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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 May 2009
The third special session of the General Assembly, summoned by the Secretary-General to consider “the grave situation in Tunisia obtaining since 19 July 1961,” was held from August 21 through 25, 1961. In his opening statement to the Assembly the Tunisian delegate, Mongi Slim, outlined events leading up to the crisis of July 19 when as a normal exercise of its sovereignty the Tunisian government decided to prohibit formally flights over its territory by any French aircraft and announced that aircraft which violated this prohibition would be shot down. Shortly after the notification of this prohibition, French aircraft began to fly over the Bizerta region, and, disregarding the warning shots directed against them, launched an assault, in which paratroopers and warships later joined. Furthermore, Tunisia had complied with the interim resolution adopted by the Security Council on July 22 calling for a cease-fire and a withdrawal of all armed forces to their original positions, whereas France, in open defiance of the Security Council and of the Tunisian government, had availed itself of the Tunisian compliance by extending its perimeter of occupation and by strengthening its military potential. Mr. Slim called preposterous the French argument that its actions were in self-defense, stating that the peaceful demonstrations of the Tunisian people on Tunisian territory could not possibly have prejudiced the political independence and territorial integrity of France. Thus, since all of Tunisia's attempts to enter into negotiations with a view to the peaceful settlement of the armed conflict and the evacuation of the French base at Bizerta had been in vain, Tunisia's only course of action, other than to submit to brutal force, was to appeal to the United Nations. In closing, Mr. Slim emphasized that the problem before the Assembly had a two-fold aspect: 1) the right of Tunisia to call for the swift withdrawal of all French troops from her soil, which touched upon the Organization's responsibilities for the maintenance of international peace and security; and 2) the refusal of France to comply with the interim resolution of the Security Council. Thus, the question before the Assembly involved not only a conflict between France and Tunisia, but one between France and the UN as well.
1 Document A/4847. For a summary of the discussion of the Tunisian situation in the Security Council, see this issue, p. 655–661.
2 Document S/4882; when submitted as a draft, Document S/4880.
3 Document A/L.351.
4 See General Assembly Resolution 41 (I), December 14, 1946.
5 See General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV), December 15, 1960.
6 General Assembly Official Records (16th session). Supplement 15.
7 Document A/AC.35/L.351.
8 General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV), December 15, 1960, provided the basis for the adoption of concrete measures leading to the independence of all non-self-governing territories; General Assembly Resolution 1541 (XV), December 15, 1960, asserted the competence of the General Assembly to decide whether or not an obligation existed to transmit information on territories; and General Assembly Resolution 1542 (XV), December 21, 1960, declared that an obligation existed on the part of the government of Portugal to transmit information under Chapter XI of the Charter concerning the territories under its administration.
9 Document A/AC.35/L.349.
10 General Assembly Resolution 1332 (XIII), December 12, 1958.
11 General Assembly Official Records (16th session), Supplement 7.
12 General Assembly Official Records (16th session), Supplement 5.
13 See General Assembly Resolutions 1446 (XIV), December 5, 1959, and 1557 (XV), December 18, 1960.
14 General Assembly Resolutions 1583 (XV), December 20, 1960, and 1619 (XV), April 21, 1961.
15 General Assembly Resolution 1586 (XV), December 20, 1960.
16 General Assembly Resolution 1620 (XV), April 21, 1961.
17 General Assembly Official Records (16th session), Supplement 6B.
18 See International Organization, Fall 1960 (Vol. 14, No. 4), p. 570.Google Scholar
19 See ibid.
20 General Assembly Official Records (16th session). Supplement 6A.
21 General Assembly Official Records (16th session). Supplement 6C.
22 See General Assembly Resolution 1166 (XII), November 26, 1957.
23 General Assembly Official Records (16th session), Supplement 11.
24 General Assembly Official Records (16th session), Supplement 6.
25 General Assembly Resolution 1581 (XV), December 29, 1960.
26 General Assembly Resolution 1441 (XIV), December 5, 1959.
27 General Assembly Resolution 1583 (XV), December 20, 1960, provided an appropriation of $48.5 million to be apportioned among Member States on the basis of the regular scale of assessment, subject to certain provisions for reduction in connection with voluntary contributions.
28 General Assembly Official Records (16th session), Supplement 9.
29 For the comments of governments, see Document A/CN.4/136 and Adds.1–11.
30 For the report of the special rapporteur, see Document A/CN. 4/137.
31 See General Assembly Resolution 1505 (XV), December 12, 1960.
