Cessation of the transmission of information under Article 73 e of the Charter in respect of Puerto Rico

UN General Assembly, Cessation of the transmission of information under Article 73 e of the Charter in respect of Puerto Rico, A/RES/748, UN General Assembly, 27 November 1953, https://www.refworld.org/legal/resolution/unga/1953/en/10193 [accessed 18 January 2025]
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VIII. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FOURTH COMMITTEE
748. Cessation of the transmission of information under Article 73 e of the Charter in respect of Puerto Rico

The General Assembly, Considering that, in resolution 222 (III) of 3 November 1948, the General Assembly, while welcoming any development of self-government in Non-Self-Governing Territories, considers it essential that the United Nations be informed of any change in the constitutional status of any such Territory as a result of which the government responsible for the transmission, under Article 73 e of the Charter, of information in respect of that Territory thinks it unnecessary or inappropriate to continue such a practice, Having received the communications [1] dated 19 January and 20 March 1953 informing the United Nations of the establishment of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as a result of the entry into force on 25 July 1952 of the Constitution of Puerto Rico, and stating that, in consequence of these constitutional changes, the Government of the United States of America would cease to transmit information under Article 73 e of the Charter, Having studied the report[2] prepared by the Committee on Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories, during its session of 1953, on the question of the cessation of the transmission of information on Puerto Rico, and presented to the General Assembly in conformity with paragraph 2 of resolution 448 (V) of 12 December 1950, Having examined the communications of the Government of the United States of America in the light of the basic principles embodied in Chapter XI of the Charter and of all the other elements of judgment pertinent to the issue, Considering that the agreement reached by the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, in forming a political association which respects the individuality and the cultural characteristics of Puerto Rico, maintains the spiritual bonds between Puerto Rico and Latin America and constitutes a link in continental solidarity, Bearing in mind the competence of the General Assembly to decide whether a Non-Self-Governing Territory has or has not attained a full measure of self-government as referred to in Chapter XI of the Charter,

1. Takes note favourably of the conclusions set forth by the Committee on Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories in its resolution;[3]

2. Recognizes that the people of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, by expressing their will in a free and democratic way, have achieved a new constitutional status;

3. Expresses the opinion that it stems from the documentation provided that the association of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico with the United States of America has been established as a mutually agreed association;

4. Recognizes that, when choosing their constitutional and international status, the people of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have effectively exercised their right to self-determination;

5. Recognizes that, in the framework of their Constitution and of the compact agreed upon with the United States of America, the people of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have been invested with attributes of political sovereignty which clearly identify the status of self-government attained by the Puerto Rican people as that of an autonomous political entity;

6. Considers that, due to these circumstances, the Declaration regarding Non-Self-Governing Territories and the provisions established under it in Chapter XI of the Charter can no longer be applied to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;

7. Takes note of the opinion of the Government of the United States of America as to the cessation of the transmission under Article 73 e of the Charter of information on Puerto Rico;

8. Considers it appropriate that the transmission of this information should cease;

9. Expresses its assurance that, in accordance with the spirit of the present resolution, the ideals embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, the traditions of the people of the United States of America and the political advancement attained by the people of Puerto Rico, due regard will be paid to the will of both the Puerto Rican and American peoples in the conduct of their relations under their present legal statute, and also in the eventuality that either of the parties to the mutually agreed association may desire any change in the terms of this association.

459th plenary meeting,
27 November 1953.
[1] See document A/AC.35/L.121. [2] See Official Records of the General Assembly, Eighth Session, Supplement No. 15, part 1, section VII. [3] Ibid., page 6.
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