On May 13, 1948 the Deputies of the Council of Foreign Ministers, who have been meeting in London to consider the disposition to he made of the former Italian colonies in Africa, invited the Canadian Government and certain other interested governments to present their views on the subject, orally or in writing as they might prefer, during the early part of June. Canada was asked to present by June 9th any statement it might care to make.

2. Under Article 23 of the Italian Peace Treaty the final disposal of the former Italian colonies, to which Italy renounced all right and title, is to be determined jointly by the Governments of the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and France. Their decision is to be reached within one year from the coming into force of the Peace Treaty, which took place on September 15, 1947. The Four Powers stated, in a declaration published as Annex XI of the treaty, that if they failed to agree on the disposal of any of the former Italian colonies within the allotted twelve-month period, the matter would be referred to the General Assembly of the United Nations for a recommendation. They undertook to accept the Assembly's recommendation and to take appropriate measures for giving effect to it.

3. The Four Powers also agreed that in trying to reach a decision themselves on the disposal of the former Italian colonies they would take into consideration the views of other interested governments. Several of these have been heard from already. The Council of Deputies hopes to know the views of all interested governments before it begins to discuss the reports of the Four Power Commission of Investigation, appointed on October 20, 1947, which has been studying conditions in Eritrea, Italian Somaliland and Libya.

4. The Council of Deputies has undertaken to send copies of the reports of the Commission, immediately after their completion, to the Canadian Government and to other interested governments. These governments will be accorded the right to present supplementary views to the Council of Deputies, either in writing or orally, after they have examined the reports of the Commission.

5. The text of the first Canadian statement, which has been transmitted to the Council of Deputies through the High Commissioner for Canada, in London is as follows:

[PIÈCE JOINTE/ENCLOSURE]

Note

Memorandum

CONFIDENTIAL

[Ottawa, June 7, 1948]

DISPOSAL OF FORMER ITALIAN COLONIES

The Canadian Government, having been invited by the Deputies of the Council of Foreign Ministers, in a communication from the Secretary-General dated May 13, 1948, to present its views on the disposal of the former Italinal [sic] colonies, desires to submit in writing the following observations.

2. It is the understanding of the Canadian Government that until the African territories formerly administered as Italian colonies are placed under trusteeship or until they achieve independence or are incorporated in the territory of an independent state or states, they fall within the scope of Chapter XI of the United Nations Charter. This means that, in considering the disposition to be made of Eritrea, Somalia and Libya, the interests of the inhabitants should he recognized as paramount, according to the principle enunciated in Article 73 of the Charter, and that arrangements to ensure the future political, economic, social and educational advancement of the peoples concerned should be based on the ascertained condition of each territory and the needs and the wishes of its inhabitants.

3. The Canadian Government has therefore been gratified to learn that it is the intention of the Deputies to send to interested Governments copies of the reports or the Four-Power Commission of Investigation as soon as these arc available and that interested Governments will he accorded the right, after examining the reports, to present supplementary views to the Council of Deputies, either in writing or orally. Thus the contribution made by all interested Governments to the ultimate decision of the Council of Foreign Ministers may he based on a knowledge of the facts, without which it would he difficult to reach conclusions serving the best interests of the populations concerned.

4. Should the reports of the Commission of Investigation indicate that any of the territories formerly administered as Italian colonies are not ready for independence,. or that the majority of the inhabitants do not desire incorporation in a neighbouring. territory or a neighbouring independent state or states, the Canadian Government. will support the application to these territories of the international trusteeship system under Chapter XII of the Charter. In the selection of administering authorities the Canadian Government will support the appointment of those best qualified to achieve the basic objectives of the trusteeship system as set forth in Article 76, i.e., (a) to further international peace and security; (h) to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the inhabitants and their progressive development towards self-government or independence; (c) to encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; and (d) to ensure equal treatment for all Members of the United Nations and their nationals, and equal treatment for the latter in the administration of justice.