BIG MAJORITY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 29, 14 November 1949, Page 5

BIG MAJORITY

INVESTIGATION OF EDUCATION UNO COMMITTEE DECISION 9 (N.Z.P. A.—Copyright) (Rec. 9.5). NEW YORK, Nov. 13. The United Nations Trusteeship Committee has recommended an investigation of educational conditions in non-self-governing territories against British, French and Belgian opposition. The United States-Mexican resolution calling for investigation was approved 11 by 31 votes to 3. Roger Qarreau, the French delegate, said that France would never have joined the United Nations had it known that the organisation would 4 'violate’’ the charter by interfering in French administration of colonial territories. He declared that if the General Assembly approved the committe’s recommendations, France would consider appealing to the International Court of Justice.

Mr J. M. Martin (United Kingdom) declared that no organ of the United Nations had any right to inquire into conditions in British dependencies or make recommendations on colonial policy. He said the resolution went far beyond the powers vested in the special committee, whose responsibility it would he to carry out investigation of educational conditions. Both the British and French delegates protested %gainst the singling out of educational conditions in non-self-governing territories for special investigation and criticism. They argued that educational-facilities were as poor or worse in scores of independent countries that would not think of permitting international supervision of their policies. Mr Charles Fahy (United States) denied that the resolution was intended as an indictment of the policies of colonial Powers. He proposed that the investigation of education be undertaken next year, to be followed by intensive surveys of colonial economics and social welfare in succeeding years.