manded of us new ideas and new techniques, and it has forced us to abandon much of the stereotyped thinking of the past. Our African experience of recent years has helped us develop policies and programs that we believe will add materially to Africa's growth and strength, to a truly free and independent Africa, to an Africa able to make increasingly important contributions to the world community. And if we can help Africa attain those goals, we will have taken a memorable and significant step toward assuring peace and security for many generations to come. A. Regional Approaches Toward African Unity [NOTE: The Heads of State and Government of 30 independent African states met in a Summit Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May 22-25, 1963. At that meeting, they adopted the Charter of the Organization of African Unity (post, doc. VIII-8). Also adopted at the meeting were resolutions on Decolonization (post, doc. VIII61), Apartheid and Racial Discrimination (post, doc. VIII-46), Africa and the United Nations (post, doc. VIII-4), General Disarmament (post, doc. X-11), Economic Problems (post, doc. VIII-5), and the Future of the CCTA [Commission for Technical Cooperation in Africa] (post, doc. VIII-6). Supplementary resolutions were passed by the Conference on Social and Labor Matters; Education and Culture; and Health, Sanitation and Nutrition (texts printed in Colin Legum, Pan-Africanism [Rev. ed.; New York: Frederick A. Praeger, Inc., 1965], pp. 300-301). A special resolution established a provisional General Secretariat at Addis Ababa (text ibid., p. 301). An additional resolution thanked the Emperor for his efforts in arranging the Conference (not herein printed). As a result of the establishment of the OAU, several existing African regional groups (see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1962, pp. 787-793) disbanded or altered their orientation: the Ghana-Guinea-Mali union was dissolved on June 3, 1963; the PanAfrican Freedom Movement of Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa (PAFMECSA) disbanded on September 25, 1963; the "Casablanca" and "Monrovia" groups allowed themselves to become dormant; the "Brazzaville" group, known as the Union of African and Malagasy states (UAM), recognized the political supremacy of the OAU and decided formally in March 1964 to continue its activities in nonpolitical areas such as the Afro-Malagasy Organization of Economic Cooperation (OAMCE).] THE SUMMIT CONFERENCE OF INDEPENDENT AFRICAN STATES AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY (OAU) VIII-3 UNITED STATES VIEWS ON “AFRICA'S CONTINUING MARCH TOWARD INDEPENDENCE, UNITY AND FREEDOM": Letter From the President of the United States (Kennedy) to the Conference of African Heads of State, May 22, 1963 1 I am very pleased to have this opportunity to express to you, the representatives of the peoples of Africa, my best wishes and those of the United States Government and the American people. Africa's continuing march toward independence, unity and freedom-principles revered by the American people since the earliest days of our own nationhood-is a vital part of man's historic struggle for human dignity and self-realization. This unprecedented gathering of Heads of States in Addis Ababa clearly attests your devotion: to these principles, and provides a dramatic illustration of African prominence in world affairs. As you seek to achieve the dignity and freedom of the human individual and the rights of men, we share your desire that these objectives may be realized and safeguarded for men everywhere. From your actions other nations may draw renewed inspirations to continue their search for improved ways to understand each other and to cooperate in peace. The United States and the American people wish you success as you commence your deliberations. It is our sincere desire that the high purposes of this Conference shall achieve fulfillment in an atmosphere of integrity and harmony. VIII-4 AFRICA AND THE UNITED NATIONS: Resolution Approved by the Summit Conference of Independent African States, Addis Ababa, May 25, 1963 2 The Summit Conference of Independent African States meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 22 May to 25 May 1963; Believing that the United Nations is an important instrument for the maintenance of peace and security among nations and for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples; Reiterating its desire to strengthen and support the United Nations; Noting with regret that Africa as a region is not equitably represented in the principal organs of the United Nations; 1 White House press release dated May 22, 1963 (text as printed in Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1963, p. 417). President Kennedy's message was read at the opening session of the conference in Addis Ababa by the Chairman, Emperior Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. 2 Department of State files. Convinced of the need for closer co-operation and co-ordination among the African States Members of the United Nations; 1. Reaffirms its dedication to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and its acceptance of all obligations contained in the Charter, including financial obligations; 2. Insists that Africa as a geographical region should have equitable representation in the principal organs of the United Nations, particularly the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council and its Specialized Agencies; * 3. Invites African Governments to instruct their representatives in the United Nations to take all possible steps to achieve a more equitable representation of the African region; 4. Further invites African Governments to instruct their representatives in the United Nations, without prejudice to their membership in and collaboration with the African-Asian Group to constitute a more effective African Group with a permanent Secretariat so as to bring about closer co-operation and better co-ordination in matters of common concern. VIII-5 ECONOMIC PROBLEMS: Resolution Approved by the Summit Conference of Independent African States, Addis Ababa, May 25, 1963 5 The Summit Conference of Independent African States meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 22 May to 25 May 1963; Concerned with the active share of the developing countries in world trade and at the persistent deterioration of the terms of trade in these external commercial relationships; Conscious of the fact that owing to its extreme dependence on the export of primary products, Africa and Madagascar more than any other developing region are adversely affected by persistent deteriorations in export earnings; Convinced of the necessity for concerted action by the African countries and Madagascar in order to ensure a much more remunerative price from the sale of their primary products; Mindful of the need to eliminate the barriers to trade between the African States and thereby to strengthen their economies; Considering that economic development, including the expansion of trade on the basis of fair and remunerative prices, should tend to eliminate the need for external economic aid, and that such external economic aid should be unconditional and should not prejudice the Independence of African States; Considering the imperative necessity for African countries to pool their resources and harmonize their activities in the economic field; Aware of the necessity for the joint utilization of river basin resources, the study of the use of Saharan zones, the coordination of means of transport and communication systems, and the provision of research facilities, all of which serve to stimulate economic growth and expansion of trade, both regionally and inter-regionally; Convinced that the acceleration of the rate of economic and social development of the various African countries lies in the industrialization of these countries and the diversification of their production; Considering the serious problems arising from the great shortage of trained and skilled personnel, the lack of qualified staff, scarce capital resources, grossly inadequate infrastructure, limited outlets for industrial products and the far too inadequate participation of Africans in the economic construction of their countries; 3 Text in American Foreign Policy, 1950–1955: Basic Documents, vol. I, pp. 134-161. 