will be signed and become operative." Queen Elizabeth, by Order in Council on August 3, 1960, named August 16, 1960, as the day on which the independent Republic of Cyprus would come into being.

Cyprus Act, July 29, 1960, 8 & 9 Eliz. 2, c. 52. Republic of Cyprus Order in Council, 1960, operative Aug. 10, 1960, Stat. Instr. 1960, No. 1368; Cyprus Gazette No. 4343, Aug. 11, 1960. Statement by British Secretary of State for the Colonies Iain Macleod, 626 H.C. Deb. (5th ser.) cols. 31-32 (July 4, 1960).

On August 9, 1960, in recommending to President Eisenhower the sending of an "Independence Day Message" to the President of Cyprus, Secretary of State Herter explained:

"Steps already taken and now in process indicate that, on the date of independence, there will be in Cyprus a democratically elected Government in effective control of the country.

"The Treaty Concerning the Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, which was initialed on July 6 by all parties to the Cyprus settlement and will be signed on Independence Day, provides that all international obligations and responsibilities of the Government of the United Kingdom shall, in so far as they may be held to have application to the Republic of Cyprus, be assumed by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.

"We believe that it would be in the interests of the United States to recognize the Republic of Cyprus when it is established. . . . we consider it desirable that recognition be effected by means of a congratulatory message from you to the President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios."

Secretary of State Herter, memorandum for the President, “Independence Day Message from You to the President of Cyprus”, Aug. 9, 1960, MS. Department of State, file 780A.02 8–960.

Article 8 of the Treaty of Establishment for Cyprus contained the following provisions:

"(1) All international obligations and responsibilities of the Government of the United Kingdom shall henceforth, in so far as they may be held to have application to the Republic of Cyprus, be assumed by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.

"(2) The international rights and benefits heretofore enjoyed by the Government of the United Kingdom in virtue of their application to the territory of the Republic of Cyprus shall henceforth be enjoyed by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.” British White Paper, Cyprus (July 10, Cmnd 133

On August 16, 1960, the Republic of Cyprus celebrated its independence. On that day, the following message signed by President Eisenhower and addressed to His Beatitude Archbishop Makarios, President of the Republic of Cyprus, was delivered to the latter:

"Upon the achievement of independence by the Republic of Cyprus, I am happy to extend in my own name and on behalf of the people of the United States most cordial greetings and felicitations to you, the members of your Government, and the Cypriot people in the Greek, Turkish, and other communities of the Republic.

"The emergence of an independent and democratic Cyprus is a tribute to your statesmanship as well as that of Vice President Kutchuck [sic] and all those whose dedicated efforts have brought to a successful conclusion the negotiations of the past year and a half. The United States is a close friend of all parties to these negotiations, and is therefore especially gratified at their happy

outcome.

"The Government and people of the United States welcome the independent and democratic Republic of Cyprus to the family of nations, and look forward to maintaining close and cordial relations with the Government and people of Cyprus."

On the same day, the Department released to the press the following

statement:

"The Department of State today announced [on August 16] that, concurrent with the achievement of independence by the Cypriot people and the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, the U.S. Government is extending recognition to the Government of Cyprus and elevating its consulate general at Nicosia to embassy status, effective August 16. Pending the arrival of the first American Ambassador, L. Douglas Heck will act as Chargé d'Affaires."

For the message of President Eisenhower to President Makarios, August 16, 1960, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower 1960-61 (1961), p. 633. For the Department of State's press release of Aug. 16, 1960, see XLIII Bulletin, Department of State, No. 1106, Sept. 5, 1960, p. 388.

Dahomey
§ 18

As a result of negotiations between France and the four States of the Conseil de l'Entente (Dahomey, Niger, Upper Volta, and Ivory Coast), these former autonomous members of the French Community achieved independence in August 1960.

