S/PV.1414 Security Council

The Security Council will now consider the statement concerning admission to the United Nations, submitted on 12 March 1968 [S/8466] by the Prime Minister of Mauritius. The statement is in letter form. 2. In this connexion, I should like lo draw the attention of the members of the Council to the draft resolution of today [S/B547/Rev.l and Add.l/, which is co-sponsored by the delegations of Algeria, Canada, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Senegal and the United Kingdom. 3. Lord CARADON (United Kingdom): Mr. President, I should like, first, to join with you in welcoming Ambassador Boye of Senegal to this Council. He comes to us with an-enviable reputation gained in many capacities, and most recently as Chairman of the Human Rights Commission. We greatly look forward to working with him. At the same time, I trust that the Ambassador will convey to Ambassador Diop the admiration we all felt for him, particularly when he was our President last month. I have served in this Council for some years, but I believe that all wifi agree with me that we have had no President for whom we had a greater devotion and a greater affection than we had for Ambassador Diop. 4. Mgy I also take this first opportunity of publicly paying my respects to you, Sir, as our President. We have already warmly welcomed you to the Council; even more warmly we welcome you as our President. We welcomed you as a player; even more we welcome you as a referee. As a player you score; as a referee you are the embodiment of impartiality. Your great gifts could not be.better employed. We gonfidently wish you every success, and I am even bold enough to hope that some of the habits of impartiality will last long after this month is over, 5. We meet today to consider the application of Mauritius to become the 124th Member of the United Nations. We congratulate Mauritius on its attainment of independence on 12 March of this year, when it was welcomed as the twenty-seventh independent member of the Commonwealth, and we now warmly endorse and commend its application for membership of the United Nations. 6. Mauritius is chiefly famous for two things: outstanding natural beauty and the rich diversity of its people. From the earliest days the island attracted navigators of many nationalities. It is said that the island was first discovered by the Phoenicians; then came the Malays from Madagascar, then the Portuguese, then the Dutch, who named the island after Prince Maurice of Nassau. For nearly a century, from 1715, the French occupied the island, giving it the name of Ile de France. Consequently, Mauritius now emerges into independence with the happiest combination of traditions, the enviable advantages of both French culture and British administration. 7. The island’s three quarters of a million people are drawn from three continents and a score of different countries. More than ten separate languages are in regular use, and Europe, Asia and Africa have all contributed to the history and the life’ of the people. This diversity has sometimes led to differences and disputes and violent tensions. It was a bold action, therefore, not to hesitate or to delay, but to respond to the leadership of the Prime Minister, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, and advance confidently to independence. 8. All of us here will welcome and praise that courageous step into the future and all of us will join, I am sure, in wishing that the newly independent Mauritius will draw from its diversity fresh strength and unity. Mauritius will, we trust, give a lead to us all in showing how people of different origin and religion and race can live and work together in peace and brotherhood. The world is in sore need of such an example.

As we meet today on a happy occasion-an application from a new State I’or admission to membership in the United Nations-I feel I must express my pleasure at, and my approval of, everything that has just been said by Lord Caradon, the United Kingdom representative with reference to our new colleague from Senegal, Ambassador Boye, and to the President, Ambassador Malik of the Soviet Union. 11. My delegation has always believed that the advent of a new State should be regarded as something which increases our Organization’s chances of fulfilling the great hopes the world places in it, hopes which will not be realized until the United Nations achieves what it has recognized to be its fundamental purpose-universality. 12. It is because we hold this belief that the people and Government of Algeria had such great pleasure in welcoming the accession to independence of Mauritius on 12 March last, In regaining its independence, that nation of course becomes a member of the universal community of free nations, and also a member of the group of African and Asian peoples, joining with them to shape the future of their continents and ensure their emancipation and development. 13. Furthermore, we have great pleasure in welcoming this country because its presence among us signifies the end of a colonial era for its people and the beginning of an age of freedom and prosperity. It also indicates that other peoples, especially Africans, engaged in the struggle for liberation, will sooner or later, like Mauritius, join the international community and work for peace in equality and harmony. Obviously, I am thinking of Southern Rhodesia, which is still under the colonial yoke, as Mauritius was once, and as Angola, Mozambique, South West Africa, Guinea (Bissau), South Africa, etc. are today. 14. We hope that one day, as in the case of Mauritius, the colonial era will be a thing of the past and that we shall be able to surmount the obstacles confronting us in Southern Rhodesia, as in all the other colonies, and lead them towards the independence and freedom which are their peoples’ dearest wish. Today, we meet together formally to admit Mauritius to the United Nations. My delegation finds this occasion both gratifying and important, and it wishes warmly to support and recommend the admission of Mauritius to our Organization. 15. For all these reasons, Algeria has decided to add its sponsorship to that of the delegations which submitted draft resolution S/8.547/Rev.l and Add. 1, 16. My delegation would be grateful, Mr. President, if you would take the necessary steps to give effect to this request which we should like to submit as formally as possible. 18. We wish Mauritius progress and prosperity and express our good wishes to its people.

