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Position within the framework of the
United Nations

APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER XI OF THE UNITED
NATIONS CHARTER TO THE GULF STATES
In practice, the United Kingdom has not treated the Gulf States at
non-self-governing territories, within the meaning of Chapter XI of
the Charter. Other States have concurred in this practice. However, it
may be desirable to explain, by reference to both theory and practice,
why there has been no problem in this respect.

The obligation under Chapter XI of the Charter
Chapter XI, entitled ‘Declaration Regarding Non-Self-Governing
Territories’, recites that Members of the Organisation who are
responsible for the administration of Territories that
have not yet attained a full measure of self-government recognize the
principle that the interests of the inhabitants of these territories are para­
mount, and accept as a sacred trust the obligation to promote to the
utmost, within the system of international peace and security ... the well
being of the inhabitants of these territories ...
To this effect, they undertake to observe a number of responsi­
bilities regarding the political, economic and social advancement of
these territories, and, in particular, ‘to develop self-government’ in
them. Furthermore, they undertake, under Article 73(e),
to transmit regularly to the Secretary-General for information purposes,
subject to such limitation as security and constitutional considerations may
require, statistical and other information of a technical nature relating to
economic, social, and educational conditions in the territories for which
they are respectively responsible other than those territories to which
Chapters XII and XIII apply.1
The territories in respect of which information is required to be
submitted, under paragraph (e) of Article 73, are those territories
‘whose peoples have not yet attained a full measure of self-govern­
ment’. The significance of this phrase was clearly noted during the
early debates marking the preliminary work on the draft of Chapter

1 The United Nations, Charter of the United Nations and Statute of the Inter­
national Court of Justice, published by the United Nations, Department of Public
Information, New York, 1956.
151