YouSaid · the spoken record

Krishna Benon

lines on the record: 139
first: 1959-09-24
most recent: 1959-09-24
sittings or episodes: 1
sources: un-general-debate

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“Prior to 1951, these territories were known as "colonies", but the new terminology of "provinces" was introduced by the amendments of 11 June 1951, that is, after the establishment of the United Nations. 217. Article 33 refers to "the classic mission" of Portugal to diffuse the benefits of civilization, which suggests the presence of non-self-governing peoples within the meaning of the. Charter. What the Charter asks for is a record of this diffusion of the benefits of civilization. If the benefits of civilization are being diffused by educational and social progress, then that information should be sent. There is a limited measure of decentralization and financial autonomy, but the legislative power remains in the hands of the metropolitan National Assembly. 218. Portuguese citizens alone may vote or stand for election.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“We request the Portuguese Government to fall into line with other territories, irrespective of any claim to self-government and irrespective of any demands or complaints that may have been made, to assist the United Nations in the propagation of the idea that these territories are held in trust for human beings organized into nations or into territorial units in order to establish their national independence. 216. These territories are known, under article 134 of the Portuguese Constitution as provinces. Article 135 states that the Overseas Provinces, as an integral part of the Portuguese State, are united as between themselves and with metropolitan Portugal. Of course, that is how a colony is united.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“The territory of Portugal in West Africa consists of the Cape Verde Islands, Portuguese Guinea, São Tomé, São João Batista de Ajudá, Cabinda and Angola. In East Africa there is Mozambique; in Asia, so-called Portuguese India, Macau; and in Oceania, Portuguese Timor. 215. These are territories which are not self-governing and which are inhabited by people who make no impact upon the Central Government of the country and which, in a very classic sense, are colonial territories.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“The Portuguese representative pointed out here the other day [821st meeting] that Portugal had no colonies, as they were all part of the metropolitan territory. Portugal's reply to the Secretary-General on 8 November 1956 stated that it did not administer any territories that came under Article 73 of the Charter. That Article is very clear on this matter, and we shall discuss it in detail in the Fourth Committee. 214. There are 779,000 square miles of Portuguese territory in Africa, apart from other areas, and the territory of Portugal, of which the representative of Portugal has spoken of as part of, the Portuguese Republic, consists in Europe of the mainland, Madeira and the Azores, which I suppose are an integral part of Portugal.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“There are other Territories on which information is sent, although they come under Article 73 of the Charter. In this connexion one would like to say that if arguments are put forward in order to relieve these territories of the necessity of supplying information, then all the dependent territories would have come under this justification and would not have the benefit of justification in the demanding of their freedom either before this body or anywhere else. 213. A colonial territory is One where the majority of the population can make no impact upon the policy of the Government, which is by another country and people, and where economically, socially and otherwise, the majority is exploited. There are large parts of Africa in this condition, and there are small portions of Asia in this condition.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“In this connexion we should like to refer to the Non-Self-Governing Territories under Article 73 of the Charter. I have no desire to say anything that might raise a controversy and evoke the right of reply prolonging our proceedings tonight, but I would like to refer to the fact that the United Nations can claim some credit in this matter, because when we started in this business under Article 73, some seventy-four Territories were submitting information. This is an occasion when what we look forward to is the cessation of this information in a wholesome way. Out of the seventy-four Territories, seven have become independent; fifteen have ceased to send information because those who were responsible for their rule thought they were ready for independence, that they required no further examination by us.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“We do not think that there are any peoples who should be debarred from self-government, or that there are any particular people who, rationally, economically or otherwise are to be regarded as especially competent to govern other people. Therefore our country takes the position that, while we shall take no part in underground revolutions or in exporting revolution, we stand in firm solidarity with all those peoples in Africa, Asia and everywhere else who are fighting for their own national liberation. We recognize that nationalism properly channelled is a great constructive force, and, what is more, that if it is suppressed it is likely to go in other directions, affecting the peace of the world as well as the stability and progress of peoples and territories themselves. 212.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“We have got a public declaration made with enthusiasm by the representative of Belgium before this Assembly that his Government has, of its own volition and in recognition of the right of peoples and the readiness of the Congolese people to shoulder the responsibilities of self-government, decided to establish self-government in this area. We shall therefore look forward not with feelings of doubt and suspicion but with hope and confidence, to seeing the Belgian Congo also take its place among the African territories that have come to freedom through the action of the Assembly. 211. Our own position with regard to colonial empires is what we remain unrepentant in our opposition to colonialism.