Mr. President, I should like to associate myself first of all with your warm welcome to Ambassador Boye of Senegal and to say to him how happy the Canadian delegation is to share the privilege of being elected to membership of this Council together with Senegal. 20. The Canadian delegation is indeed very happy to co-sponsor the draft resolution S/8547/Rev.l and Add.1 and we commend it to the unanimous endorsement of the Council. 21. Because of the Commonwealth relationship Canada has special ties with this new State which became independent on 12 March of this year and is now seeking admission to the United Nations. Indeed, Canada and Mauritius also share the distinction of being the only two States in the Commonwealth which are bilingual in English and French, a fact which constitutes an important cultural tie. We also share the important historic tradition which Lord Caradon mentioned-I refer, of course, to the happy marriage of French culture with British administration. 22. We know that the road to independence is not always easy and that the responsibilities after independence bring equally grave or even graver problems. It is after a nation has assumed the responsibilities and begun to enjoy the privileges of independence that the even more difficult choices arise about how that nation is to conduct its economic, social and political life, both in its own interests and even more important, the wider interests of the world community. Some of these choices are dictated by geography and the existing social structure at the time of independence; but there are others such as the means of developing a thriving and varied economy and the creation of an administrative machinery capable of meeting the changing needs of an evolving society which must weigh heavily on the leaders of that new nation. My country recognizes the responsibility of developing countries and of developed countries to assist those in the process of development to resolve the difficulties confronting them. Canada for its part is prepared to continue making available, through its external aid programme, technical assistance to help Mauritius in its self-development. 23. Having welcomed Mauritius into the Commonwealth of Nations we now are happy to welcome it into the United Nations and we wish Mauritius every success in the great task and opportunities that lie before it in the community of nations.

Before I address myself to the item before us, I should like to associate myself with you, Mr. President, and other colleagues in extending a warm welcome to our new colleague, the distinguished and respected Permanent Representative of 25. The Security Council is meeting today to discharge a very pleasant duty, namely, to consider the request from the Government of Mauritius for admission to membership in the United Nations. It is always a matter of great joy and satisfaction to see a dependent Territory emerge into free and sovereign nationhood. With every additional Territory which breaks the chains of colonial bondage and establishes itself as an independent nation, we come closer to the goal of complete decolonization which is one of the primary objectives of our Organization. Today’s occasion is particularly gratifying to us in view of the fact that the United Nations, throu& the General Assembly and its organs, principally the Committee of Twenty-Four’ has devoted considerable time and energy to accelerate the progress of the people of Mauritius towards their cherished objective. There has, thus, been a very ciose association between Mauritius and the United Nations even before the independence of Mauritius. It is, therefore, only natural that Mauritius should seek membership in the world body. My delegation has no doubt that as a Member of the United Nations the Government and the people of Mauritius will make important contributions towards strengthening and furthering the universal desire for peace and security. 26. The independence of Mauritius is a matter of particular gratification to my delegation. India and Mauritius are linked by varied and close ties which go back to hundreds of years. The similarities in our cultural history and heritage, the geographic proximity and, most of all, our nlutually shared values of freedom and peace bind us closely together. We have followed with great interest and admiration the steady march of the people of Mauritius towards their independence under the leadership of their outstanding Prime Minister, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. We have every confidence that the very close and friendly relations which happily exist between Mauritius and India will grow from strength to strength in the coming years to the mutual benefit of our two countries. 