human rights. 16. Une question de cette importance etant en jeu, nous devons espérer que L’Organisation des Nations Unies saura prouver son utilite pourra adopter des mesures efficaces en tous points compatibles avec la responsabilitt5 qui lui incombe de maintenir la paix et la securite internationales tout en respectant les droits de l’homme. 17, In the light of these considerations, the Brazilian delegation Will vote in favour of the draft sesolution submitted by the delegations of Bolivia and Norway [S/5769]. In our view, this is acompromisetext which wisely points out the path to be followed by the Counoil in the present circumstances. 17. Pour les raisons que je viens d’exposer, délegation brésilienne votera en faveur du projet de résolution presenté par les délegations de la Bolivie et de la Norvege [S/5769]. A notre avis, il s’agit la d’un texte de compromis qui, avec beaucoup de sagesse, montre la voie que le Conseil doit suivre dans les circonstances actuelles,

Are 18. Le PRESIDENT: there any other members of the Council who wish to du Conseil qui désirent prendre la parole au sujet speak on the draft resolution? du projet de resolution? 19, Sir Patrick DEAN (United Kingdom) : Mr. President, before 1 speak, could 1 ask you whether it is your intention to proceed to the vote immediately alter 1 have spoken and after any other member who wishes to speak this afternoon has spoken? 19. Sir Patrick DEAN (Royaume-Uni) [traduit de l’anglais]: Avant Président, je voudrais vous demander si vous avez l’intention de mettre le projet de résolution aux voix aussit6t apres que j’aurai parle et ap&s que les autres membres du Conseil qui désireraient intervenir cet apres-midi auront parlé eux aussi. 20, The PRESIDENT (translated from French) : If no other member of the Council wishes to speak on the draft resolution, 1 think we cari proceed to the vote after those who wish to explain their votes have done SO. 20. Le PRESIDENT: Je pense que si aucun membre du Conseil ne desire prendre la parole au sujet du projet de rBsolution nous passerons a la procedure de vote en donnant la parole a ceux qui veulent expliquer leur vote avant le vote. 21, Mr. HAJEK (Czechoslovakia) (translated from Frmh): Mr. President, as 1 understand that it is 21. M. HAJEK (Tchecoslovaquie): Comme je crois comprendre que vous avez l’intention, President, j’aimerais ce vote car ma delggation n’a pas encore reçu d’instructions en ce qui concerne le vote lui-même. Nous avons bien précise notre position quant au fond du probleme, mais le texte du projet de résolution qui vient de nous être propose est tel qu’il nous a fallu solliciter des instructions de la part de notre gouvernement, Ces instructions ne lui etant pas encore parvenues, ma delegation n’est pas en mesure d’emettre un vote cet apres-midi. C’est pourquoi je mepermets de vous demander, Monsieur le Président, de bien vouloir ajourner le vote à la séance de demain. YOUF intention to proceed to the vote this afternoon, 1 should like to ask you kindly to postpone the vote, because my delegation has not yet reoeived instructions in regard to the actual voting. We have stated onr position on the substance of the problem; but the draft resolution, as now submitted to us, is of suoh a nature that we have had to ask our Government for instructions. As these instructions have not yet arrive& my delegation is not in a position to cast a vote this afternoon. That is why 1 am asking you, Mr. President, to be SO good as to postpone the vote until tomorrow’s meeting. 220 The PRESIDENT (translated from French): 1s the representative of Czechoslovakia asking for the meeting to be adjourned under rule 33 (3) of the proviaional rules of procedure? 22. Le PRESIDENT: representant de la Tchécoslovaquie demande l’ajournement de la séance en vertu du paragraphe 3 de 1’ article 33 du reglement interieur provisoire?

Although, of course, 1 sympathize with the representative of Ceechoslovakia in his predicament, 1 feel bound to express some surprise at the suggestion whioh he has made. The present draft resolution has, as is very well known to a11 of us, been under negotiation for about a week and was submitted yesterday. Shortly thereafter the Council adjourned for twentyfour hours, which is the usual practioe , on the understanding no doubt that a11 members would use the interval to obtain their instructions. 25. If a request for further time has been made by a member of this Council it is, of course, very difficult to resist it, and I would not wish formally to do SO. 1 should, however, like to make it quite clear, and to put it on record, that my delegation is ready here and now to vote on the draft resolution in its present form as it 1s before us. And that, in my view, is a proper and convenient and right thing for a11 of us to do. 26. Furthermore, the Council has, as is known, other very urgent business to which it is bound to prooeed as soon as possible. That business, as is also well known, is subject to a time-limit, and every day which passes before we deal witb it increases our anxiety and the dangers inherent in the situation. In these ciroumstances 1 feel bound to acquaint you, Mr. President, and the Council of our very grave conoern, which 1 believe may be shared by some of my other colleagues at this table, at this unforeseen and, 1 am bound to say, somewhat inexplicable requestforfurther delay at this time, and to refleot seriously upon the possible consequenoes.

