Question of Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland

XVIII. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED WITHOUT REFERENCE TO A COMMITTEE
1954. Question of Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland

The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1817 (XVII) of 18 December 1962 regarding the Territories of Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland, which was adopted in accordance with the terms of its resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, 1654 (XVI) of 27 November 1961 and 1810 (XVII) of 17 December 1962, Having considered the part of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland,[1] Regretting that the administering Power has not taken effective steps to implement the provisions of resolutions 1514 (XV) and 1817 (XVII), Being cognizant of the fact that the claim and the demand of the Government of the Republic of South Africa that these Territories should be transferred to South Africa remain unchanged, Recalling the declaration contained in General Assembly resolution 1817 (XVII) to the effect that any attempt to annex Basutoland, Bechuanaland or Swaziland, or to encroach upon their territorial integrity in any way, will be regarded by the United Nations as an act of aggression violating the Charter of the United Nations, Mindful of the unsatisfactory economic, financial and social conditions in these three Territories and their dire need for external assistance,

1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the peoples of Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland to self-determination and independence;

2. Reiterates its request that the administering Power take immediate steps to return to the indigenous inhabitants all the land taken from them, whatever the form or pretext for such alienation;

3. Once more requests the administering Power to convene immediately a constitutional conference for each of the three Territories, in which all groups representing all opinions will participate with a view to devising democratic constitutional arrangements which will lead to general elections based on universal suffrage and, thereafter, to immediate independence;

4. Solemnly warns the Government of the Republic of South Africa that any attempt to annex or encroach upon the territorial integrity of these three Territories shall be considered an act of aggression;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide economic, financial and technical assistance commensurate with the special needs of the Territories through the United Nations programmes of technical co-operation and the specialized agencies.

1277th plenary meeting,
11 December 1963.

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[1] Ibid., chapter IX.