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“We are also pleased to hear from the new Foreign Minister of the Belgian Government [809th meeting] about the project of the Belgian Government for the establishment of independence for her Congo territories. I am not referring to the Trust Territory of Ruanda-Urundi, but to the Belgian Congo, which is, several times larger than Belgium itself, and one of the richest parts of Africa. It is not for my Government to express any views as to the kind of constitution they should have, or its content- or the character of their independence, but as in all things, we take these matters at face values.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“The problem of Cyprus was solved very largely by the impact of public opinion, channelled through this Assembly. 208. I would like to express our appreciation to the Government of the United Kingdom as well as to the parties in Cyprus and to Greece and Turkey, for their recognition of the Cypriot nationality, as a result of which Cyprus is well on the way to becoming a Member of the United Nations. 209. The United Kingdom can also take credit for the impending independence of the territory of Nigeria, a large portion of colonial Africa Which in a few months will become an independent country and, I hope, take her place among us at the next session of the Assembly. 210.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“We are this year in a position to congratulate ourselves to a certain extent and to feel relieved over the fact that the problem of Cyprus — and I hope the delegation of Greece will not mind my saying that we have always regarded it as a colonial problem — has been solved at least for the time being. It looks as though, as a result of this solution, Cyprus will become an independent nation in 1960. We also would like, to lay stress on the fact that it was only through recognition of the nationality of Cyprus and by recognition of the problem as a colonial one that a solution was found. There is no way of suppressing these national aspirations, either by an attempted division of a country or by playing of one Power against another.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“It may well be that after we have had negotiations some adjustments will have to be made, but our Prime Minister has made it very clear that there cannot be negotiation on the basis of a prior surrender of territories. 207. This brings us to the matter of other questions before the Assembly. The first of these is the question of colonial empire. It would be impossible for any delegate from any of the former colonial territories — or indeed, I believe, any Member of the United Nations — to participate in these debates without referring- to the colonial problem.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“We have not violated their space, we have not violated their peace, we have not inflicted violence upon them; and what is more, we have not come and talked to the world, or even to our own people, very loudly, even though things have reached the present stage. The purpose of my saying this, on the one hand, is to point out that we are not a war-minded people and that we believe settlement of all these problems must be achieved by peaceful negotiation. We would equally like the Chinese to know that a peaceful approach does not mean a submissive approach; that our country is not prepared to accept a violation of our frontiers, or, where there is a dispute over conditions established over a hundred years ago at least — and sometimes much more — to allow our territory or our frontiers to be altered by unilateral decisions.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“Therefore I say this not only officially but also with the hope that my humble voice will reach the Chinese people, with whom we are good friends: I myself have participated in these matters, and we hope that the friendship of our two great countries, which is necessary for the stability of Asia, will not be jeopardized by thoughtlessness on the one hand or by arrogance on the other, and that China will find it possible to make amends for what it has done, through the withdrawal of every Chinese soldier from our soil — and if they can find any of our soldiers on their soil we shall readily withdraw them. 206. Regarding those areas where boundaries are not marked by posts or pillars that can be seen, sometimes there may be difficulties arising from one party's going into the territory of the other.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“On the one hand, we subscribe to the principles of the Charter and to the set of ideas that were put forward at the African-Asian, Conference held at Bandung in 1955 and by our own treaty relations with Chiba based upon what are popularly called the "Five Principles". What is more, we shall strive as hard as we can to reach settlement on every problem by peaceful negotiation. But there are no individuals in India and there is no responsible body of opinion prepared to be intimidated, prepared to take aggression lying down. We cannot negotiate with the Chinese until they vacate the territories which they have occupied., These maybe small places, they may be mountaintops, but they are our country.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“I do not intend to speak at length on this matter because I do not want to stress the question of the admission of China here now; but my Government does not believe that by evading issues we enlighten ourselves or the people. Our position with regard to the participation of China in this Organization is well-known. It is a matter of great concern to us and a matter of resentment to our people that a country with whom we have been very good friends, a country which is one of our close neighbours and which has more than 2,500 miles of land frontier with us, with which we have had no troubles in the past, has taken it upon itself to commit intrusions into our territory, and to proclaim that some 40,000 square miles of it belong to them. 205. We want to make our position clear in this matter.