American Foreign Policy, 1950-1955: Parts I-IX

resolution 222 (III) of 3 November 1948, a decision may be taken by the General Assembly on the continuation or cessation of the transmission of information required by Chapter XI of the Charter;

4. Reasserts that each concrete case should be considered and decided upon in the light of the particular circumstances of that case and taking into account the right of self-determination of peoples; 5. Considers that the validity of any form of association between a Non-Self-Governing Territory and a metropolitan or any other country essentially depends on the freely expressed will of the people at the time of the taking of the decision;

6. Considers that the manner in which Territories referred to in Chapter XI of the Charter can become fully self-governing is primarily through the attainment of independence, although it is recognized that self-government can also be achieved by association with another State or group of States if this is done freely and on the basis of absolute equality;

7. Reaffirms that the factors, while serving as a guide in determining whether the obligations as set forth in Chapter XI of the Charter shall exist, should in no way be interpreted as a hindrance to the attainment of a full measure of self-government by a Non-SelfGoverning Territory;

8. Further reaffirms that, for a Territory to be deemed self-governing in economic, social or educational affairs, it is essential that its people shall have attained a full measure of self-government;

9. Instructs the Committee on Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories to study any documentation transmitted hereafter under resolution 222 (III) in the light of the list of factors approved by the present resolution, and other relevant considerations which may arise from each concrete case of cessation of information;

10. Recommends that the Committee on Information from NonSelf-Governing Territories take the initiative of proposing modifications at any time to improve the list of factors, as may seem necessary in the light of circumstances.

ANNEX

List of Factors

FACTORS INDICATIVE OF THE ATTAINMENT OF INDEPENDENCE OR OF OTHER SEPARATE SYSTEMS OF SELF-GOVERNMENT

First part

FACTORS INDICATIVE OF THE ATTAINMENT OF INDEPENDENCE

A. International status

1. International responsibility. Full international responsibility of the Territory for the acts inherent in the exercise of its external sovereignty and for the corresponding acts in the administration of its internal affairs.

2. Eligibility for membership in the United Nations.

3. General international relations. Power to enter into direct relations of every kind with other governments and with international institutions and to negotiate, sign and ratify international instruments. 4. National defence. Sovereign right to provide for its national defence.

B. Internal self-government

1. Form of government. Complete freedom of the people of the Territory to choose the form of government which they desire.

2. Territorial government. Freedom from control or interference by the government of another State in respect of the internal government (legislature, executive, judiciary, and administration of the Territory). 3. Economic, social and cultural jurisdiction. Complete autonomy in respect of economic, social and cultural affairs.

Second part

FACTORS INDICATIVE OF THE ATTAINMENT OF OTHER SEPARATE SYSTEMS OF SELF-GOVERNMENT

A. General

1. Opinion of the population. The opinion of the population of the Territory, freely expressed by informed and democratic processes, as to the status or change in status which they desire.

2. Freedom of choice. Freedom of choosing on the basis of the right of self-determination of peoples between several possibilities, including independence.

3. Voluntary limitation of sovereignty. Degree of evidence that the attribute or attributes of sovereignty which are not individually exercised will be collectively exercised by the larger entity thus associated and the freedom of the population of a Territory which has associated itself with the metropolitan country to modify at any time this status through the expression of their will by democratic means.

4. Geographical considerations. Extent to which the relations of the Non-Self-Governing Territory with the capital of the metropolitan government may be affected by circumstances arising out of their respective geographical positions, such as separation by land, sea or other natural obstacles; and extent to which the interests of boundary States may be affected, bearing in mind the general principle of goodneighbourliness referred to in Article 74 of the Charter.

5. Ethnic and cultural considerations. Extent to which the populations are of different race, language or religion or have a distinct cultural heritage, interests or aspirations, distinguishing them from the peoples of the country with which they freely associate themselves. 6. Political advancement. Political advancement of the population sufficient to enable them to decide upon the future destiny of the Territory with due knowledge.

B. International status

1. General international relations. Degree or extent to which the Territory exercises the power to enter freely into direct relations of every kind with other governments and with international institutions and to negotiate, sign and ratify international instruments freely. Degree or extent to which the metropolitan country is bound, through constitutional provisions or legislative means, by the freely expressed wishes of the Territory in negotiating, signing and ratifying international conventions which may influence conditions in the Territory. 2. Change of political status. The right of the metropolitan country or the Territory to change the political status of that Territory in the light of the consideration whether that Territory is or is not subject to any claim or litigation on the part of another State.

3. Eligibility for membership in the United Nations.

C. Internal self-government

1. Territorial government. Nature and measure of control or interference, if any, by the government of another State in respect of the internal government, for example, in respect of the following:

Legislature: The enactment of laws for the Territory by an indigenous body whether fully elected by free and democratic processes or lawfully constituted in a manner receiving the free consent of the population;

Executive: The selection of members of the executive branch of the government by the competent authority in the Territory receiving consent of the indigenous population, whether that authority is hereditary or elected, having regard also to the nature and measure of control, if any, by an outside agency on that authority, whether directly or indirectly exercised in the constitution and conduct of the executive branch of the government;

Judiciary: The establishment of courts of law and the selection of judges.