The independence of the Republic of Dahomey was proclaimed at zero hour on August 1, 1960, by Hubert Maga, Prime Minister of the Republic. The event was officially marked by the exchange of ratifications of the pertinent instruments of independence, the raising of the Dahomey flag, and the turning over to the Prime Minister of the Palace of the High Commissioner. On the same day, during the course of the formalities, the American Consul assigned to Abidjan, then in Porto-Novo, delivered the following note of recognition on the part of the United States, addressed by President Eisenhower to Prime Minister Maga:

"On the occasion of the independence of the Republic of Dahomey, I extend in my own name and on behalf of the United States most cordial greetings and felicitations to you and the people of Dahomey.

"The United States has followed with great interest the progress of Dahomey towards independence and it is with deep satisfaction that we welcome this historic event, achieved in friendly cooperation with France.

"On this memorable occasion the Government and people of the United States look forward to close and friendly relations with the Government and people of Dahomey."

The American Consul at Abidjan (Norland) to the Department of State, telegram, Aug. 2, 1960, MS. Department of State, file 770H.02/8-260; same to same, telegram, Aug. 7, 1960, ibid., file 770H.02/8-760. For the message of President Eisenhower to Prime Minister Maga, August 1, 1960, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower 1960-61 (1961), p. 608.

Gabon
§ 19

In August 1960 four sovereign States arose out of the territory of the former French Equatorial Africa, one of which was Gabon. (The others were the Republic of Chad, the Central African Republic, and the Republic of the Congo.) Each of the four areas had formerly been an autonomous member of the French Community. The independence of Gabon was declared at zero hour on August 17, 1960. The occasion was marked by a solemn ceremony in the National Assembly. On the afternoon of the same day, the American Chargé d'Affaires at Brazzaville, then in Libreville, presented his letter of credence as Chargé to Prime Minister Léon M'ba of Gabon, and at the same time delivered the following message from President Eisenhower to the Prime Minister:

"On the occasion of the independence of the Republic of Gabon, I extend in my own name and on behalf of the United States most cordial greetings and felicitations to you and the people of the Republic of Gabon.

"The United States has followed with great interest the progress of Gabon towards independence in harmony and friendship with France. It welcomes this historic event with deep satisfaction.

"The close ties between our countries and the excellent climate. Gabon has provided for United States and other Western investments constitute a favorable omen for the future of your country.

"On this memorable occasion, the Government and people of the United States look forward to continued close and friendly relations with the Government and people of Gabon."

The American Chargé d'Affaires at Brazzaville to the Department of State, telegram, Aug. 17, 1960, MS. Department of State, file 770S.02/8–1760. For the message of President Eisenhower to President M'ba on the occasion of the independence of the Republic of Gabon, August 17, 1960, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower 1960-61 (1961), p. 644.

Effective August 15, 1960, the American Consulate at Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, was elevated in rank to mission status. The Embassy was also accredited to the Republic of Chad, the Central African Republic, and the Republic of Gabon. XLIII Bulletin, Department of State, No.

1105, Aug. 29, 1960, p. 350.

Ghana

§ 20

The Department of State on March 5, 1957, issued the following release to the press for the March 6 morning newspapers:

"The U.S. Government has officially recognized the new state of Ghana, which becomes independent and a member of the British. Commonwealth on March 6.

"With the permission of the Government of Ghana, the American consulate general at Accra will be raised to the status of an embassy at 1 minute past midnight on March 6. At that time. Donald W. Lamm, consul general, will be named chargé d'affaires pending the appointment of an ambassador to Ghana.

"The U.S. Government has also informed the Government of Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah that it would welcome the establishment of a Ghanaian embassy at Washington as soon as practicable."