27. I take this opportunity of once again extending to the Government and people of Mauritius our warmest felicitations and best wishes. Having become the master of its own destiny, I have no doubt that Mauritius will be able to make rapid progress in all fields of national life and become a strong, stable and prosperous nation. 28. My delegation whole-heartedly supports the application of Mauritius for admission to the United Nations and hopes that it will be endorsed by the Security Council by acclamation. 25). Mr. BORCH (Denmark): Mr. President, first, 1 want to associate myself with the warm welcome that you have expressed in regard to the new representative of Senegal, 1 Special Comnlittee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and I’eoples. 30. The Danish Government whole-heartedly welcomes the attainment of independence by Mauritius and my delegation supports the draft resolution (S/8547/Rev. I and Add.11 recommending the admission of Mauritius to membership of the United Nations, presented to us by Algeria, Canada, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Senegal and the United Kingdom-the former administering Power. 3 1. During our membership in the Committee of Twenty- Four my country had an opportunity to follow closely the progress towards and the preparation for the independence of Mauritius. The process has now been completed and in a short while Mauritius, being a full-fledged and sovereign member of the community of nations, will take its seat in this world Organization. In doing so, and in accepting the obligations contained in the Charter of the United Nations, Mauritius has made a solemn pledge that will serve as a basis for its participation in the international co-operation in this Organization. We wish it well in its endeavours to participate actively and constructively in that co-operation, which is aimed at promoting peace among nations, international understanding and material progress for the whole of humanity. 32. Mauritius has become independent as a result of a democratic process and through an agreement freely negotiated between the representatives of the people of Mauritius and the Government of the United Kingdom. We feel confident that the problems, internal and external, which this new State may face in the future will similarly be solved in accordance with democratic principles and on the basis of agreement and mutual understanding 33. Today we welcome Mauritius to the United Nations, and we wish the Government and people of Mauritius all the best in their efforts to build their future. Clearly, the prime goal of any new State is political stability and economic progress. It is our wish that Mauritius achieve both, thus creating the strongest possible basis for its existence as a nation and as a State.

I need hardly say that it gives my delegation great pleasure ‘and satisfaction to welcome to our midst the new representative of Senegal, Ambassador Ibrahima Boye. We welcome him as the representative of a State with which my own country has particularly cordial relations. We also greet him as a colleague on whom we can rely for friendly and efficient collaboration. Finally, we welcome him as an able jurist of vast experience. He has served as a lawyer in several courts of appeal, as a magistrate, as a Justice of the Peace with a wide jurisdiction, and finally as Attorney General of the Supreme Court of Senegal. He has a background which will be most valuable to our Council as well as to each of us. His professional qualifications, together with personal qualities of which we are all aware, are such that they can somewhat mitigate our regret at the departure of his predecessor, Ambassador Ousmane Sod Diop. Our work in the United Nations is often saddened by the departure of a 35. In a vote which we hope will be unanimous, my delegation will signify its approval of the draft resolution before the Council recommending that the General Assembly admit the independent State of Mauritius to the United Nations. We are particularly pleased to be able to do so’ because, since the beginning of the 18th century, political and later cultural and linguistic ties have linked France to that great island. For a hundred years-from 1710 to 1810-my country was responsible for the administration of the island, which was then known as Ile de France. Memories of the French Indies Company were evoked quite recently in the inspired words of the Mauritian writer and poet Edouard J. Maunick: “The Indies Company reminds me of the garden of the same name, a stone’s throw from the ocean, skirting the roadstead of Port Louis, where I served my apprenticeship for manhood. Port Louis, the capital, and the Company garden full of banyan trees, calabash and acacia-the garden with its fountains and its Institute Museum, towards which an immensely thick baobab tree spread its arms, its bandstand and its old green benches and the little river Pouce flowing past like an endless caress.” 