2. Participation of the population. Effective participation of the population in the government of the Territory: (a) Is there an adequate and appropriate electoral and representative system? (b) Is this electoral system conducted without direct or indirect interference from a foreign government?

3. Economic, social and cultural jurisdiction. Degree of autonomy in respect of economic, social and cultural affairs, as illustrated by the degree of freedom from economic pressure as exercised, for example, by a foreign minority group which, by virtue of the help of a foreign Power, has acquired a privileged economic status prejudicial to the general economic interest of the people of the Territory; and by the degree of freedom and lack of discrimination against the indigenous population of the Territory in social legislation and social develop

ments.

Third part

FACTORS INDICATIVE OF THE FREE ASSOCIATION OF A TERRITORY ON EQUAL BASIS WITH THE METROPOLITAN OR OTHER COUNTRY AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THAT COUNTRY OR IN ANY OTHER FORM

A. General

1. Opinion of the population. The opinion of the population of the Territory, freely expressed by informed and democratic processes, as to the status or change in status which they desire.

2. Freedom of choice. The freedom of the population of a NonSelf-Governing Territory which has associated itself with the metropolitan country as an integral part of that country or in any other form to modify this status through the expression of their will by democratic means.

3. Geographical considerations. Extent to which the relations of the Territory with the capital of the central government may be affected by circumstances arising out of their respective geographical positions, such as separation by land, sea or other natural obstacles. The right of the metropolitan country or the Territory to change the political status of that Territory in the light of the consideration whether that Territory is or is not subject to any claim or litigation on the part of another State.

4. Ethnic and cultural considerations. Extent to which the population are of different race, language or religion or have a distinct cultural heritage, interests or aspirations, distinguishing them from the peoples of the country with which they freely associate themselves. 5. Political advancement. Political advancement of the population sufficient to enable them to decide upon the future destiny of the Territory with due knowledge.

6. Constitutional considerations. Association by virtue of a treaty or bilateral agreement affecting the status of the Territory, taking into account (i) whether the constitutional guarantees extend equally to the associated Territory, (ii) whether there are powers in certain matters constitutionally reserved to the Territory or to the central authority, and (iii) whether there is provision for the participation of the Territory on a basis of equality in any changes in the constitutional system of the State.

B. Status

1. Legislative representation. Representation without discrimination in the central legislative organs on the same basis as other inhabitants and regions.

2. Participation of the population. Effective participation of the population in the government of the Territory: (a) Is there an adequate and appropriate electoral and representative system? (b) Is

this electoral system conducted without direct or indirect interference from a foreign government?!

3. Citizenship. Citizenship without discrimination on the same basis as other inhabitants.

4. Government officials. Eligibility of officials from the Territory to all public offices of the central authority, by appointment or election, on the same basis as those from other parts of the country.

C. Internal constitutional conditions

1. Suffrage. Universal and equal suffrage, and free periodic elections, characterized by an absence of undue influence over and coercion of the voter or of the imposition of disabilities on particular political parties.2

2. Local rights and status. In a unitary system equal rights and status for the inhabitants and local bodies of the Territory as enjoyed by inhabitants and local bodies of other parts of the country; in a federal system an identical degree of self-government for the inhabitants and local bodies of all parts of the federation.

3. Local officials. Appointment or election of officials in the Territory on the same basis as those in other parts of the country.

1 (Footnote in original:) For example, the following questions would be relevant: (i) Has each adult inhabitant equal power (subject to special safeguards for minorities) to determine the character of the government of the Territory?

(ii) Is this power exercised freely, i. e., is there an absence of undue influence over and coercion of the voter and of the imposition of disabilities on particular political parties?

Some tests which can be used in the application of this factor are as follows: (a) The existence of effective measures to ensure the democratic expression of the will of the people;

(b) The existence of more than one political party in the Territory;

(d) The existence of legal prohibitions on the exercise of undemocratic practices in the course of elections;

(e) The existence for the individual elector of a choice between candidates of differing political parties;

(f) The absence of "martial law" and similar measures at election times; (iii) Is each individual free to express his political opinions, to support or oppose any political party or cause, and to criticize the government of the day? (Footnote in original:) For example, the following tests would be relevant: (a) The existence of effective measures to ensure the democratic expression of the will of the people;

(b) The existence of more than one political party in the Territory;

(d) The existence of legal prohibitions on the exercise of undemocratic practices in the course of elections;

(e) The existence for the individual elector of a choice between candidates of differing political parties;

(f) The absence of "martial law" and similar measures at election times;

(g) Freedom of each individual to express his political opinions, to support or oppose any political party or cause, and to criticize the government of the day.

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