Secretary of State Dulles to the American Consul General at Accra, telegram, Mar. 5, 1957, MS. Department of State, file 745J.02/3–557; XXXVI Bulletin, Department of State, No. 926, Mar. 25, 1957, p. 489. For President Eisenhower's message of congratulations, issued as a White House press release, March 6, 1957, see ibid., pp. 489–490. The following congratulatory resolutions were communicated to the American Embassy at Accra for transmittal to the Foreign Minister for submission to appropriate officials of the local Legislative Assembly (MS. Department of State, file 745.02/4–1957) : 8. Res. 111, 85th Congress, extending cordial greetings to the Legislative Assembly of Ghana, adopted March 5, 1957, 103 Cong. Rec., pt. 3, pp. 3105, 3107; H. Res. 185, 85th Congress, extending cordial greetings to the Legislative Assembly of Ghana, adopted March 6, 1957, ibid., pp. 3182-3183; and H. Res. 18, House of Representatives, State of Michigan, adopted March 5, 1957, extending to the people of Ghana sincere congratulations, Journal of the House, No. 30, p. 411; ibid., No. 32, p. 431.

On February 20, 1957, the Ghanaian Foreign Minister gave assurances to the United States that the Government of Ghana would consider Treaties and Agreements between the United Kingdom and the United States of America affecting Ghana as remaining in effect for a period of 3 months following March 6, 1957. On June 28, 1957, the Government of Ghana informed the United States that it considered the informal undertaking still in force. The undertaking on the part of Ghana was continued indefinitely, when by a note of December 21, 1957, the United States was informed that there had been formally transferred to Ghana as of March 6, 1957, the rights and obligations of Treaties and Agreements between the United Kingdom and others in so far as the nature of these rights and obligations admitted such transfer. Treaty file, MS. Department of State.

"During the year Acts were passed as a result of which Ghana and the Federation of Malaya achieved independence within the

Commonwealth. All Commonwealth Prime Ministers agreed to recognise them as fellow members of the Commonwealth. I wish the peoples of Ghana and Malaya all happiness and prosperity: and I welcome their admission to the United Nations. I was much gratified at the cordial reception extended to My Dear Aunt, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, who represented Me at the celebrations in Ghana in March

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's speech, Nov. 1, 1957, 205 H.L. Deb. (5th ser.) cols. 780–781 (Nov. 1, 1957).

In response to its inquiry, the American Embassy in London received the following information with respect to the official status of Ghana and the correct description which should be applied in describing that status, in the form of a letter dated April 24, 1959, from Howard F. T. Smith, Assistant Head of the African Department, British Foreign Office:

"You may wish to refer to the Statement made by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on February 21, 1957 (Hansard, Columns 606-7). For all practical purposes the answer to your enquiry is best summarised as follows:

""On the 6th March, 1957, the territory formerly known as the Gold Coast achieved independent sovereign status within the Commonwealth under the name of “Ghana". At the same time the new State of Ghana was recognised by other Member countries of the Commonwealth as a Member of the Commonwealth. The correct description of the country is, therefore, "Ghana". The description of its status is “An independent sovereign state within, and a Member country of, the Commonwealth."'" The American Embassy, London, to the Department of State, despatch No. 2529, Apr. 29, 1959, MS. Department of State, file 745J.03/4-2959. On July 1, 1960, Ghana became a Republic within the British Commonwealth.

Further, on the establishment and status of Ghana as a State within the British Commonwealth, see vol. 1, chapter II, pp. 521–523.

Guinea
§ 21

On September 28, 1958, Guinea, formerly a territory of French West Africa, rejected by referendum vote the Constitution offered to France and her territories by Premier Charles de Gaulle. On the basis of Guinea's negative vote, the Guinea Territorial Assembly, on October 2, 1958, in extraordinary session, proclaimed the independence of Guinea and announced the new State to be the "Republic of Guinea". Sekou Touré was named Prime Minister with portfolios of national defense and foreign affairs.

The American Consulate General at Dakar (Dumont) to the Secretary of State (Dulles), telegram, Sept. 29, 1958, MS. Department of State, file 751.03/9-2958; same to same, telegram, Oct. 3., 1958, ibid., file 770B.02/10–358.

By a communication of October 2, 1958, Sekou Touré, Prime Minister of Guinea, after informing President Eisenhower of the Proclamation of the National Assembly of Guinea of that date establishing