Resolution on Non-Self-Governing Peoples

I

Non-Self-Governing Peoples

(Chapters XI, XII, and XIII of the Charter)

The United Nations, meeting in its First General Assembly, is keenly aware of the problems and political aspirations of the peoples who have not yet attained a full measure of self-government and who are not directly represented here.

Chapters XI, XII and XIII of the Charter recognize the problems of the non-self-governing peoples as of vital concern to the peace and general welfare of the world community.

By Chapter XI, all the Members of the United Nations which have or assume responsibilities for the administration of territories whose peoples have not yet attained a full measure of self-government recognize the principle that the interests of the inhabitants of these territories are paramount. They accept, as a sacred trust, the obligation to promote to the utmost the well-being of the inhabitants of these territories. To that end they accept certain specific obligations, including the obligation to develop self-government and to assist the inhabitants in the progressive development of their free political institutions.

By Chapters XII and XIII, the Charter provides for the establishment of an international trusteeship system, the basic objectives of which are, among others, to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the inhabitants of trust territories, and to promote their progressive development towards self-government or independence.

The General Assembly regrets that the Trusteeship Council cannot be brought into being at this First Part of the First Session, not because of any lack of desire to do so but because, before the Trusteeship Council can be established, trusteeship agreements must be concluded. The General Assembly holds the view that any delay in putting into effect the system of international trusteeship prevents the implementation of the principles of the trusteeship system, as declared in the Charter, and deprives the populations of such territories as may be brought under the trusteeship system of the opportunity of enjoying the advantages arising from the implementation of these principles.

With a view to expediting the conclusion of these agreements and the establishment of the Trusteeship Council, the Preparatory Com

Members of the United Nations which are now administering territories held under mandate to undertake practical steps, in concert with the other States directly concerned, for the implementation of Article 79 of the Charter.

Without waiting for the recommendation of the Preparatory Commission to be considered by the General Assembly, the Members of the United Nations administering territories held under mandate took the initiative in making declarations in regard to these territories.

THEREFORE

WITH RESPECT TO CHAPTER XI OF THE CHARter, the General ASSEMBLY:

(1) Draws attention to the fact that the obligations accepted under Chapter XI of the Charter by all Members of the United Nations are in no way contingent upon the conclusion of trusteeship agreements or upon the bringing into being of the Trusteeship Council, and are, therefore, already in full force.

(2) Requests the Secretary-General to include in his annual report on the work of the Organization, as provided for in Article 98 of the Charter, a statement summarizing such information as may have been transmitted to him by Members of the United Nations under Article 73 (e) of the Charter relating to economic, social and educational conditions in the territories for which they are responsible other than those to which Chapters XII and XIII apply.

WITH RESPECT TO CHAPTERS XII AND XIII OF THE CHARTER, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY:

(3) Welcomes the declarations, made by certain States administering territories now held under mandate, of an intention to negotiate trusteeship agreements in respect of some of those territories, and in respect of Trans-Jordan to establish its independence.

(4) Invites the States administering territories now held under mandate to undertake practical steps, in concert with the other States directly concerned, for the implementation of Article 79 of the Charter (which provides for the conclusion of agreements on the terms of trusteeship for each territory to be placed under the trusteeship system), in order to submit these agreements for approval, preferably not later than during the Second Part of the First Session of the General Assembly.

IN CONCLUSION, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY:

(5) Expects that the realization of the objectives of Chapters XI, XII and XIII will make possible the attainment of the political, economic, social, and educational aspirations of non-self-governing peoples.

Provisional Rules of Procedure of the Trusteeship Council

The General Assembly requests the Secretary-General to transmit the "Provisional Rules of Procedure of the Trusteeship Council" (Section 2 of Chapter IV of the Preparatory Commission's Report) to the Trusteeship Council as soon as it is constituted.

VIII

Resolution on Representation of Non-Governmental Organizations on the Economic and Social Council

In connection with the requests of the World Federation of Trade Unions, the American Federation of Labor, the International Cooperative Alliance, and other non-governmental organizations, that their representatives shall be allowed to take part in the work of the Economic and Social Council, and in accordance with Article 71 of the Charter providing for the carrying out by the Economic and Social Council of appropriate consultations with non-governmental organizations,

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECOMMENDS

(a) That the Economic and Social Council should as soon as possible adopt suitable arrangements enabling the World Federation. of Trade Unions and the International Co-operative Alliance as well as other international non-governmental organizations whose experience the Economic and Social Council will find necessary to use, to collaborate for purposes of consultation with the Economic and Social Council.

(b) That the Economic and Social Council should likewise adopt as soon as possible suitable arrangements enabling the American Federation of Labor as well as other national and regional nongovernmental organizations whose experience the Economic and Social Council will find necessary to use, to collaborate for purposes of consultation with the Economic and Social Council.

Resolution on the Extradition and Punishment of War Criminals

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Taking note of the Moscow Declaration of 1 November 1943 by President Roosevelt, Marshal Stalin and Prime Minister Churchill concerning enemy atrocities in the course of the war, and of the declaration by certain allied governments of 13 January and 18 December 1942 concerning the same matter; and

Taking note of the laws and usages of warfare established by the Fourth Hague Convention of 1907; and

Taking note of the definition of war crimes and crimes against peace and against humanity contained in the Charter of the International Military Tribunal dated 8 August 1945; and

Believing that certain war criminals continue to evade justice in the territories of certain states,

RECOMMENDS

That Members of the United Nations forthwith take all the necessary measures to cause the arrest of those war criminals who have been responsible for or have taken a consenting part in the above crimes, and to cause them to be sent back to the countries in which their abominable deeds were done, in order that they may be judged and punished according to the laws of those countries; and

CALLS UPON

The governments of States which are not Members of the United Nations also to take all necessary measures for the apprehension of such criminals in their respective territories with a view to their immediate removal to the countries in which the crimes were committed for the purpose of trial and punishment according to the laws of those countries.

Resolution on Spain

1. The Assembly recalls that the San Francisco Conference adopted a resolution according to which paragraph 2 of Article 4 of Chapter II of the United Nations Charter "cannot apply to States whose regimes have been installed with the help of armed forces of countries which have fought against the United Nations so long as these regimes are in power".

2. The Assembly recalls that at the Potsdam Conference the Governments of the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the Soviet Union stated that they would not support a request for admission to the United Nations of the present Spanish Government "which, having been founded with the support of the Axis Powers, in view of its origins, its nature, its record, and its close association with the aggressor States, does not possess the necessary qualifications to justify its admission".

3. The Assembly, in endorsing these two statements, recommends that the Members of the United Nations should act in accordance with the letter and the spirit of these statements in the conduct of their future relations with Spain.