A/RES/294(IV) GA
Observance in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania of human rights and fundamental freedoms : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly
4
Session
47
Yes
5
No
7
Abstentions
| Draft symbol | A/RES/294(IV) |
|---|---|
| Adopted symbol | A/RES/294(IV) |
| P5 Positions |
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| UN Document | A/RES/294(IV) ↗ |
Vote Recorded Vote — A/PV.235
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Argentina
-
Australia
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Belgium
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Plurinational State of Bolivia
-
Brazil
-
Myanmar
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Canada
-
Chile
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China
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Colombia
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Costa Rica
-
Cuba
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Denmark
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Dominican Republic
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Ecuador
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Egypt
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El Salvador
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Ethiopia
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France
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Greece
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Guatemala
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Haiti
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Honduras
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Iceland
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Islamic Republic of Iran
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Iraq
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Lebanon
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Liberia
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Luxembourg
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Mexico
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Netherlands
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New Zealand
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Nicaragua
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Norway
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Panama
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Paraguay
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Peru
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Philippines
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Sweden
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Syrian Arab Republic
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Thailand
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Türkiye
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South Africa
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United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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United States of America
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Uruguay
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Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Full text of resolution
including technical advisers and observers as re-
quired; and authorizes the Secretary-General to
pay the expenses and per diem of a representative
and an alternate from each of the States members
of the Commission and of such persons as may be
appointed in accordance with paragraph 1 ( c) of
the present resolution.
233rd plenary meeting,
21 October 1949.
294 (IV).
Observance
in
Bulgaria,
Hungary and Romania of human
rights and fundamental freedoms
Whereas the United Nations, pursuant to
Article 55 of the Charter, shall promote universal
respect for, and observance of, human rights and
fundamental freedoms for all without distinction
as to race, sex, language or religion,
Whereas the General Assembly, at the second
part of its third regular session, considered the
question of the observance in Bulgaria and
Hungary of human rights and fundamental
freedoms,
Whereas the General Assembly, on 30 April
1949, adopted resolution 272 (III) 4 concerning
this question in which it expressed its deep con-
cern at the grave accusations made against the
Governments of Bulgaria and Hungary regard-
ing the suppression of human rights and funda-
mental freedoms in those countries; noted with
satisfaction that steps had been taken by several
States signatories to the Treaties of Peace with
Bulgaria and Hungary regarding these accusa-
tions ; expressed the hope that measures would
be diligently applied, in accordance with the
Treaties, in order to ensure respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms; and most ur-
gently drew the attention of the Governments
of Bulgaria and Hungary to their obligations
under the Treaties of Peace, including the obliga-
tion to co-operate in the settlement of the question,
Whereas the General Assembly has resolved
to consider also at the fourth regular session the
question of the observance in Romania of human
rights and fundamental freedoms,
Whereas certain of the Allied and Associated
Powers signatories to the Treaties of Peace with
Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania have charged
the Governments of those countries with viola-
tions of the Treaties of Peace and have called
upon
those
Governments
to
take
remedial
measures,
Whereas the Governments of Bulgaria, Hun-
gary and Romania have rejected the charges of
Treaty violations,
Whereas the Governments of the Allied ancl
Associated Powers concerned have sought un-
successfully to refer the question of Treaty viola-
tions to the Heads of Mission in Sofia, Budapest
and Bucharest, in pursuance of certain provisions
in the Treaties of Peace,
Where as the Governments of these Allied ancl
Associated Powers have called upon the Govern-
ments of Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania to join
in appointing Commissions pursuant to the pro-
visions of the respective Treaties of Peace for
4 See Official Records of the third session of the General
Assembly, Part II, Resolutions, page 17.
16
the settlement of disputes concerning the inter-
pretation or execution of these Treaties,
Whereas the Governments of Bulgaria, Hun-
gary and Romania have refused to appoint their
representatives to the Treaty Commissions, main-
taining that they were under no legal obligation
to do so,
Whereas the Secretary-General of the United
Nations is authorized by the Treaties of Peace,
upon request by either party to a dispute, to
appoint the third member of a Treaty Commission
if the parties fail to agree upon the appointment
of the third member,
Whereas it is important for the Secretary-
General to be advised authoritatively concerning
the scope of his authority under the Treaties of
Peace,
The General Assembly
1. Expresses its continuing interest in and its
increased concern at the grave accusations made
against Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania;
2. Records its opinion that the refusal of the
Governments of Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania
to co-operate in its efforts to examine the grave
charges with regard to the observance of human
rights and fundamental freedoms justifies this
concern of the General Assembly about the state
of affairs prevailing in Bulgaria, Hungary and
Romania in this respect ;
3. Decides to submit the following questions
to the International Court of Justice for an ad-
visory opinion :
•· I. Do the diplomatic exchanges between Bul-
garia, Hungary and Romania on the one hand
and certain Allied and Associated Powers signa-
tories to the Treaties of Peace on the other,
concerning the implementation of article 2 of the
Treaties with Bulgaria and Hungary and article 3
of the Treaty with Romania, disclose disputes
subject to the provisions for the settlement of
disputes contained in article 36 of the Treaty
of Peace with Bulgaria, article 40 of the Treaty
of Peace with Hungary, and article 38 of the
Treaty of Peace with Romania?"
In the event of an affirmative reply to ques-
tion I:
''II. Are the Governments of Bulgaria, Hun-
gary and Romania obligated to carry out the pro-
visions of the articles referred to in question I,
including the provisions for the appointment of
their representatives to the Treaty Commis-
.
?"
S1011S.
