pletely clear in our own minds as to just exactly what it is that we are doing.

For these reasons, the United States will vote to support the recommendation of the General Committee that this item not be included in the agenda.

68. INAPPROPRIATENESS OF UNITED NATIONS CONSIDERATION OF THE ALGERIAN QUESTION: United Nations General Assembly Resolution 909 (X), November 25, 1955 1

The General Assembly

1

Decides not to consider further the item entitled "The question of Algeria" and is therefore no longer seized of this item on the agenda of its tenth session.

Libya

69. RECOGNITION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF LIBYA: Statement by the Department of State, December 24, 1951 2

The United Kingdom of Libya on December 24 proclaimed its independence pursuant to a United Nations General Assembly resolution of November 21, 1949, 3 and the Government of the United States is extending full recognition to the new Government.

The American Consul General at Tripoli, Andrew G. Lynch, informed the Libyan Foreign Minister of the recognition of his Government by the United States and of the elevation of the American Consulate General to the status of legation. Mr. Lynch will serve as chargé d'affaires ad interim until a Minister arrives.

Following is the text of a message from President Truman to King Idris I of Libya on the declaration of the independence of Libya:

The announcement today that all powers have been transferred to the Government of Libya and that Your Majesty, as King, has proclaimed the independence of Libya is a significant fact of historical importance not only to the people of Libya but to the entire community of free nations. The United States of America strongly supported the decision of the General Assembly of the United Nations that Libya should become an independent state. Therefore, it is gratifying to observe the establishment of a Government in Libya in accordance with a constitution determined by the representatives of the people of Libya meeting in a National Assembly as contemplated by the United Nations. On this momentous occasion I wish to express to Your Majesty my congratulations for a notable

U.N. General Assembly, Official Records, Tenth Session, Supplement No. 19 (A/3116), p. 3. For statement of Ambassador Lodge in support of the draft resolution, see Department of State Bulletin, Dec. 12, 1955, p. 992.

2 Ibid., Dec. 31, 1951, p. 1057.

3 Res. 289 (IV); U.N. General Assembly, Official Records, Fourth Session, Resolutions (A/1251), pp. 10-13.

achievement and to extend to Your Majesty and to the Libyan people the hand of friendship of the people of the United States of America.

Message from Secretary Acheson to the Foreign Minister of Libya:

It was with great satisfaction and pleasure that I received your telegram today announcing the proclamation of Libyan independence. My Government deems it a great privilege to have been associated with United Nations action which assisted the Libyan people in determining a constitution and establishing an independent government. The Government of the United States of America looks forward with pleasure to the establishment of mutually beneficial and friendly relations with the Libyan Government, which it welcomes to its rightful place among the sovereign states of the world. I shall take the first opportunity, on behalf of my government, to urge that immediate action be taken to admit Libya to membership in the United Nations. I send my heartiest congratulations to Your Excellency and to members of the Libyan Government and may I ask that you convey to His Majesty, King Idris I, and through him to the people of Libya, an expression of the friendship of the people of the United States of America.

Sudan

70. EGYPTIAN ABROGATION OF CONDOMINIUM IN THE SUDAN: Statement by the Secretary of State, October 10, 1951 1

The American Embassy in Cairo has confirmed that the Egyptian Prime Minister on October 8 introduced in the Egyptian Chamber of Deputies draft legislation which would abrogate the Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 19362 and the Anglo-Egyptian condominium agreements of 1899,3 which provide for joint Anglo-Egyptian administration of the Sudan.

The parties directly involved are the United Kingdom and Egypt and, in the case of the 1899 agreements, the Sudanese people as well. However, these matters are also of general concern to the free world for they affect the security and defense of the important Middle East

area.

None of the agreements in question provides for abrogation. The U.S. Government believes that proper respect for international obligations requires that they be altered by mutual agreement rather than by unilateral action of one of the parties. Furthermore, it should be noted that procedures wholly in accord with such respect for international commitments have already been set in motion.

During past months, new proposals to be offered to Egypt have been under consideration and the Egyptian Government had been informed that proposals were to be presented to it within the next few days. It is the belief of the United States that a solution to the AngloEgyptian question can be found through these proposals. The United

1 Department of State Bulletin, Oct. 22, 1951, p. 647.

? Treaty of Aug. 26, 1936; British and Foreign State Papers, vol. 140, pp. 179 ff. 3 Agreements of Jan. 19, 1899, and July 10, 1899; ibid., vol. 91, pp. 19-22.

States considers that the new proposals shortly to be presented to the Egyptian Government should serve as a sound basis for an agreement which will not only satisfy the interests of all parties concerned but also contribute to the defense of the free world in which the Middle East plays such an important role.

71. ANGLO-EGYPTIAN AGREEMENT ON THE SUDAN: Note From the Secretary of State to the Foreign Minister of Egypt, February 14, 1953 1

The United States is gratified that an agreement on the Sudan has been arrived at by Egypt and the United Kingdom. This is a truly important occasion. It affords an opportunity for me to express my Government's pleasure at the spirit in which these difficult negotiations were carried out.

My Government trusts that the same spirit of good will and cooperation will characterize the transitional period preceding the decision by the Sudanese people of their future status. The amicable resolution of this long outstanding question goes far toward creating an atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust in the Near East which can only result in great benefits for all the nations of the free world.