36. France was fortunate enough to be represented, at the head of the island’s administration, by MahB de la Bourdonnais, an outstanding Governor who accomplished there what the Mauritian historian Auguste Toussaint called “a veritable creation ex nihilo”. He founded MahBbourg, the capital, later abondoned in favour of Port Louis. “Roads were built”, Edouard Maunick writes, “and towns laid out. Coffee, cassava, maize, vegetables, fruit trees, indigo, clove trees and, above all, sugar cane spread over acres upon acres of land.” 37. Ile de France of the 18th century had a considerable influence on the intellectual and literary Iife of my country. It inspired that great wriler, Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, to write his Voyage ci l’ile cZe France and later, after the sensational wreck near the Island of Ambre of the ship Saint G&an on which the young Virginie de la Tour was travelling, the famous novel Paul et Virginie which started the exotic trend in French literature. It was the same island which inspired Charles Baudelaire to write his well-known lines: “Once, in a perfumed country, sun-caressed, “I knew, under a roof of crimson trees “and palms that dip their languour on the eyes, “A creole lady of hidden charms.” 38. My country is deeply moved by the fact that the island’s inhabitants are so attached to that part of their history. Beau Bassin, Quatre Bernes, Rose Belle, Grande RiviBre, ,%&Antoine, Poudre d’Or, Pamplemousse, Souillac, Chemin Granier-the entire countryside is dotted with 39. When the Prime Minister of Mauritius visited France in October 1967, he was good enough to say that his country would co-operate with ours, particularly in intellectual and economic matters, and that he hoped to see agreements concluded between the two countries which would strengthen their cultural and historical ties. We were most receptive to his remarks. 40. Lying as it does at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and Asia and having been for centuries a port of call for all trading nations, Mauritius is today experiencing an extraordinary population growth. The new independent State which unites indigenous inhabitants, Europeans who have settled there, Africans from the neighbouring continent and Indians who have contributed their skills, clearly has a place in the United Nations. It is, in a way, a microcosm of this Organization. It has already shown us and will continue in the future to show us an example of that coexistence and peaceful co-operation among peoples and races which is the ideal and standard of our Organization. 41. To al1 its inhabitants, whatever their origin and language, to its Government and its leaders, to independent Mauritius, the French delegation extends its warmest wishes for happiness and prosperity. 42. Mr. PEDERSEN, (United States of America): 1 should like first to join other members in welcoming to the Council our distinguished new colleague from Senegal, Ambassador Ibrahima Boye. Ambassador Boye is no stranger to the United Nations councils, and we recall with particular pleasure his recent outstanding work as Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights. He brings to the Security Council a profound understanding and deep experience in this important realm of United Nations activities. He also brings to us a distinguished background in law, including the post of Attorney-General of the Senegalese Supreme Court. III Ambassador Boye, as in his distinguished predecessor, Ambassador Diop, who presided with such dignity and capability last month in both our public sessions and private consultations, Senegal has sent us another outstanding representative with whom the United States delegation takes satisfaction in being associated. 43. It is indeed a pleasure to speak to this Council in support of the application of Mauritius for membership in the United Nations and to welcome the Mauritian delegation here today. 