The Reminiscences of Zafrulla Khan — Page 224
208 REMINISCENCES OF SIR MUHAMMAD ZAFRULLA KHAN constitutional arrangements already in force, mistress of its own internal affairs. Britain has little authority and less power to attempt a solution. No decision can be made in the United Nations without the participation of Rhodesia, and Rhodesia cannot participate directly because it is not independent. So, it is, in a sense, a case of long-distance shooting, those directly concerned cannot be brought to face the situation here. An attempt was made to leave the question out of the agenda of this session, because it had been dealt with very recently in the adjourned session in June. It was not to be expected that much progress could be made between June and, say, the end of this year. But the Afro-Asian states were insistent that the matter must be brought up for discussion again in this session. Last year's resolution directed that the committee should report to the 17th Session. The committee prepared its report and submitted it, but the 16th Session was under adjournment and had not been concluded, though the adjournment had been for the sole purpose of dealing with Rwanda and Burundi. When the Session was resumed for the purpose of dealing with Rwanda and Burundi, a motion was adopted that it should also consider the report of the committee in regard to Southern Rhodesia. Thus the report was dealt with in the resumed session, and now it has come up in the 17th Session. Question : What about South Africa ? Khan : South Africa again will raise a good deal of controversy. This fall South Africa will be discussed in another forum. The International Court of Justice will deal with the problem of South West Africa on the application of Ethiopia and Liberia, representing the remaining African states. On the 2nd of October, the Court will take up the hearing of the preliminary objections of the Government of South Africa to the jurisdiction of the Court and it is expected to hand down its judgment by the middle of December, possibly earlier. If the Court holds that it has jurisdiction, then in 1964-1965, it will be ready to deal with the merits of the question. The pendency of the matter before the International Court of Justice will not affect the overall question being discussed in this Session. There will be a great deal of pressure and possibly an attempt to get a resolution through asking for sanctions against South Africa. Last year, our delegate on the Special Political Committee presented a resolution proposing oil sanctions against South Africa. We were of the view that a resolution proposing general sanctions, even if it was