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“The Governments of the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom made financial contributions in order to keep the machinery of peace going. It is a great pity if international agreements are disregarded, and if in some way any action taken by the United Nations tends to support such disregard. There is nothing in the action the United Nations has taken that would necessarily be inconsistent with the Geneva agreements, and I am sure it is the desire of the Secretary-General to see a restoration, not necessarily of the Commission or anything of that kind — that is up to him to decide — but an attempt made to reestablish the position of the Geneva agreements. 204. The second matter that concerns us is China.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“We all breathed a sigh of relief when, as I said, largely due to the efforts of the then Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom, ably assisted by the representative of the Soviet Union and, I must say, by the Prime Minister of China and by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and by all other parties — the Pathet Lao, the Royal Government of Laos and everyone else — and with the statesmanship of the former Prime Minister of France, Mr. Mendès-France, an agreement was reached and it brought about and kept the peace until recently. Our Government had the responsibility of supplying the greater part of the personnel for maintaining communications. The French Government also carried a great financial burden.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“Neither of them is a Member of this body, on account of this decision. We believe that it is largely the Geneva agreements and the presence of the Commission, and its objectivity, that have been able to maintain peace in that area. It should not be forgotten that, far away as this part of the world may be from the Headquarters of the United Nations, small countries as they may be there, inhabited by people on a lower standard of life, and however some may regard them as outside the centre of so-called civilization, any conflict in that area would disturb the stability of South-East Asia. 203.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“It is our view that, if they were there and if there were arms going into the territory, that could have been detected. K North Viet-Nam was at fault — as has happened in the last four or five years in regard to the parties to the agreement — the erring party could have been called to account. It is our good fortune that, though there have been difficulties, the parties have, after some time, come to some international code of behaviour in these matters. 202. All we should like to say is this. The basis of the position of Indo-China is the Geneva agreements. There is no fighting In Cambodia, but the Cambodian Government does not want the Commission dissolved. It is kept there in an attenuated form. Viet-Nam stands divided, at the seventeenth and a half parallel, into the North and the South.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“Because a country is independent, and this includes our own, and because it is a Member of the United Nations, there is no authority in international law — indeed it would be a very bad precedent — by which it can therefore repudiate agreements it has previously made. This would be a denunciation of a treaty, and it would remain a denunciation of a treaty. 201. We were among those who not only supported but made such contributions as we could towards obtaining the admission of Laos into the United Nations. The action taken by the Security Council in its wisdom is a matter for the Security Council. There was no evidence either that the presence of the Commission was not regarded as sufficiently objective or impartial or it was not considered competent after five years to be able to observe what was going bn.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“So far as we are concerned, it has been a considerable strain, and the conditions that prevail have been the subject of communications between our two partners and the Governments of the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union and, latterly, the Secretary- General, all in the hope that what was accomplished in 1954 — when, as I said, on 11 August the guns were silenced — could continue. 199. For twenty-five years war had reigned in the world, since Japan made its incursions into Manchuria. We think if that international body — whether established by the United Nations or not, it was within its competence, it was there merely for the purpose of peace — if it had continued its functions, perhaps, and only perhaps, the present situation could have been avoided. 200. Over and above that, we would like to make this submission.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“In regard to the raising of the Laos issue in the United Nations, the Prime Minister of India informed the Secretary-General that: "It is not clear to me how any effective action can be taken through the United Nations against a country such as the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam which is not a Member of the United Nations... In fact, any reference to the Security Council would bring these questions into the region of great Power conflicts and put an end to much of the good work that has resulted from the Geneva Agreements." 198. I want to assure the Assembly that we do not claim any vested interest in this matter, but our country, along with Canada and Poland, has struggled for four long years to keep the peace in this part of the world.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“This kind of development and situation which obtain at present were investigated when the Geneva agreements were made and these were brought within the authority and the functions vested in the International Commission and the arrangements arising there from to which the Royal Government of Laos is a signatory. "We have consistently taken the view that the territorial integrity and unity of Laos is basic to the Geneva Agreements in respect of Laos. Any problem of a 'territorial conflict between the different political groups within Laos is not envisaged by the Geneva Agreements. If, however, the 'conflict' relates to the dispute between North Viet-Nam and Laos, it will be in the nature of a border problem which can well form the subject of discussion and of mediation by and through the Commission." 197.