We have just heard a statement by Professor Hajek, the representative of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, who drew the Council’s attention to special features of the draft resolution [S/5769] on the question of apartheid which the Counoil is now oonsidering. Indeed, the text of the draft resolution is not only unusually lengthy, but it is also far from simple. Therefore, the comment that the draft resolution should be given careful and thorough study is reasonable. 28. Al1 of us must approach the consideration of this document with a proper sense of responsibilîty, since the deoision we take on it Will be of moment. There cari be no doubt that in order to study this draft as it deserves we must have time for consultations and for obtaining the necessary instructions. In this oonnexion, we fully share the views expressed by Ms. Hajek, the representative of the CzechoslovakSooialistRepublic. 29. On the other hand, we cannot but be surprised at the rather heated statement which we have just heard from our oolleague, the representative of the United 30. We do not know for how long this draft. has been disoussed. That is not recorded anywhere and cannot be accepted as a valid argument. Naturally, there have been unofficial, private consultations among the members of the Security Council. In such cases, the time is not noted and this argument cannot be taken seriously. We do know-and thés cari be seen from the date of the document containing the draft resolutionthat it was submitted on 16 June. We cari only wonder why it should be claimed that it has a history of a whole week behind it. 30, savons ce projet part il y a eu des consultations Conseil un caractere Dans ces conditions, ment ne tient donc pas. Ce que nous savons ressort. de ri%olution Il reste à nous dire qu’il est vieux d’une semaine. 31. We are also unable to understand the impatience shown by our distinguished colleague from the United Kingdom. It is well known that the question of apartheid has been discussed not for months but for years -and this is a history which should be remembered by us all, including our United Kingdom colleague-and that a number of resolutions have been adopted on the subject, not only by the Security Council, but also by the General Assembly. But, for some reason, our United Kingdom colleague passes that over in silence, as he does the fact that the implementation of those resolutions is far from satisfactory and that the responsibility for this state of affairs rests, to a large extent, with the United Kingdom, It is therefore difficult to understand the reason for this outburst, the impatience and haste shown in connexion with the vote on the draft resolution. 31. Je ne comprends feste notre distingué collègue du Royaume-Uni, sait que la question seulement facteur tous, y compris qu’elle Conseil Pour je ne sais quelle raison, nique passe de dire que l’application est loin dans une grande mesure Voilà pourquoi volonté r&olution 32. Finally, we cannot ignore the statement of the United Kingdom representative concerning the consequences-1 might even say the tkreat of certain consequences-if we vote on the draft resolution tomorrow instead of today. TO what consequences does the Ambassador refer? What are the dire consequences that Will ensue if we vote not today but tomorrow morning? What Will happen in the course of the night? What cari happen in this matter within a few hours? It seems to me that this argument is frivolous and should net be adduced in a statement made here. It would appear that the United Kingdom representative must have some other reasons which compel him to press for a vote, but he has not told us anything about them. We do not insist that he should divulge them, but we cannot regard the arguments he has put forward as serious. 32. notre distingué dirai m&me qut il nous a mena& que pourrait quelles Quelles vous si nous ne votons pas aujourd’hui demain matin? peut-il quelques sans valeur Sans doute d’autres a point parlé. faire les arguments 33. The delegation of the Soviet Union fully shares the views expressed by the Czechoslovak representative; it supports his proposal, and, in its t.urn,requests the President t.o postpone the vote until tomorrow. 33. les elle appuie tour, pour mettre

With your permission, Mr. President, 1 would first like to make a few observations which relate solely to the French text of the draft resolution. 34. M. SIDI BABA si l’on m’y autorise, qui portent française 35. Je pense que la traduction fidelement termes se lisaient recommandations au lieu de “Tenant conclusions 35. I think that the translation might reflect the intentions of the sponsors more faithfully if the last preambular paragraph read: “Prenant en considération les recommandations et conclusions du Groupe d’experts 11, instead of “Tenant compte des recommandations et conclusions du Groupe d’experts ne 37, 1 hope that the representatives of Norway and Bolivia, who are the sponsors of the draft resolution, Will not abject to these small changes in the French text. 38. Having said this, I should like to express my delegation’s views on the Czeohoslovak proposai, which has been supported by the representative of the Soviet Union, for a postponement of the vote, 39. It if? a tradition in this Council that we do not bind ourselves by any very rigid deoision regarding the date of a vote, until a11 the members have clearly defined their positions and indioated that they are ready to take part in the voting in the light of ins tructions from their Governments. 1 feel that we have no particular reasonto departfrom this generally accepted rule, and 1 think our fellow-representatives Will have no speoial diffioulty in granting the Czechoslovak representative’s request that the vote on the draft resolution be postponed until tomosrow morning. 40. 1 hope that this proposa1 Will not embarrass other members of the Council. I feel that, on the contrary , it might greatly contribute to the continuation of our work in an atmosphere of harmony and understanding, 41. As a matter of fact it is not very desirable to take a procedural decision of this kind without the support of a11 the members of the Security Council. 42. 1 think, therefore, that we have nothing to lose by agreeing to vote on the draft resolution at our next meeting, which should preferably be held tomorrow morning, Thursday.