44. We weIcome the interest of Mauritius in participating in efforts at the United Nations to achieve the goals of our Charter. The path toward the reconciliation of international differences and toward world peace is long and arduous. Membership in the United Nations offers to Mauritius, on the one hand, the prospect of hard work in the service of hopes and ideals as yet only partially realized; on the other 45. This distant isle has long played a role in world commercial and political affairs. Among its population of three quarters of a million persons there are representatives of many races, rehgions and nationalities. Lord Caradon has referred to the ten languages spoken in Mauritius. It is of special interest that among those languages, two working languages of the Security Council are included. While the island was a Crown Colony of Great Britain, Mauritian authorities steadfastly directed their efforts toward economic and social development and increasingly participated in their own government before Mauritius obtained full htdependence on 12 March 1968. 46. In crediting their accomplishments and efforts, we believe also that due acknowledgement should be given to the Government of the United Kingdom under whose aegis advances were made toward democratic self-government and complete independence. 47. The United States believes that the people of Mauritius and their Prime Minister, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, share with us the strong conviction that governments, to be stable and effective, must be representative of, and based upon the confidence of, those whom they govern. My Government is well aware of the many obstacles Mauritius has overcome, and of those that it still faces, in its praiseworthy drive to build a nation where a man’s dignity and worth are not determined by his race, his religion or his place of origin. In its efforts, Mauritius will be taking part in a world-wide crusade for the achievement of erIua1 rights and opportunities for all. 48. The United States looks forward to strengthening relations with Mauritius. Our consular contacts with that lovely island date back over one hundred years. Our experiences have convinced us that Mauritius can and will make continuing and meaningful contributions toward solving the problems $hat lie before it and before us all. My Government will gladly vote for the draft resolution (S/8543/Rev.I and Add I/ before this Cohncil recommending approval of the application of Mauritius for admission to membership in the United Nations.

I should like to thank my colleagues for their very kind words of welcome and assure them of my loyal co-operation. On the particular item now before us, I should like to say, on behalf of my Government, that we are always pleased to welcome a new Member to this Organization. Aside from the satisfaction we experience when a country is decolonized or when a dependent country is granted independence, my Government takes the view that all nations should be in a position to put their moral and intelIectua1 capital to work and to combine their efforts to settle more readily such conflicts as may arise among them. 51. I am therefore happy to come here on behalf of my Government to recommend the admission to the United Nations of Mauritius, an island which presents a remarkable example of the harmonious multiracial society which we should like to see established in certain other countries. My Government believes that Mauritius is a peace-loving State, able and willing to carry out the obligations contained in the Charter. 52. My Government is therefore in agreement that we should recommend the General Assembly to admit Mauritius, to which we wish every success.

Mr. President, before turning to the matter before us today, I should like to join with you and other members of the Council in extending a most cordial welcome to the new representative from Senegal, Mr, Ibrahima Boye. Knowing as we do his country’s long-standing tradition in the United Nations, we are sure that in discharging his duties he will display the brilliance, talent and integrity which marked his predecessor, our much admired President during the month of March, Mr. Diop. 54. This is indeed a day of rejoicing as we meet to consider the request for admission to membership of the United Nations submitted on behalf of his country by the Prime Minister of Mauritius. It will be a real pleasure for my delegation to vote in favour of the unanimous adoption by acclamation of the seven-Power draft resolution [S/8547/ Rev. I and Add. I] by which the Council will recommend to the General AssembIy that Mauritius be admitted to membership in the United Nations. 55. With this preliminary and necessary step, followed UP promptly by the approval of the General Assembly, the doors of the Organization will open to admit one more member to the great family of free, sovereign and independent nations it comprises. 56. For each and every one of the States striving to hasten the advent of the final abolition of colonialism, this is indeed an occasion for justifiable rejoicing. 