4 See ante, doc. II-9. B Department of State files. Desiring to explore the effects of regional economic groupings of the African economy; Noting with satisfaction that the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa has decided to convene a Conference of African Ministers of Finance, to be held in Khartoum (Sudan) in July 1963, with a view to setting up an African Development Bank; Resolves to: I. Appoint a preparatory economic committee to study, in collaboration with governments and in consultation with the Economic Commission for Africa, inter alia, the following questions and submit their findings to Member States; (a) the possibility of establishing a free trade area between the various African countries; (b) the establishment of a common external tariff to protect the emergent industries and the setting up of a raw material price stabilization fund; (c) the restructuralization of international trade; (d) means for developing trade between African countries by the organization of and participation in African trade fairs and exhibitions and by the granting of transport and transit facilities; (e) the co-ordination of means of transport and the establishment of road, air and maritime companies; (f) the establishment of an African Payments and Clearing Union; (g) a progressive freeing of national currencies from all non-technical external attachments and the establishment of a Pan-African monetary zone; (h) ways and means of effecting the harmonization of existing and future national development plans. II. Invite ECA to request their Executive Secretary to give the Commission of Experts all the necessary support and assistance which it may require in the fulfillment of its assignment; III. Welcome the forthcoming Conference of African Ministers of Finance and give the respective Ministers of Finance instructions to take the necessary measures for the rapid establishment of the African Development Bank; IV. The Summit Conference of Independent African States notes with satisfaction the progress achieved by the Economic Commission for Africa in establishing the Dakar Institute of Economic Development and Planning and affirm their profound interest in that Institute and their intention of giving it appropriate financial and other support. V. Welcome the forthcoming World Conference on Trade and Development which is to examine international trade problems in relation to the economic development of emerging countries; VI. Urge all States concerned to conduct negotiations, in concert, with a view to obtaining from the consumer countries real price stabilization and guaranteed outlets on the world market so that the developing countries may derive considerably greater revenue from international trade. VIII-6 THE FUTURE OF THE COMMISSION FOR TECHNICAL COOPERATION IN AFRICA (CCTA): Resolution Approved by the Summit Conference of Independent African States, May 25, 19639 The Summit Conference of Independent African States meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 22 May to 25 May 1963; "An Agreement was reached at this Conference on August 4, 1963, by 22 African states on the establishment of an African Development Bank, but the Agreement did not go into effect until the following year; for documentation on the work of the Conference and the text of the Agreement, see U.N. docs. E/CN.14/ADB/28 and E/CN.14/ADB/36. U.N. Economic Commission for Africa. 8 See ante, docs. II-40 and 45. 9 Department of State files. Considering that at the last C.C.T.A. session in Dar-es-Salaam in January to February, 1963, the final adoption of the new C.C.T.A. convention was deferred until the Heads of African States had had an opportunity to consider and direct on the role of the C.C.T.A. within the overall context of Pan-African Co-operation; And in view of the fact that Article 23 of this new convention lays down as follows: "Pending the signature and the ratification of this convention as provided in Article 16, the Parties having initialled this convention agree to apply it provisionally as if it had entered into force as from the date of initialling, subject to any decision which may be taken by the Heads of African States at the Conference at Addis Ababa or at any subsequent conference on the role of the C.C.T.A. within the overall context of Pan-African Co-operation." Decides: To reconsider its role in order to bring it eventually within the scope of the organization of African States which will have, as one of its arms, an organ for technical, scientific and cultural co-operation. VIII-7 "I WELCOME THE EFFORT WHICH THE AFRICANS ARE MAKING [TOWARD UNITY]... AND I REGARD IT AS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD": Reply Made by the President (Kennedy) to a Question Asked at a News Conference, Bonn, June 24, 1963 10 VIII-8 THE CHARTER OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY, Signed at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May 25, 1963, Entered Into Force, September 13, 1963 11 We, the Heads of African States and Governments assembled in the City of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Convinced that it is the inalienable right of all people to control their own destiny; 10 Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1963, p. 511. Concerning the visit of President Kennedy to Europe, see ante, docs. IV-21-25 and 26, VI-20-22. 11 Department of State files. The official texts in Amharic, Arabic, French, and English are printed in 479 UNTS 40. The Charter was signed on May 25, 1963 by the Heads of State and Government (or their representatives) for the following countries: Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Léopoldville), Dahomey, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanganyika, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Republic, and Upper Volta. Togo was not represented and did not sign. On Sept. 19, 1963, the Charter was signed on behalf of King Hassan II of Morocco with the following declaration: "The Government of His Majesty the King of Morocco has just signed the Charter of the Organization of African Unity, pursuant to Article XXIV, paragraph 1, of the Charter and in accordance with the statement made by the accredited representative of Morocco to the Summit Conference at the closing plenary meeting to the effect that the Moroccan delegation had no power to sign Docs. VIII-7, 8 |