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The Legal Significance of the Declarations of the General Assembly of the United Nations pp 163–185Cite as

The Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples

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Abstract

The Declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples was the result of efforts inspired by the speech1 delivered by Premier Kruschev of the Soviet Union to the General Assembly of the United Nations at its fifteenth session. A heated debate following the submission of a draft declaration2 by the Soviet Premier culminated in the passage of Resolution 1514(XV) whose contents were drafted and submitted by forty-three powers,3 mainly African, Asian and Latin American.

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References

  1. U.N. Gen. Ass. Off. Rec. 15th Sess., Plenary 68 (A/PV.869) (1960).

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  2. U.N. Gen. Ass. Off. Rec. 15th Sess., Annexes, Agenda Item 87, at 2 (A/4502 and Gorr. 1) (1960).

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  3. Id., at 8 (A/L.323 and Add. 1-6) (1960).

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  10. See note 7.

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  17. E.g., see Security Council resolution of 9th June 1961, U.N. Security Council Off. Rec. 18th year, Supp. April-June (S/4835), and of 31st July 1963, Id., Supp. July-September (S/5380 and Corr. 1) on Portuguese territories.

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  20. G.A. resolution 637A & C(XVII), 16th December 1952.

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  21. Preambular paragraph 2 reads: Conscious of the need for the creation of conditions of stability and well-being and peaceful and friendly relations based on respect for the principles of equal rights and self-determination of all peoples, and of universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Preambular paragraph 8 reads: “Affirming that peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international economic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and international law,” Preambular paragraph 11 reads: Convinced that all peoples have an inalienable right to complete freedom, the exercise of their sovereignty and the integrity of their national territory, Operative paragraph 2 reads: All peoples have the right to self-determination; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

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  22. Higgins, op. cit. supra note 6, at 104.

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  23. G.A. resolution 1747(XVI), 28th June 1962.

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  24. Higgins, op, cit, supra note 6, at 105.

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  25. See note 21 supra.

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  26. The full text of the paragraph is as follows: 5. Immediate steps shall be taken, in Trust and Non-self-Governing Territories or all other territories which have not yet attained independence, to transfer all powers to the peoples of those territories, without any conditions or reservations, in accordance with their freely expressed will and desire, without any distinction as to race, creed or colour, in order to enable them to enjoy compete iddependence and freedom.

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  27. Operative paragraph 4 reads: 4. All armed action or repressive measures of all kinds directed against dependent peoples shall cease in order to enable them to exercise peacefully and freely their right to complete independence, and the integrity of their national territory shall be respected.

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  28. IV U.N. Repertory of Practice, at 143.

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  29. Charter of the United Nations, Article 73b.

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  30. IV U.N.Repertory of Practice, at 144. See G.A. resolution 853(IX), 14th December 1954.

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  31. By G.A. resolution 944(X) of 15th December 1955, the Assembly accepted the recommendation of a visiting mission to both the French and British sections of Togoland that the wishes of the inhabitants be ascertained by plebiscite. See also G.A. resolution 1350(XIII), 13th March 1959 on British Gamerouns and G.A. resolution 1569 (XV), 18th December 1960 on Western Samoa.

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  32. G.A. resolution 1182(XII) 29th November 1957 on French Togoland.

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  33. G.A. resolution 1349(XIII) 13th March 1959 on French Gamerouns.

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  34. G.A. resolution 65(1) 14th December 1946 on South-West Africa.

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  35. G.A. resolution 1747(XVI), 28th June 1962 on Southern Rhodesia; G.A. resolution 1817 (XVII) 18th December 1962 on Basutoland, Swaziland and Bechuanaland; G.A. resolution 1811 (XVII) 17th December 1962 on Zanzibar; G.A. resolution 1949(XVIII) 11th December 1963 on Aden.

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  36. G.A. resolutions 1747(XVI) and 1755(XVII) 12th October on Southern Rhodesia; G.A. resolution 1817(XVII) and 1954(XVIII) 11th December 1963 on Bechuanaland, Swaziland and Basutoland. In both these cases, it called for the abrogation of existing constitutions. G.A. resolution 1812(XVII) 17th December 1962 on Kenya; G.A. resolution 1951 (XVIII) 11th December 1963 on Fiji.

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  37. G.A. resolution 1747(XVI) on Southern Rhodesia; G.A. resolution 1807(XVII) 14th December 1962 on Portuguese territories; G.A. resolution 1819(XVII) on Angola; G.A. resolution 1949(XVIII) 11th December 1963 on Aden.

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  38. See reports of Special Committee on implementation of the Declaration for 1962 U.N. Gen. Ass. Off. Rec. 17th Sess., Annexes, Agenda Item No. 25 (A/5238) and for 1963, Id., 18th Sess., Annexes, Agenda Item (A/5446/Rev. 1). See also report of Special Committee on Portuguese Territories, U.N. Gen. Ass. Off. Rec. 17th Sess., Annexes, Agenda Item No. 54 (A/5160 and Add. 1 & 2). This Committee was dissolved by General Assembly resolution 1809(XVII) 14th December 1962.

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  39. The issue was first debated in the Fourth Committee at the Fourteenth session of the Assembly. Dr. Jagan of British Guiana addressed the Committee at the sixteenth session. Petitioners from Portuguese Guinea were also heard.

