A/RES/719(VIII) GA

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE AD HOC POLITICAL COMMITTEE CONTENTS Page 718 (VIII). Admission of new Members (23 October 1953) (item 22)........ 5 719 (VIII). Treatment of people of Indian origin in the Union of South Africa (11 November 1953) (item 20) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . . . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . 5 720 (VIII). Report of the Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East ( 27 November 1953) (item 19) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 721 (VIII). The question of race conflict in the South Africa resulting from the policies of apartheid of the Government of the Union of South Africa (8 December 1953) (item 21) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 718 (Vlll). AdmiHio.o of new Members The General Assembly, Having examined the report 1 of the Special Com- mittee on Admission of New Members, Considering that universality of membership in the United Nations is subject only to the provisions of the Charter, Considering that the aims of the Charter of the United Nations would be furthered through the co- operation of all peace-loving States, Believing that a new effort to find a solution to this problem should be without prejudice to the juridical positions maintained by individual Members of the United Nations and to any further consideration of the subject by the General Assembly, 1. Decides to establish a Committee of Good Of- fices, consisting of the representatives of Egypt, the Netherlands and Peru, empowered to consult with members of the Security Council with the object of exploring the possibilities of reaching an understanding which would facilitate the admission of new Members in accordance with Article 4 of the Charter ; 2. Requests the Committee of Good Offices to sub- mit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its eighth or, at the latest, at its ninth session. 453rd plenary meeting, 23 October 1953. 719 (Vlll). Treatment of people of Indian origin in the Union of South Africa The General Assembly 1. Recalls that at its first, second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh sessions it has given consideration to the question of the treatment of people of Indian origin in the Union of South Africa; 2. Further recalls: (a) That resolution 44 (I) of 8 December 1946 expressed the opinion that the treatment of Indians 1 See document A/'2400. 5 in the Union of South Africa should be in conform- ity with the international obligations under the agree- ments concluded between the Governments of India and the Union of South Africa and the relevant pro- visions of the Charter and requested the two Govern- ments to report to the General Assembly on the meas- ures adopted to this effect; (b) That resolution 265 (III) of 14 May 1949 in- vited the Governments of India, Pakistan and the Union of South Africa to enter into discussion at a round table conference, taking into consideration the Pur- poses and Principles of the Charter and the Declara- tion of Human Rights; (c) That resolution 395 (V) of 2 December 1950 held that a policy of "racial segregation" ( apartheid) was necessarily based on doctrines of racial discrim- ination; repeated its recommendation that a round table conference be held; and further recommended that, in the event of failure to hold a conference or reach agreement thereat, a commission of three mem- bers be set up to assist the parties in carrying through appropriate negotiations ; (d) That resolution 511 (VI) of 12 January 1952 reaffirmed the recommendation of resolution 395 (V) that a three-member commission be established and further requested the Secretary-General, in the event of failure to establish such a commission, to lend his assistance to the Governments concerned and if neces- sary to appoint an individual who would render any additional assistance deemed advisable; (e) That resolution 615 (VII) of 5 December 1952 established a three-member United Nations Good Of- fices Commission to arrange and assist in negotiations between the Governments concerned in order that a satisfactory solution in accordance with the Purposes and Principles of the Charter and the Universal Dec- laration of Human Rights might be achieved; 3. Also recalls that resolutions 395 (V), 511 (VI) and 615 (VII) successively called on the Government of the Union of South Africa to refrain from im- plementing .or enforcing the provisions of the Group Areas Act; 6 General Assembly-Eighth Session 4. Takes note of the report 2 of the United Nations Good Offices Commission, and in particular its con- clusion that "in view of the response of the Govern- ment of the Union of South Africa, it has been unable to carry out its task to arrange and assist in negotia- tions between the Governments concerned" ; 5. Expresses its regret that the Government of the Union of South Africa: (a) Has refused to make use of the Commission's good offices or to utilize any of the alternative pro- cedures for the settlement of the problem recommended by the four previous resolutions of the General As- sembly; ( b) Has continued to implement the provisions of the Group Areas Act in spite of the provisions of three previous resolutions; ( c) Is proceeding with further legislation contrary to the Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including the Immigrants Regulation Amend- ment Bill which seeks to prohibit the entry into South Africa of wives and children of South African nationals of Indian origin ; 6. Considers that these actions of the Government of the Union of South Africa are not in keeping with its obligations and responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations; 7. Decides to continue the United Nations Good Offices Commission and urges the Government of the Union of South Africa to co-operate with that Com- mission; 8. Requests the Commission to report to the Gen- eral Assembly at its next regular session the extent of progress achieved, together with its own views on the problem and any proposals which, in its opinion, may lead to a peaceful settlement of it; 9. Again calls upon the Government of the Union of South Africa to refrain from implementing the provisions of the Group Areas Act; 10. Decides to include this item in the provisional agenda of the ninth session of the General Assembly. 457th plenary meeting, 11 November 1953. 720 (VIIl). Report of the Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Pal- estine Refugees in the Near East A The General Assembly, Recal,ling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 Decem- ber 1948, 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, 393 (V) of 2 December 1950, 513 (VI) of 26 January 1952 and 614 (VII) of 6 November 1952, Having examined the report 3 of the Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Pales- tine Refugees in the Near East and the special report 4 of the Director and the Advisory Commission of that Agency, Noting that programme agreements envisaging the commitment of approximately $120 million have been signed by UNRWA with the governments of several Near Eastern countries, pursuant to the plan endorsed 2 See document A/2473. 3 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Eighth Session, Supplement No. 12. 4 See document A/2470/ Add. 1. by the General Assembly in resolution 513 (VI), but that expectations as regards the execution of the proj- ects programme have not bee1:1 realized, Noting also that the situation of the refugees con- tinues to be a matter of grave concern, I. Decides, without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 11 of resolution 194 (III), or to the provi- sions of paragraph 4 of resolution 393 (V), that the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East shall be extended until 30 June 1955, and that its programme shall be again subject to review at the ninth session of the General Assembly; 2. Authorizes the Agency to adopt a budget for relief amounting to $24.8 million for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1954, subject to such adjustments as may be attributable to refugee employment on projects, or as may be necessary to maintain adequate standards, and to adopt a provisional budget for relief of $18 million for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1955; 3. Considers that the projects fund previously au- thorized by the General Assembly in paragraph 2 of resolution 513 (VI) should be maintained at $200 mil- lion until 30 June 1955, and urges UNRWA and the governments of the Near Eastern countries concerned to continue to seek acceptable projects to enable the fund to be utilized for the purposes for which it is intended; 4. Requests the Negotiating Committee for Extra- Budgetary Funds to seek the funds required to meet the current needs of the relief programmes and to invite governments to take into account the need for the additional pledges which will be required to meet the total programme now established at $292.8 mil- lion. B The General Assembly, 458th plenary meeting, 27 November 1953. Having noted that the present memb~rship of the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, established pursuant to paragraph 8 of General Assembly resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, is composed of representatives of Egypt, France, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of Amer- ica, Noting further that it is in the general interest that other contributing countries join the Advisory Com- mission, Authorizes the Advisory Commission to increase its membership by not more than two additional members. 458th plenary meeting, 27 November 1953. 721 (VIII). The· question of race conftict in South Africa resulting from the policies of apartheid of the Government of the Union of South Africa The General, Assembly, Hooing considered the report 5 of the United Na- tions Commission on the Racial Situation in the Union 5 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Eighth Ses- sion, Supplement No. 16, document A/2505.

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