Editorial Note
Between November 6 and 12, the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly considered the question of South West Africa and adopted two draft resolutions (A and B). Draft resolution A, among other points, recalled the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (July 1950), regretted South Africa’s repeated refusal to assist in the implementation of the opinion, continued to maintain that South Africa had no international commitments as a result of the demise of the League of Nations, noted that South Africa had refused to submit information requested by the Ad Hoc Committee, and established, until such time as an agreement was reached, a Committee on South West Africa, whose principal tasks were to examine information and documentation on the subject, to prepare a procedure for the General Assembly’s examination of reports and petitions, to continue negotiations with South Africa in order to implement the advisory opinion of the Court, and to report annually to the General Assembly. Draft resolution B reiterated previous General Assembly resolutions to the effect that the Territory of South West Africa be placed under the International Trusteeship System. (Report of the Fourth Committee, November 24, 1953, UN document A/2572; for United States Representative Bolton’s remarks to the Fourth Committee, see Department of State Bulletin, December 7, 1953, pages 805–806.)
At its 460th plenary meeting on November 28, 1953, the General Assembly first reduced the number of Committee members from nine to seven, and then adopted draft resolutions A (as amended) and B. The United States voted in favor of both parts of the resolution. (For text of resolution 749 A and B (VIII), see Official Records of the General Assembly, Eighth Session, Supplement No. 17, UN document A/2630.)