57. Now that the efforts of Mauritius to achieve independence have reached a happy conclusion, I offer its people and Government the most cordial and sincere congratulations of the people, Government and delegation of Paraguay, together with our heartfelt wishes for the progress, prosperity and happiness of the people of Mauritius, now freed from their former state of dependence and masters, in their own legitimate right, of their sovereign destiny. 58. Lij Endalkachew MAKONNEN (Ethiopia): Mr. President, I should like, first of all, to associate my delegation with the eloquent and much deserved message of welcome that you and other colleagues have addressed to our new 60. This note of optimism on my part is no doubt prompted and strengthened by our consideration today of the type of item that we have on our agenda. For today we are here not to extinguish a fire ignited by tragic human conflicts or to uphold a threatened principle of the Charter of the United Nations, but to add new blood to the Organization. This is indeed the most pleasant and highly gratifying duty that we have as members of this vital organ. 61. Even as the birth of a child represents the best gift that nature offers to man, so too the birth of a nation signifies the highest form of expression of the principIes of the Charter of our Organization. It is perhaps the best tribute that can be paid to the United Nations which is dedicated to, among other things, the reaffirmation of faith in what the Charter itself underlines as fundamental human rights, the dignity and worth of the human person, the equal rights of men and women and of all nations large and small. 62. When a people which has long suffered under the yoke of colonialism succeeds in breaking the shackles of bondage and moves to the cherished status of freedom and sovereignty, there is good cause for joy, good reason for optimism and hope, not onIy for the people directly concerned but also for humanity as a whole. 63. The independence and admission of Mauritius to membership of our Organization should be of particular joy to the United Nations because it is the most recent crowning of the Organization’s tireless efforts over the past number of years. Since 1964 the United Nations General Assembly, the Special Committee of Twenty-Four and its subsidiary organs have devoted considerable time and effort working for the independence and self-determination of the people of Mauritius. The Ethiopian delegation, as a member of each of these organs of the United Nations, has played an active role to this end. 64. Therefore our sponsorship of this resolution recommending the admission of Mauritius to membership of the United Nations is a duty which devolves upon us by virtue of our participation in these historic efforts. We take pride in the achievements of the people of Mauritius, and we wish to assure them of our continued co-operation and goodwill as we welcome them to the family of independent nations. 65. A multiracial nation such as Mauritius, however small in territory and population it may be, can, we are confident, serve as yet another good example of the. possibility, I may even add of the need, for a people of 66. In conclusion, I wish to convey once again our sincere congratulations and best wishes to the people and Government of Mauritius.

First of all. 1 should like to extend to Ambassador Boye of Senegal the warm welcome of the Brazilian delegation. In the first three months of 1968, we benefited from the wisdom and experience that his predecessor, Ambassador Diop, brought to this Council, especially during this past March. My delegation is confident that under Ambassador Boye the delegation of Senegal will continue to give to the Security Council the co-operation that is expected by all of us front that great African country, with which my Government and my country has close ties of friendship and co-operation. 68. On behalf of the Brazilian delegation, allow me to refer to the draft resolution [S/8547/Rev.l and Add,l] before this Council on the admission of Mauritius to the United Nations. 69. My delegation will vote in favour of the adoption of this draft, and I wish to take this opportunity to welcome Mauritius into the United Nations. 70. A new nation born of a rich past, Mauritius, like Brazil itself, is a multiracial society drawing its cultural values from many sources and building with them a new human synthesis and a new world in the tropics. Representing so many different hopes and dreams, Mauritius is in a special position to make a vital contribution to the work of this Organization and to the creation of world order. I express not only my personal feelings, but also the feelings of the Brazilian ,Goveynment and people when I say that we will all profit from that contribution.