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  40. It sent missions to the United Kingdom in 1962 and 1963 to discuss Southern Rhodesia (see reports of the Special Committee on implementation of the Declaration for 1962 and 1963, op. cit. supra note 37). The Sub-committees scheduled to visit Aden and British Guiana were refused entry. The one scheduled to visit Aden went to neighboring territories and the one for British Guiana worked at the headquaters in New York. But following an invitation from the Sultan of Oman, the Secretary-General sent a representative to the Sultanate to study the situation there. For his report, see U.N. Doc. A/5566. By resolution 1948(XVIII) 1 lth December 1963, the assembly appointed an ad hoc Committee of 5 Members to examine the question of Oman. By resolution 1956(XVIII) 11th December 1963, the Assembly endorsed the procedures of the Special Committee on implementation of the Declaration. It called upon the administering Members to cooperate fully with the Committee and to facilitate the task of the sub-committees and visiting groups.

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  41. See the Draft Covenants on human rights. See also Article 23 of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 21, paragrahp 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights expresses similar ideas.

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  43. See notes 21, 25, and 26 supra.

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  45. See G.A. resolution 637A(VII).

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  46. See G.A. resolutions 742(VIII) on Factors and 1541 (XV).

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  48. Further emphasis of the right to immediate independence is to be found in operative paragraphs 4 and 5. See notes 25 and 26.

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  49. See e.g., G.A. resolution 565(VI) and 637(VII). See also note 16.

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  50. G.A. resolution 1810(XVII).

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  51. See report of Special Committee on implementation of the Declaration, U.N. Gen. Ass. Off. Rec. 18th Sess., Annexes, Agenda Item No. 23 (A/5446/Rev. 1) annex 1.

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  52. G.A. resolutions 545(VI) and 637(VII).

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  53. G.A. resolutions 545(VI), 565(VI), 637A & C(VII), 1188(XII).

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  54. G.A. resolutions 1654(XVI) 27th November 1961, 1810(XVII) 17th December 1962, 1699(XVI) 19th December 1961, on Portuguese territories, 1817(XVII) 18th December 1962, on Swaziland, Basutoland and Bechuanaland, 1951 (XVIII) 11th December 1963 on Fiji 1811 (XVII) 17th December 1962 on Zanzibar.

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  55. G.A. resolutions 1952(XVIII) 11th December 1963 on Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) 1955(XVIII) 1 lth December 1963 onBritish Guiana, 1817(XVII) on Swaziland, Bechuanaland and Basutoland. For resolutions adopted by the Special Committee on implementation of the Declaration, see its report, op. cit. supra note 50 at 184 and 183.

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  57. IV Repertory of Practice, at 219. But see G.A. resolutions 558(VI), 752(VIII) and 858(IX) inviting target dates from administering Members of Trust territories.

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  60. Canada Id. at 1274.

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  62. G.A. resolution 1573 (XV), 19th December 1960.

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  63. G.A. resolution 1807(XVII), 14th December 1962. Even the Southern Rhodesian question has been characterised as a threat to the peace — G.A. resolution 1889(XVII).

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  65. U.N. Doc. A/5170 and Add. 1 Corr. 1. G.A. resolution 1752(XVII) 21 September 1962.

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  66. In spite of the objectives set out in G.A. resolutions 1579 (XV) 20th December 1960 and 1743 (XVII) 23rd February 1962 on Ruanda-Urundi, the Assembly was forced to admit two separate states at the eighteenth session.

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  67. G.A. resolutions 1954(XVIII) 11th December 1963, and 1817(XVII) 18th December 1962.

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  69. G.A. resolution 1970(XVIII).

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  70. G.A. resolution 742 (VIII). The power was exercised in respect of Puerto Rico, Eastern Greenland, Netherlands Antilles and Surinam, Alaska and Hawaii, see note 46.

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  72. Preambular paragraph 5 reads: “Considering the important role of the United Nations in assisting the movement for independence in Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories.”

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  74. Cambodia, U.N. Gen. Ass. Off. Rec. 15th Sess., Plenary 989 (A/PV.926); Ceylon, Id., Plenary 999 (A/PV.926); Cyprus, Id., Plenary 1254 (A/PV.945); Guatemala, Id., Plenary 1096 (A/PV.933); Liberia, Id., Plenary 1067 (A/PV.931); Madagascar, Id., Plenary 1234 (A/PV.944); Nepal, Id., Plenary 1134 (A/PV.935); Peru, Id., Plenary 1059 (A/PV.930); Philippine, Id., Plenary 1102 (A/PV.933); Poland, Id., Plenary 1022 (A/PV.928); Saudi Arabia, Id., Plenary 1002 (A/PV.927); Tunisia, Id., Plenary 1041 (A/PV.929); Yugoslavia, Id., Plenary 1027 (A/PV.928).

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  81. For a statement of this argument, see Shukri, The Concept of Self-Determination in the United Nations 333–356 (1965) (Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of J.S.D. in Columbia Law School).

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Authors
  1. Obed Y. Asamoah LL.B.Hons. (Lond.), LL.M. (Columbia)
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© 1966 Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, Netherlands

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Asamoah, O.Y. (1966). The Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. In: The Legal Significance of the Declarations of the General Assembly of the United Nations. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-9495-2_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-9495-2_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

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