Since the question was posed to the representative of Bolivia and myself in our oapacities as oo-sponsors of the draft sesolution before the Counoil, I wish to oonfirm that the last paragraph of the preamble reads in English: “Takina into account . . . “, and the fisst operative paragraph starts with the Word Wondemns , , .n. I understand that the translation suggested by the repsesentative of Morocoo covers these two phrases.

1 think 1 cari say that the neoessary corseotions Will be made in the French text. 45. The members of the Counoil have heard the Czeohoslovak representative’s proposa1 for a postponement of the vote on the draft resolution [S/5769] until tomorrow. That proposa1 has been supported by the representative of the Soviet Union. From a11 that has been said, 1 believe 1 cari draw the conclusion that there is no forma1 opposition to this proposa1 and that the Council accordingly accepts it. In that case, the vote on the draft resolution Will take place at the meeting whlch Will be held at 10.30 a.m. tomorrow. 46. I cal1 upon the representative of Indonesia.

I floor on a point of clarification. have où. résolution. participons possibilité de demain pas expliquer

We have just taken a procedural decision to vote tomorrow after delegations desiring to explain their vote before the voting have done SO. When the voting is over, we shall hear explanations of vote from delegations which will have indicated their wish to make them after the vote, At the end of those proceedings, the Council Will, 1 am sure, allow the invitedrepresentatives to express their views on the draft resolution voted upon. 49. dkision au vote explications expliquer nous gations scrutin. debat, permettra leur opinion sur le projet de résolution l’objet du vote. 50. M, Dans ces conditions, de faire voudrais attitude, vont voter sur le projet de résolution. 51. prise matin. Par conséquent, le reprbsentant peut parler je lui donnerai la parole imm8diatement. 52. Je n’étonnerai que, bien que nous respections des représentants delegation résolution il nous semble que ce texte se borne & repéter demandes que le Conseil de sécurite au gouvernement Puisque mepris r.$solution prendre nouveau existe Verwoerd préhensive. 53. A maintes et maintes reprises, du Conseil ont affirme vitées dit Bgalement - tout au moins une menace shrieuse probablement Sud blanche 2 se rendre a laraison. donc profondement de résolution effet. prévoit d’étudier mesures en soi cette étude n’est gukre de nature à constituer une menace de l’affirmation Etats-Unis, votait 50, Mr, PALAR (Indonesia): In that case 1 should like to be allowed to make my short; speech now because, in fact, 1 do not wish merely to explain my stand, but to influence those who are going to vote on the draft resolution.

The decision we have just taken was to postpone the voting until tomorrow morning. The representative of Indonesia may therefore speak now, if he SO wishes; and in that case 1 shall cal1 upon him forthwith. 52, Mr. PALAR (Indonesia): It cari corne as no surprise to the Council that, although we respect the gallant efforts of the representatives of Norway and Bolivia, my delegation is sadly disappointed with the compromise draft resolution [5/5769]. In essence, it seems to us that it merely repeats the requests which the Seourity Council has already made to the Verwoerd government at least twice before, Since these requests have been spurnedcontemptuously by that Government, and since the draft resolution contains no deoisive follow-up measures to be taken should South Africa again refuse to co-operate, we wonder whether there are any good reasons to expeot a more tractable attitude from the Verwoerd régime in the future, 53. Over and over again it has been said here by certain members of the Council, as well as by a11 the debgations invited to participate without vote in the discussion, that economic sanctions, or at any rate the realistic threat of sanctions, is probably the only means of inducing white South Africa to see reason. My delegation is, therefore, deeply disappointed that the draft resolution lacks a provision to that effect, While it is true that operative paragraph 8 would establish an expert committee to study the logistics Of applying the coercive measures provided for under the Charter, such a study is, by itself, unlikely to constitnte a realistic threat, especially in view of the categorical statement by the representative of the United States yesterday that the United States vote on this paragraph is in no way to be regarded as an advance commitment to apply sanctions at this specific tirne [1133rd meeting, para. 301. 55. 1 should also like toputonrecordmy delegation’s feeling that the sixth preambular paragraph, deploring the refusa1 of theGovernmentof SouthAfrica to comply with pertinent Security Council resolutions, represents a step back from the Council% resolution of 4 December 1963 [5/54’71],?/ in which South Africa’s refusa1 to comply was condemned, not just deploied. 56. The only conclusion 1 cari draw from the outoome of the Council’s debate-and it is a terrifying one-is that, due to the attitude of certain veto Powers that aonsider a serious disturbance of the peace less serious than a threat to the peace , the Security Council Will be able to take deoisive action only when there is an actual breach of the peace under consideration. And in this context we would submit that, taking into account the angry mood of the African nations and the continued intractability of South Africa, the margin between a situation that has been acknowledged as seriously disturbing international peace and a situation that constitutes an ac’cual breach of the peace is now very slight indeed.

There are no more speakers on my list. In accordance with the decision we have just taken, the next meeting of the Council Will begin at 10.30 8.m. tomorrow. The meeting rose at Li.4.5 p.m. 3/ See Officia1 Records of the Security Council. Eighteenth Year. Supplement for October, November and December 1963. litho in U.N. price: $U.S. 0.35 (or equivalent in other currencies)