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“Again, as a signatory of Geneva on behalf of the Pathet Lao, the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam is interested in the various agreements later arrived at between the Royal Government of Laos and the Fighting Forces of Pathet Lao... We are not justified in assuming, and it would be unrealistic to assume, that the conclusions of these agreements render the problems there, which have become increasingly ominous, solely the internal affairs of Laos. The International Commission, despite its adjournment, stands charged with the responsibilities assumed under the Geneva agreements.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“Since the Secretary-General had very kindly taken it upon himself to use his good offices and had been in touch with us, my Prime Minister wrote to him on 30 June 1959: "The Agreement for the Cessation of Hostilities in Laos was apart of the resolution arrived at in Geneva in regard to the Indo-China settlement. In the agreements made in 1954, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam was a signatory on behalf of the Fighting Forces of Pathet Lao and these agreements were accompanied by a number of Declarations, including one by the Government of Laos, indicating in general terms that Laos would remain outside the activities of the Power blocs.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“It is vitally interested in the maintenance of peace in South-East Asia and in the World. It undertook special responsibility in connexion with the maintenance of peace in Indo-China at the request of the Co-Chairmen and, while not wedded to any particular procedures or interested in apportioning blame to parties, would like to see the adoption of procedures which would secure the cessation of fighting in Laos and the restoration of peace both inside and along the frontiers of Laos. 196. In this connexion, I should like to quote a communication made by my Prime Minister. I have already referred to the fact that the two Co-Chairmen had taken notice of the adjournment motion, which was only for an adjournment sine die with a proviso to reconvene.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“Whatever may be the motives of the Democratic Republic in working for resumption of the activities of the Commission, it is clear that the Commission helped in achieving political integration and in the establishment of the unity and sovereignty of the Royal Government of Laos over the entire territory of Laos. The Commission has also been specifically directed under the agreement to see that there are no violations of the frontiers of Laos. That was one of the functions of the Commission. 194. India's view is that the present trouble is due mainly to the by-passing of the Geneva agreement procedures and the aggressive attitudes that have prevailed since the Commission adjourned. 195. Basing its attitude on its experience during its independence struggle, India believes in the pacific settlement of disputes.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“The need for supervision and control could be satisfied by occasional meetings in future, if necessary. The position changed later, and was reported to the Co-Chairmen. 192. When the Commission adjourned, the unity and sovereignty of Laos had been established, and peace prevailed in the whole country. The details of the political integration were being worked Out. The present position of armed clashes within Laos is a reversal of the process of settlement reached with the help of the Commission — and this is the important point. 193. The Royal Government of Laos has alleged aggression and subversion by the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“They were agreed that no question of abrogating any of the articles of the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Laos relating to the International Commission, in particular article 39, was involved." 190. So the position was that, as a result of this and in order to have some practical arrangements, the Commission withdrew from Laos with this provision for reconvening. Unfortunately, the Government of Canada did not find it possible to appoint members to it. We have always said that, when things had developed badly in Laos, the international authority that remained there should be available. 191. So, to go on with the story, when the Commission adjourned on 19 July 1958 there was every prospect of the political settlement being satisfactorily implemented in detail ‘by the Government.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“Then, after that, this reply was communicated to the Co-Chairmen — and this is a very important matter. The two Co-Chairmen, namely, Mr. Gromyko and Mr. Selwyn Lloyd, wrote to the Government of India in these terms: "The two Co-Chairmen took notice of the clarification of the Indian Government that this resolution does not affect the legal status of the Commission and does not reduce the competence of the Commission in implementing the tasks and functions assigned to it by the Geneva Agreements. The Co-Chairmen agreed that the resolution of the Commission of 19 July 1958" — that is, to adjourn sine die and to be reconvened in accordance with normal procedures — "was a procedural decision taken to adjourn sine die and having no connexion with the question of dissolution of the Commission.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“I continue; "The Government of India are of the view that the unilateral denunciation of the Geneva Agreement on Laos and the winding up or immobilization of the Laos Commission, which are bound to have serious repercussions on the working of the Geneva Agreements and on the working of the International Commissions in the whole of Indo-China, involve a serious threat to peace in this region." One of the charges that were given to us was the safeguarding of peace in that area. 189. Then in their reply, when we placed this position before the United Kingdom Government, the United Kingdom Government laid that the reply that it had given was without prejudice to the view that the Government of the United Kingdom held that the decision in this matter was one that the Commission itself was competent to make.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“"While the Government of India cannot, in view of the position stated in paragraphs 1 and 6 above, support this resolution, they would like to point out that a resolution of this type which proposes to amend not only the Geneva Agreement on Laos but the Geneva Agreements on Cambodia and Viet-Nam as well, requires unanimous decision in the Commission and the concurrence of the other two Commissions." Therefore, we took the view that the Commission could not be wound up unless there was a unanimous decision and the three Commissions had agreed.