Trusteeship

Letter To The Editor

In Defence of NG Trusteeship

YOUR Editorial Note, “UNO In fluence in P-NG Affairs” (PIM Nov., p. 58), states: “This journal does not care twi hoots whether UNO and it Trusteeship Council are offende< by anything that happens in th( PaciAc, or not”.

But I still wonder that the P/ik should have considered that th« Tapmi affair would have been “Mon ammunition for UNO”— particularly as I have said, as Tapini is ir Papua.

I also wonder if it is universally undei stood that the Trusteeship Council has absolutely no authority whatsoever with regard to New Ouinea Administration affairs.

Article 2 of the Trusteeship Agree ment states:— The Government of Australia (hereinafter called the Admin istering Authority) is hereby designated as the sole authority which shall exercise the adminis tration of the territory.

I have lost count of the number of times the Australian represent ative has had occasion to draw the attention of certain TC mem bers to that section.

The position of Australia is quito clear. She entered into an agree ment with the UN to administer New Guinea in such a manner as to achieve the basic objectives of the International Trusteeship System as set forth in Article 76 of the Charter; and it must be accepted that this agreement was concluded m good faith.

Australia will submit to the UN an annual account of her steward ship (Annual Report) and she will arrange, at times suitable to Aus tralia and to the Council, for a Visiting Mission to tour where it will in New Guinea.

Australia would be glad of helpful suggestions concerning adminis tration in any of its branches: and is always willing to give due con sideration to any serious and genuine criticism. What Australia will not do—and she has made it plain be yond all doubt—is to, in any way, share her responsibility for the ad ministration of New Guinea either with the Trusteeship Council as a whole, or with any members or member thereof.

Although a number ot memuers or the Council, from its inception until now, have uttered criticisms of ad ministrative policy in New Guinea (the Administrative Union with Papua, for instance) only one mem ber of the Council has accused Aus

lia of lack of good faith in carry ; out of the trusteeship agree nt—and that was the USSR. One ler has implied it: that being ssia’s SS. (In UN-ese, “Syrian iitnik”.) Neither can be taken seriously. » May I now state that I DO wlieve that the actions of the J -NG Administration ARE in luenced by the UNO. And may 1 ay further that until such time is Australia declares that a rusteeship over New Guinea is 10 longer necessary (the objectives )f the International Trusteeship System, as applicable to New Guinea, being substantially ichieved) I trust her administra ion of the Territory will be in fluenced by UN opinion. And 1 relieve that Australia, as a mem ber of the UN mil spare no effort )o contribute to the formation of \hat opinion. ro try and put it another ;annot visualise Australia in these itters as other than a member the UN, a member who does not ?k to dominate and, equally, can t be dominated by other members, le is entirely free to accept or to ject any suggestions or advice ered her regarding her adminis ations of trust territories and I List express my personal opinion at one or more of the other -81 embers of UN should be able to me up with a suggestion which I of us might accept.

Has the International Trusteeship

'stem achieved anything?

May I quote the United Nations ay Message to Trust Territories nt out on October 24, 1957, by Mr.

D. L. Hood, the Trusteeship Duncil President. Mr. Hood is a asmanian.

On the twelfth anniversary of the United tions, I am privileged in my capacity of esident of the Trusteeship Council, to tend to the peoples of the governments the Trust Territories the greetings of the uncil.

The International Trusteeship System tablished by the United Nations has now ierated for almost 11 years and, it is atifying to note, has operated well. At e beginning of this year, the Trusteeship jreement for Togoland under British Iministration was terminated, the objectives the International Trusteeship System having icn achieved in that territory. Great ogress has also been made in the other ust Territories in the political as well as e economic, social and educational fields.

I wish to take this opportunity to point the unfailing interest which the United stions attaches to the well-being of the •oples of the Trust Territories and to isure them that the United Nations in i-operation with the administering authorities mcerned, will spare no effort in promoting leir progressive development toward the )ble objectives of the International Trustee lip System.

I am, etc.,

G. W. L. Townsend.

lontville Rd., 'almswood, Q’ld.