My Government continues to follow with interest and sympathy the progressive attitude and energetic efforts of the Government of General Naguib to meet and overcome the internal problems which face the Egyptian people. The United States wishes the Egyptian Government every success in its efforts.

72. UNITED STATES PARTICIPATION IN THE MIXED ELECTORAL COMMISSION FOR THE SUDAN: Statement by the Department of State, March 23, 1953 (Excerpt) 3

In reply to requests received from the Governments of Egypt and the United Kingdom, the Government of the United States has agreed to participate on the Mixed Electoral Commission for the AngloEgyptian Sudan. Mr. Warwick Perkins, a Foreign Service Career Officer of Class One, has been nominated as United States representative on the Commission. Mr. Perkins departed for Khartoum on March 19, 1953, and has been accorded by the President the personal rank of Minister for the duration of his service on this Commission. The Anglo-Egyptian Agreement of February 12, 1953 on the Sudan provided for the election of a Sudanese Parliament as a step

4

1 Department of State Bulletin, Feb. 23, 1953, p. 306. A similar note was sent on the same day to the British Foreign Secretary.

2 Agreement of Feb. 12, 1953; British Treaty Series 47 (Cmd. 8904).

3 Department of State press release 154, Mar. 23, 1953 (see also Department of State Bulletin, Apr. 6, 1953, p. 493).

British Treaty Series 47 (Cmd. 8904)

towards self-government and self-determination in that country. The election is to be supervised by a Mixed Electoral Commission consisting of representatives of the Sudan, Egypt, India, the United Kingdom and the United States.1

Ethiopia and Eritrea

73. FEDERATION OF ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA: United Nations General Assembly Resolution 617 (VII), December 17, 1952 2

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 390 A (V) of 2 December 1950,3 providing that Eritrea be constituted an autonomous unit federated with Ethiopia under the sovereignty of the Ethiopian Crown,

Having noted the adoption and ratification of the Eritrean Constitution and the ratification of the Federal Act embodying the provisions contained in paragraphs 1-7 inclusive of that resolution,

Having noted that the conditions laid down in paragraph 13 of resolution 390 A (V) of 2 December 1950 have been fulfilled, and that on 11 September 1952 the Federation of Eritrea with Ethiopia was proclaimed,

Noting further the final report of the United Nations Commissioner in Eritrea of 17 October 1952 and the report of the Administering Authority of 27 October 1952,5

Noting with appreciation the part played by the United Nations Commissioner and the former Administering Authority in Eritrea in preparing Eritrea to take its place in the Federation,

Noting also with satisfaction the contribution made by Ethiopia to the establishment of the Federation and Ethiopia's expression of determination scrupulously to execute the provisions of the Federal Act, 1. Welcomes the establishment of the Federation of Eritrea with Ethiopia under the sovereignty of the Ethiopian Crown;

The Parliamentary elections were held in November 1953. On Dec. 3, 1955, the United Kingdom and Egypt agreed to the holding of the "self-determination" plebiscite provided in the agreement of Feb. 12, 1953. On Dec. 19, 1955, the Sudanese House of Representatives by unanimous resolution declared Sudan an independent state. Three days later, the Senate concurred. On Jan. 1, 1956, the United Kingdom and Egypt recognized Sudanese independence.

2 U.N. General Assembly, Official Records, Seventh Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/2361), p. 9. The U.S. representative introduced the above draft resolution in the Ad Hoc Political Committee on Dec. 11 on behalf of 13 delegations; it was approved on Dec. 12. For the statement of the U.S. representative, see Department of State Bulletin, Dec. 22, 1952, pp. 999-1000.

U.N. General Assembly, Fifth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/1775), pp. 20–22. 4U.N. doc. A/2188.

2. Congratulates the people and governmental authorities of the Federation for their effective and loyal fulfilment of resolution 390 A (V) of the General Assembly of 2 December 1950.

Gold Coast (Ghana) and Nigeria

74. SELF-GOVERNMENT IN THE GOLD COAST (GHANA) AND NIGERIA: Senate Joint Resolution 183 (83d Congress, 2d Session), August 27, 1954 1

Whereas it is the policy of the United States to encourage efforts toward independence and self-government truly expressive of the desires of the people and as they show their capability to establish and protect free institutions; and

Whereas the continent of Africa is a vital part of the free world area; and

Whereas a revised constitution of the Gold Coast was approved on April 29, 1954, and the first formal meeting of the legislature of that territory under this constitution will take place on July 29, 1954; and Whereas a revised constitution of Nigeria is expected to be approved during August 1954, and the first meeting of the federal legislature of that territory under this constitution is expected to take place shortly thereafter; and

Whereas these occasions mark important milestones in their progress toward self-government and independence: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Congress of the United States extend its most cordial greetings to the representative bodies of the Gold Coast and Nigeria on the occasion of the first meeting of their legislatures under the revised constitutions, in recognition of the democratic ideals shared by the United States and those territories, and in reaffirmation of the friendship of the United States for the peoples of Africa; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of State is hereby requested to appoint a United States delegation at the appropriate time to represent the United States at ceremonies marking the achievement of complete self-government for these territories.

1 68 Stat. 865. See also Department of State Bulletin, Jan. 10, 1955, pp. 67-68