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“In effect, the decision of one Co-Chairman Government, viz., the United Kingdom, which supports the view advanced by one of the parties to the Agreement on Laos, viz., the Royal Laotian Government and with which the other Co-chairman Government, namely, the USSR, and the other party to the Agreement, viz., the Government of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam do not agree, means the unilateral denunciation, by one of the parties, of the Geneva Agreement on Laos, which is bound to have serious repercussions on the working of the Geneva Agreements not only in Laos but also in other parts of Indo-China...”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“"Apart from the position of the Government of , India on the general question of the inter-connexion of the three Commissions, given in paragraph 1 above, the Government of India would like to point out that there were two parties to the Geneva Agreement on Laos; one party signed for the Commander- in-Chief of the forces of the French Union in Indochina, from whom the Laotian Government derived their authority, and the other party signed for the Commander-in-Chief of the fighting units of the Pathet Lao and for the Commander-in-Chief of the People's Army of Viet-Nam. The second party, namely the one represented by the Vice-Minister of National Defence of the Democratic Republic of Viet- Nam, do not accept the proposal to wind up the Commission made by the Prime Minister of the Royal Laotian Government.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“The articles referred to above provide for reduction in the activities of a particular Commission in the light of the development of the situation in the other two countries, but there is no provision in the Geneva Agreements for the winding up of any of the Commissions independently of the completion of political settlement in the other two countries...”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“The Commission did not leave in July 1958 because its work had been completed but it only adjourned sine die with a provision to reconvene in accordance with normal procedures", and the Co-Chairmen also acknowledged this position. These documents were the subject of considerable correspondence between the Co-Chairmen, Mr. Gromyko and Mr. Selwyn Lloyd at the time. The Government of India sent the following communication: "The Government of India have in their previous discussions with the High Commission... stated that" (with regard to) ... "the Geneva Agreements on Cambodia, Laos and Viet-Nam respectively, the three International Commissions have to continue till political settlement is completed in all the three countries, namely, Cambodia, Laos and Viet-Nam.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“The results thus reached contribute in a good measure to the strengthening of peace in the Laotian Kingdom, in South-East Asia and in the world. We therefore avail ourselves of this opportunity to forward personally to the International Commission and to Your Excellency our most sincere thanks as well as those of the whole Laotian people." 187. Now the representative of Laos has said here: "The International Control Commission, a body established by the Geneva Conference of 1954, saw that it no longer served any purpose and, considering that its task had been completed, left Laos in July 1958." [815th meeting, para. 132.] 188. We have no desire to enter into a controversy about this, but we want to put the facts historically correct.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“That is to say, though perhaps it was not strictly the essential duty of the Commission, the Commission brought about a settlement among these people, and at the end of it the Prime Minister of Laos issued a communique in these terms: "Besides the signature of this communique has been facilitated by the attentive interest the International Commission has taken in the settlement of the Laotian problem, interest which in particular is proved by the opportune and correct report addressed to the Co-Chairmen" — Mr. Gromyko and Mr. Selwyn Lloyd; at that time Mr. Molotov and Sir Anthony Eden — "of the Geneva Conference, a copy of which has been forwarded. Moreover, the International Commission and especially Your Excellency" — that is, the Chairman of the Commission — "did not spare their efforts to help the happy success of our talks.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“Under article 15, the parties undertook to refrain from any reprisals or discriminations against persons or organizations for their activities during the hostilities and also undertook to guarantee their democratic freedoms. 186. It is true that the political settlement was delayed for a long time. That is to say, the Pathet Lao people who were concentrated in the two places according to this agreement, took a long time before they achieved unity with the Royal Government. Without attempting to apportion blame to either party, the Government of India wishes to point out that the Commission and the Commission Chairman materially assisted with their good offices in helping the parties to reach a settlement, as stated by the Prime Minister of Laos and the representative of the Pathet Lao forces in a joint letter dated 29 December 1956.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“Article 25 states: "An International Commission shall be responsible for control and supervision of the application of the provisions of the Agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Laos. It shall be composed of representatives of the following States: Canada, India and Poland..." 185. The political procedures of the agreement are those given in Articles 14 and 15 read with the two declarations made by the Government of Laos at Geneva. These are the articles that deal with the responsibility of the Royal Government of Laos in this matter, because it was said that pending a political settlement, the rebel forces had to be grouped in certain areas.