Comrade President, since today is the first time this month that my delegatiorl is making a statement in the Council, I wish to express my hearty congratulations to you on the occasion of your assumption of the high functions of the Presidency of the Security Council. Your rich experjence and deep knowledge of the matters before the Council have already greatly contributed to the successful discharge of the duties of the Council. Your skilful and brilliant statesmanlike approach to the different and very complex and difficult questions have met with the satisfaction of the members of this Council. 72. At the same time, with your kind permission, I wish to express my delegation’s congratulations to the fornicr President of our Council, Ambassador Diop of Senegal, and I request the Ambassador of Senegal to convey to him our congratulations on the tactful, patient and very competent manner in which he acted as President of our Council. At 73. The Security Council has before it for consideration the application of the newly independent State of Mauritius for admission to the United Nations. We also have before us the joint draft resolution [S/8547/Reu.I and Add.I/ of Algeria, Canada, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Senegal and the United Kingdom requesting the Security Council to recommend to the General Assembly that Mauritius be admitted to membership in the United Nations. The Hungarian delegation wishes to state that it supports the application of Mauritius for membership in the United Nations and is ready to vote in favour of the draft resolution submitted by the seven co-sponsors. 74. In its firm determination to eliminate all forms of colonialism and racial discrimination, the United Nations has given attention to the problem of Mauritius for a number of years. Together with the. great majority of Member States, the Hungarian People’s Republic has given active support to the people of Mauritius in the achievement of their freedom and independence. We were pleased to receive leading political personalities of Mauritius in Hungary last year, and my Government had friendly and useful talks with them on establishing relations between our two countries. 75. In considering the admission of Mauritius to membership in the United Nations, we cannot fait to direct our attention to the explosive situation existing in the southern part of Africa. It is the duty of the United Nations and of all States to prevent the establishment of a hotbed of racism in Africa. As can be seen from the latest discussions on South West Africa and Southern Rhodesia in the Security Council, events on the African continent cause serious anxiety and require effective measures on behalf of the world community against all manifestations of colonialism, apartheid and racism. 76. My delegation felt it necessary to call the attention of the Council to the dangerous developments in the southern part of Africa and to the responsibility of the Security Council for coping with that situation. We feel all the more happy and satisfied that, in spite of those ominous signs, another former colonial territory, Mauritius, has won its independence. It is of particular importance that the newly independent State of Mauritius had more than ample experience of colonialism. In fact it had been ruled by no less than four different colonial Powers. That is one more reason why my delegation is confident that, after shaking off the colonial rule, the newly independent nation of Mauritius will exert all possible efforts to overcome its present difficulties resulting from that heritage and will achieve progress in all fields of its national life. We trust that as a Member of the United Nations Mauritius will make a useful contribution to our efforts to liquidate all the remnants of colonialism and racism and preserve international peace and security. 77. In a resolution the Presidential Council of the Hungarian People’s Republic has recognized Mauritius as an

Mr. President, I should like to associate myself with the warm welcome that you and my other colleagues have extended to the new and eminent Ambassador of Senegal, Mr. Boye. Even in the brief period that has passed since he presented his credentials, Mr. Boye has shown himself to be endowed with the same high qualities and of the calibre which marked his distinguished predecessor, Mr. Diop. 79. Pakistan has great pleasure in supporting the application of Mauritius for admission to the United Nations. The accession of the island country to independence and membership in the United Nations marks another step in the process of decolonization which was initiated with vision and statesmanship by the United Kingdom after the Second World War. 80. The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, has pledged that his Government accepts the obligations incumbent upon Members of the Organization and solemnly undertakes to fulfil them. That declaration makes us confident that the Government of Mauritius will surmount the difficulties that confront new nations and will do its utmost to promote respect for human rights, a fundamental principle of the Charter of the United Nations and one of cardinal importance to the governance of multiracial societies [see S/8466]. 81. The people of the island are linked to the people of Pakistan by historical and cultural ties. We extend our warmest congratulations to the Government and people of Mauritius and wish them godspeed on the high road of independence. With admission to membership in the United Nations, it will be possible for Mauritius to derive in full measure the benefits of participation in the mainstream of international life and of the economic and technical assistance which the United Nations system is able to provide to developing nations. 82. It is with great pleasure that I commend to the Council for unanimous adoption the joint draft resolution [S/8.547/Rev.l and Add.11 which Pakistan has co.sponsored together with the delegations of Algeria, Canada, Ethiopia, India, Senegal and the United Kingdom.

