Having considered the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to Equatorial Guinea,3 Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and its resolution 2067 (XX) of 16 December 1965," Recalling the Basic Law of 1963 which recognized Fernando Póo and Río Muni as one entity thereafter to be called Equatorial Guinea, and the declaration by the administering Power of its intention to grant independence to Equatorial Guinea as a single entity, Taking into account the declarations of the administering Power that it would accede to the desires of the people of the Territory for independence whenever they so requested, Noting the desire of the overwhelming majority of the people consulted that the Territory should become independent not later than July 1968, Having noted the statement of the representative of the administering Power that a constitutional conference will be convened early in 1967, Recognizing the need for further measures to promote the economic, social and educational advancement of the people of the Territory, 1. Approves the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to Equatorial Guinea, and endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained therein; " 2. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of Equatorial Guinea to 3 U.N. doc. A/6300/Rev. 1, ch. IX. Text in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pp. 110-111. Text in U.N. doc. A/6014, p. 53. See U.N. doc. A/6300/Rev. 1, ch. IX, arnex, paragraphs 286-310. A Subcommittee of the Committee of 24 visited Equatorial Guinea in August 1966. Among its recommendations was the one taken note of in Resolution 2230 (XXI) that a date for independence should be fixed not later than July 1968. self-determination and independence in accordance with the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV); 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Government of Spain for having invited the Special Committee to visit the Territory and for the co-operation rendered to the Sub-Committee on Equatorial Guinea of the Special Committee during its visit to the Territory; 4. Invites the administering Power to implement as soon as possible the following measures: (a) Removal of all restrictions on political activities and establishment of full democratic freedoms; (b) Institution of an electoral system based on universal adult suffrage and the holding, before independence, of a general election for the whole Territory on the basis of a unified electoral roll; (c) Transfer of effective power to the government resulting from this election; 5. Requests the administering Power to ensure that the Territory accedes to independence as a single political and territorial unit and that no step is taken which would jeopardize the territorial integrity of Equatorial Guinea; 6. Requests the administering Power, in accordance with the wishes of the people of Equatorial Guinea, to set a date for independence as recommended by the Special Committee and, for this purpose, to convene a conference in which the various political parties and all sections of the population would be fully represented; 7. Further requests the administering Power to establish in law and in practice full equality of political, economic and social rights; 8. Urges the administering Power to take effective measures, including increased assistance, to ensure the rapid economic development of the Territory and to promote the educational and social advancement of the people, and requests the specialized agencies to render all possible assistance towards this end; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate action, in con sultation with the administering Power and the Special Committee, to ensure the presence of the United Nations in the Territory for the supervision of the preparation for, and the holding of, the election envisaged in paragraph 4 (b) above, and to participate in any other measures leading towards the independence of the Territory; 10. Further requests the SecretaryGeneral to transmit the present resolution to the Administering Power and to report to the Special Committee on its implementation; 11. Decides to maintain the question of Equatorial Guinea on its agenda. 1500th plenary meeting. FRENCH SOMALILAND Document VIII-25 Reply Made by the President of the French Republic (General de Gaulle) to a Question Asked at a News Conference, October 28, 1966 (Excerpt)' The Future of French Somaliland In 1966, France will have devoted to Somaliland some $24 million, and she was ready to devote $30 million next year. Really, I do not think that, anywhere, has economic and social aid, that is, France's humane task, been more unselfish. She has done it up to now wholeheartedly and out of the affection and esteem that she feels for a very deserving population which has given her, for so long, so many proofs of its attachment. And I cannot forget, in particular, the valiant Somali battalion that Free France had recruited and that won fame during the Liberation of France, particularly at the capture of Royan. And yet, when this August 25th and 26th, the President of the Republic 'French Embassy Press and Information Service, New York, Speeches and Press Conferences, No. 253A. came to pay a visit, on behalf of France, to the city of Djibouti, he was greeted the whole length of his trip by many posters and cries of "independence." That day, and the following days, violent clashes occurred on the same theme in most parts of the city. However, we know that after the adoption of the 1958 Constitution, voted by French Somaliland by a vast majority, the Territory had the possibility of deciding on its future. And then, its elected assembly had unanimously chosen the status of Territory of the French Republic, on condition of the assurance given by the Government that the terms for it could be modified, if need be-which, moreover, is explicitly stipulated in the Constitution. And yet I repeat-at the time of my visit, the question was raised in a way that can be termed urgent and vociferous. Well, so be it. But then, one must know what one wants. France, given the burdens that she bears, has to know whether or not the population of French Somaliland wishes to remain with her. She is therefore going to ask this of Somaliland, and after a period sufficient for the citizens consulted by referendum to have time to decide in full knowledge of the facts. If the answer were negative, obviously France would withdraw her representatives, her aid and her forces from the Territory, and she would leave it to those who are asking the population to demand independence to assume the responsibilities. Some of them, it seems, imagine that, with separation being chosen and the Territory becoming a sovereign State theoretically, France-who would no longer need be concerned there would still continue to provide for expenses and needs, would have her troops fight to prevent the neighbors from entering. This ridiculous illusion should be dispelled. For France would certainly not commit her means and her soldiers in order to support unavailingly the semblance of a State that would be rendered virtually unviable owing to the small number and division of its population, the scarceness of its resources, the weakness of its frontiers, the designs of its neighbors, Ethiopia and Somalia-which, in comparison to this future State, are giants-and also given all the appeals that, on the in The referendum was to be held before July 1967. side, would constantly be addressed to one or the other, and given, lastly, the situation in the Territory's region of the world, which is highly agitated, as I said earlier. If, to the contrary, the answer is positive, then France will continue to consider Somaliland as being linked with her own future. She will continue to furnish it with the aid and protection that she owes to those that are part of herself. She will continue to arrange there, step by step, for the human training, economic ascent, social advancement and external influence that are possible with her assistance, its being understood, as she has several times affirmed, and as you recalled earlier-I stated it myself this August 26th in Djibouti before the Territorial Assembly-its being understood, as will be made clear by questioning every man and woman, that the government and the internal administration will have to evolve, on the basis of development there." IFNI AND SPANISH SAHARA Document VIII-26 Resolution 2229 (XXI), Adopted by the U.N. General Assembly, December 20, 1966 10 Question of Ifni and Spanish Sahara The General Assembly, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on On Dec. 20, 1966, the U.N. General Assembly adopted Resolution 2228 (XXI), which reaffirmed the inalienable right of the people of French Somaliland to selfdetermination and independence, called on France to insure that the right of selfdetermination would be exercised freely and democratically on the basis of universal adult suffrage, and requested France, in cooperation with the U.N. SecretaryGeneral, to make arrangements for a United Nations presence before, and supervision during, the referendum. This resolution was adopted by a vote of 95 to 1 (Portugal), with 18 abstentions (including the U.S.). France did not participate in the debate or the voting. 19 U.N. doc. A/6316, pp. 72-73. This resolution was adopted by a vote of 105 to 2 (Portugal and Spain), with 8 abstentions (including the U.S.). Africa |