In the event of an affirmative reply to ques-
tion II and if within thirty days from the elate
when the Court delivers its opinion the Govern-
ments concerned have not notified the Secretarv-
General that they have appointed their represe~-
tatives to the Treaty Commissions, and the Secre-
tary-Genera! has so advised the International
Court of Justice :
"III. If one party fails to appoint a represen-
tative to a Treaty Commission under the Treaties
of Peace with Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania
where that party is obligated to appoint a repre-
sentative to the Treaty Commission, is the
Secretary-General of the United Nations author-
ized to appoint the third member of the Com-
m1ss10n upon the request of the other party to
a dispute according to the provisions of the re-
spective Treaties?"
In the event of an affirmative reply to ques-
tion III:
"IV. Would a Treaty Commission composed of
a representative of one party and a third member
appointed by the Secretary-General of the United
Nations constitute a Commission, within the mean-
ing of the relevant Treaty articles, competent to
make a definitive and binding decision in settle-
ment of a dispute?"
4. Requests the Secretary-General to make avail-
able to the International Court of Justice the rele-
vant exchanges of diplomatic correspondence
communicated to the Secretary-General for circu-
lation to the Members of the United Nations and
the records of the General Assembly proceedings
on this question;
5. Decides to retain on the agenda of the fifth
regular session of the General Assembly the ques-
tion of the observance of human rights and funda-
mental freedoms
in Bulgaria, Hungary and
Romania, with a view to ensuring that the charges
are appropriately examined and dealt with.
235th plenary meeting
22 October 1949.
295 (IV). Re-establishment of the In-
terim Committee of the General
Assembly
The General Assembly,
Having taken note of the report5 submitted to
it by the Interim Committee of the General Assem-
bly on the changes in the Committee's constitu-
tion, its duration or its terms of reference which
are considered desirable in the light of experience,
Affirming that, for the effective performance
of the duties specifically conferred upon the Gen-
eral Assembly by the Charter in relation to mat-
ters concerning the maintenance of international
peace and security ( Articles 11 and 35), the pro-
motion of international co-operation in the politi-
cal field (Article 13), and the peaceful adjustment
of any situation likely to impair the general wel-
fare or friendly relations among nations ( Article
14), it is necessary to continue the Interim Com-
mittee for the purpose of considering such mat-
ters and reporting with conclusions to the Gen-
eral Assembly,
Recognizing fully the primary responsibility of
the Security Council for prompt and effective
action for the maintenance of international peace
and security ( Article 24),
Resolves that:
1. There shall !Je re-established an Interim
Committee of the General Assembly, to meet
when the General Assembly is not actually in
regular session, on which each Member of the
General Assembly shall have the right to appoint
one representative;
2. The Interim Committee, as a subsidiary
organ of the General Assembly established in ac-
cordance with Article 22 of the Charter, shall
• See Official Records of the foi.rth session of the Cen-
tral Assembly, Supplement No. 11.
17
assist the General Assembly in the performanct
of its functions by discharging the following
duties:
(a) To consider and report with conclusions
to the General Assembly on such matters as may
he referred to the Committee by or under the
authority of the General Assembly;
( b) To consider and report with conclusions
to the General Assembly on any dispute or any
situation which, in virtue of Articles 11 (para-
graph 2), 14 or 35 of the Charter, has been
proposed for inclusion in the agenda of the Gen-
eral Assembly by any Member of the United
Nations, or by any non-member State under
Articles 11 ( paragraph 2) or 35, or has been
brought before the General Assembly by the
Security Council, provided the Committee pre-
viously determines the matter to be both impor-
tant and requiring preliminary study. Such deter-
mination shall be made by a majority of two-
thirds of the members present and voting, unless
the matter is one referred to the General Assem-
bly by the Security Council, in which case a
simple majority will suffice;
(c) To c·onsider systematically, using the rec-
ommendations and studies of the Interim Com-
mittee
contained
in documents A/6056
and
A/ AC.18/91, 7 the further implementation of that
part of Article 11 ( paragraph 1) relating to the
general principles of co-operation in the mainte-
nance of international peace and security, and of
that part of Article 13 (paragraph la) which
deals with the promotion of international co-
operation in the political field, and to report with
conclusions to the General Assembly;
(d) To consider, in connexion with any matter
under discussion by the Interim Committee,
whether occasion may require the summoning of
a special session of the General Assembly and,
if the Committee deems that a session is required,
so to advise the Secretary-General in order that
he may obtain the views of the Members of the
United Nations thereon ;
( c) To conduct investigations and appoint
commissions of inquiry within the scope of the
Committee's duties, as it may deem useful and
necessary, provided that decisions to conduct such
investigations or inquiries shall be made by a
:wo-thirds majority of the members present and
voting. An investigation or inquiry elsewhere
than at the Headquarters of the United Nations
shall not be conducted without the consent of the
State or States in whose territory it is to take
place;
(j) To report to the General Assembly, should
the occasion arise, on :iny changes in the Com-
mittee's constitution or its terms of reference
which may be considered desirable in the light of
experience ;
3. The Interim Committee is authorized to
request advisory opinions of the International
Conrt of Justice on legal questions arising within
the scope of the Committee's activities;
4. In discharging its duties, the Interim Com-
111itt\'e shall at all times take into account the
responsibilities of the Security Council under the
6 See O J1icial Records of the third session of the General
Assembly, Supplement No. 10.
.
1 See () Oicial Records of the fourth .<csswn of the Gen-
eral ,·I ssnn/,/y, Suppiement No. 11, annex 1.
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UN Project. “A/RES/294(IV).” UN Project, https://un-project.org/votes/resolution/A-RES-294(IV)/. Accessed .