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“The responsibility for the execution of this agreement was placed on the parties, that is, the signatories, under article 24 of the agreement. The Commission, of which India was the Chairman, was made responsible under article 25 for control and supervision of the implementation of this agreement. 183. The special tasks for which the Commission was made responsible included the supervision of the implementation of the agreement regarding the introduction of military personnel and war material and the rotation of personnel and supplies for French Union Security Forces maintained in Laos. The Commission was also charged with the duty to see that the frontiers of Laos were respected. 184.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“The parties to the Geneva agreement on Laos are the Royal Government of Laos, the French High Command and the High Command of the Pathet Lao, that is, of the dissident forces, and of the People's Forces of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam. 181. The Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam, France and Laos subscribed to the Final Declaration of the Geneva Conference. All the Governments represented were also parties to the Geneva agreements. The Royal Government of Laos made two declarations with reference to articles 3,4 and 5 of the Final Declaration regarding political integration and non-involvement in military alliances, and foreign military aid. The period stated with reference to the latter was the period between the cessation of hostilities in Viet-Nam and the final settlement of the country's political problems. 182.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“I hope the Assembly will pardon me if I feel it part of my Government's duty to communicate to the Assembly the actual position. We have no desire to apportion blame, but, in view of the fact that the United Nations has intervened in this matter and we are part of the United Nations, I think the Assembly should be fully seized of this matter. India is the Chairman of the Commission, and the other members are Canada and Poland. Decisions were reached by, majorities, except on certain major issues, but were almost always, with one or two exceptions, unanimous. There are three agreements — one on Laos, one on Viet-Nam and one on Cambodia.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“As the Assembly is aware, India is the Chairman of the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Laos. 178. In 1954, largely under the initiative and the constructive statesmanship of the then Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, Sir Anthony Eden, an agreement was reached whereby fighting in that part of the world stopped and for the first time in twenty- five years, on 11 August 1954, the guns of war were silenced in all the world. 179. As a result of those negotiations and preliminary to a cease-fire in those areas, after many years of very sanguinary warfare in which hundreds of thousands of lives were lost, agreements were signed by the parties which are called the Geneva Agreements of 1954. 180.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“And this has been our experience in Korea, as well as with the officers who went to Indo-China, with the officers whom the Secretary-General asked for in a hurry for the United Nations Observer Group in Lebanon, and those who, for two or more years have stood as a peace force in true Gandhian tradition on the Gaza Strip between Israel and Egypt, giving unfortunate evidence of the fact that there Is an armistice line and that the two countries are not at peace. 177. Then we come to another matter which my delegation wants to deal with as carefully and as gently as possible, namely the question of Laos. We would not have entered into a discussion of this matter except for j the fact that we carry a certain responsibility in connexion with it.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“But it imposes considerable burdens upon us, to a certain extent recompensed by the fact that these men, not diplomats, not university men, not men trained in the arts of peaceful operations, but in the arts of defence, have been the best ambassadors our country has ever sent out anywhere. They have no quarrels; they have left no social problems behind them, as occupying armies often do. They have created no difficulties in the places where they have gone.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“The time will come, in a disarmed world, when war is no longer regarded as a machinery for the settling of disputes, when some kind of forces organization may be required to deal with those who break the world law; but we think that it is premature at the present time to speak in terms of a United Nations force or to expect countries to shoulder the responsibility from the point of view of personnel or of money or political acceptances. 176. In this connexion I am sure that the Secretary-General will expect us to say that units of the Indian army today in the Gaza Strip are there as a peace force; and that we feel privileged to participate in this venture.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“Secondly, for political reasons, we think that, with the present state of development in the world and in the absence of world law and of the universality of the United Nations, and in presence of the fact that we as an Organization are far from free from group politics or yet capable of taking truly objective decisions, we do not think that it would be right to place at the disposal of such an organization forces which may be moved in without individual negotiations and the consent of the people concerned.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)
“We, as a country, have participated in this development, and continue to do so and to carry some of its burdens. The Government of India is not at present prepared to participate in a standing force of the United Nations as such and we do not think that it is a practical proposition. We are surprised to find that some countries have proposed that certain units of national forces should be allocated and demarcated for United Nations purposes. But if they are so allocated, what do they do when the United Nations does not want them? It is not practical, in the defence force of any country, to have troops allocated and demarcated in this way. 175.”
1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)