As President of the Security Council, I should like to express my thanks to those members of the Council who have associated themselves with the words of welcome and congratulation which I addressed on their behalf at the proceeding meeting to our new colleague, the distinguished representative of Senegal. I should also like to thank those members of the Security Council who addressed kind words to me. 84. Now I shall address the Council in my capacity as the representative of the UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS. 87. Consistently and invariably guided by the policy of giving full support to the struggle of peoples against colonial rule and oppression, the Soviet Union has always supported and continues to support the legitimate and just demands of the peoples, including the people of Mauritius, who wish to become free and independent. We are very happy to see that the struggle of the people of Mauritius to achieve these lofty goals and ideals has been drowned with success. 88. The Security Council has received an application from the Government of ‘Mauritius to, be admitted to\membership of the United Nations. In its application [S/8466,! the Government of Mauritius declares its full support for’the principles and aims of the United Nations Charter, accepts the obligations of membership and solemnly conir$ts i&elf to fulfilling those obligations. 89. The Soviet Union welcomes this declaration of the Government of the new independent State and supports the application of Mauritius to be admitted to the United Nations. The representative of the Soviet Union has been authorized to vote in favour of the admission of Mauritius to membership in the United Nations. 90. We warmly congratulate the Government and the people of Mauritius upon the attaihment of independence and we express our firm conviction and hope that this new State, which is located in the Indian Ocean, together with the large family of independent States of Africa and Asia, will make its own worthy and useful contribution to the work of this Organization and will contribute to ‘the cause of strengthening peace and developing friendship among nations. 91. The Government of the Soviet Union, in its message to the Government of this new State, has warmly congratulated the Government and people of Mauritius upon the attainment of independence and has stated its desire to establish diplomatic relatiqns with Mauritius, to exchange embassies and to develop relations of friendship and co-operation. . . 93. Now I shall address the Council in my capacity as PRESIDENT of the Security Council. 94. The list of speakers has been exhausted. In accordance with rule 60 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council I shall now put to the vote the draft resolution [S/8547fRev.l and Add.11 before the Council. A vote was taken by show of hands. The draft resolution was adopted unanimously.~

In accordance with rule 60 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council, I shall forthwith ask the Secretary- General to transmit to the General Assembly the text of the resolution which has just been adopted, together with the record of this meeting. The examination of the item on the agenda has been concluded. The representative of the United States has asked for the floor. I now call upon him.

Now that we have completed our favourable action on the specific ‘item before us for today, I wish to call the Council’s attention briefly to a separately pending membership matter. 97. Members will recall that on 13 December 1967 Mr. Goldberg addressed to the President of the Council a letter3 suggesting that the Council’s Committee on the Admission of New Members be convened to consider the matter of “micro-States”, a matter raised by the Secretary- General in the introductions to his annual reports of 1965” and 1967.5 98. This is the first meeting at which the Council has considered a .membership matter since that time. We did not suggest that the Council’s Committee on the Admission of New Membe’rs be reconvened in this instance. I should like to recall,.however, that our letter of 13 December 1967 requesting consideration of the problem of “micro-States” by the Committee is an outstanding request. 99. We all realize that the urgent matters which have come before the Council over the past three months have precluded our devoting the required time to this matter. We do continue,: to look forward, however, to an early convenient reconvening of the Committee on the Admission of New Members to consider the implications with 6 2 See resolution 249 (1968). 3 official Records of the Security Council, Twenty-second Year, $uPPlement for October, November and December 1967, document s/a2?6. 5 Ibid., Twenty-second paras. 1,63-167. Session, Supplement No. IA, 5. HOW TQ OBTAIN UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATIONS United Nations publications moy be obtoined from bookstores and distributors throughout the world. Consult your bookstore or write fo: United Notions, Sales Section, New York or Geneva. COMMENT SE PROCURER LES PUBLICATIONS DES NATIONS UNIES Les publications der Nations Unier sont en vente dons les libroirier et let ogences ddporitoirer du monde entier. Informez-vous oupris de votre librairie ou adresser-vour b: Notions Unier, Section $es venter, New York ou Gen&ve. COMO CONSEGUIR PUBLICACIONES DE LAS NACIONES UNIDAS Los publicocioner de Ias Nociones Unidar eslbn en vente en librerios y caras distribuidorar en todas parfes det mundo. Conxdte o IV librero o dirfjase a: Naciones Unidor, Secci6n de Ventas, Nuevo York o Ginebra. Litho in United Nations, New York Price: $U.S. 0.50 (or equivalent in other currencies) 353624eptember 1972-2.10