agreement signed by the two Governments on March 5, 1959 33 which declares among other things that "the Government of the United States of America regards as vital to its national interest and to world peace the preservation of the independence and integrity of Pakistan. ." They also reaffirmed the value of existing collective security arrangements as an instrument for defense against aggression.

They reviewed the progress of United States military assistance to Pakistan which is being extended in order to assist that nation to maintain forces for the preservation of its security.

President Ayub described the progress which has been made toward the development of a new constitution suitable to the requirements of the people of Pakistan.

The two Presidents agreed that this, their first meeting, has greatly enhanced the understanding between the Governments of Pakistan and the United States and has contributed substantially to continuing close cooperation between the two nations.

SAUDI ARABIA

302. TERMINATION OF THE SAUDI ARABIAN-UNITED STATES AGREEMENT FOR THE OPERATION OF DHAHRAN AIRFIELD, EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 1962: Statement Issued by the Department of State, March 16, 1961 *

Discussions have been proceeding for some time with His Highness former Prime Minister Faisal, and more recently with Foreign Minister Suwayyil, under the direction of His Majesty King Saud, looking toward the nonrenewal of the Dhahran airfield agreement of 1957, which expires in April 1962.

$5

The history of Dhahran airfield dates back to the days of World War II, when His Majesty the late King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud approved plans for the construction of the airfield with the assistance of the United States. The late King's decision was based on a desire to make an effective contribution logistically to the Allied war effort and also to prepare for Saudi Arabia to participate significantly in the postwar world of aviation.

Today the Saudi Arabian Government has at Dhahran an airfield which is a major international aviation center with modern facilities. It has been serving as a training and operations center for the Royal Saudi Air Force. It has also become a center not only for Saudi

33 Reference to the agreement of cooperation signed at Ankara Mar. 5, 1959; text in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1959, p. 1023.

34 Department of State press release No. 141 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Apr. 3, 1961, p. 490). This statement by the Department of State was issued following the announcement by the Royal Government of Saudi Arabia that its agreement with the United States for the operation of the Dhahran airfield would not be renewed when it expired Apr. 1, 1962.

35

Text in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1957, pp. 1031-1034.

Arabian but also for international civil air routes. In assisting the Saudi Arabian Government in the transformation of Dhahran into an international civil air terminal, the Government of the United States is constructing a modern civil air terminal building, the completion of which should occur within a year.

Always recognizing and respecting the Saudi ownership and character of Dhahran airfield, the United States Air Force has assisted in developing Saudi military aviation. It has also enjoyed certain use of the facilities at the Dhahran airfield under agreement with the Saudi Arabian Government and, at the request of the Saudi Arabian Government, has aided in the operation of the services of the airport. The United States Government expects that its close and friendly cooperation with Saudi Arabia in various fields will continue.

SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC

UNITED STATES RECOGNITION OF THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 10, 1961: Statement Issued by the Department of State, October 10, 1961 36

3 Department of State press release No. 700; the Department of State Bulletin, Oct. 30, 1961, p. 715.

The Syrian Arab Republic was proclaimed Sept. 29, 1961, following the revolt of the preceding day against continued union with the United Arab Republic (see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1958, pp. 1071-1072). The dissolution of the union was acknowledged by the United Arab Republic Oct. 5, 1961.

Part VIII

AFRICA

303. FORMATION OF THE “CASABLANCA GROUP": African Charter of Casablanca, Signed at Casablanca by the Heads of State of Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Morocco, and the United Arab Republic, January 7, 1961 1

1

We, the Heads of African States, meeting in Casablanca from January 3 to January 7, 1961, conscious of our responsibilities toward the African Continent, Proclaim our determination to promote the triumph of liberty all over Africa and to achieve its unity,

Affirm our will to preserve and consolidate our identity of views and unity of action in international affairs, to safeguard our hard-won independence, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our States, to reinforce peace in the world by adopting a policy of nonalignment,

Proclaim our determination to liberate the African territories still under foreign domination, by giving them aid and assistance, to liquidate colonialism and neocolonialism in all their forms, to discourage the maintenance of foreign troops and the establishment of bases which endanger the liberation of Africa and to strive equally to rid the African Continent of political and economic interventions and pressures,

Proclaim the necessity for the Independent African States to direct their political, economic, and social policies to the exploitation of the national wealth for the benefit of their peoples and to ensuring an equitable distribution of that wealth among all nationals,

Affirm our will to intensify our efforts for the creation of an effective form of cooperation among the African States in the economic, social, and cultural domains.

Aiming at the consolidation of liberty in Africa and the building up of its unity and security, we decide upon

1. The creation of an African Consultative Assembly, as soon as conditions permit, composed of the representatives of every African State, having a permanent seat and holding periodical sessions.

2. The creation of the following four committees:

(a) The African Political Committee, comprising Heads of States, or their duly accredited representatives, will meet periodically with a view to coordinating and unifying the general policy of the various African States;

'Ruth C. Lawson, ed., International Regional Organizations: Constitutional Foundations (New York: Praeger, 1962), pp. 304–306. The signatories and other participants in the Conference, which took place Jan. 3-7, 1961, are identified in doc. 341, post.

The Conference also issued a "Declaration Concerning the Situation in the Congo" (text ibid.) and adopted resolutions on the following matters: Palestine; Mauritania; Ruanda-Urundi; “Apartheid and Racial Discrimination”; “Nuclear Tests"; and Algeria; texts in Colin Legum, Pan-Africanism: A Short Political Guide (New York: Praeger, 1962), pp. 188–191.

747-787-65- -50

(b) The African Economic Committee, comprising the Ministers of Economic Affairs of the Independent African States, will meet periodically with a view to taking decisions with regard to African economic cooperation. One of the most urgent tasks of this Committee will be to establish postal and telecommunication links among the various African capitals;

(c) The African Cultural Committee, comprising the Ministers of Education of the Independent African States, will meet periodically with a view to preserving and developing African culture and civilization and intensifying African cultural cooperation and assistance;

(d) A Joint African High Command, comprising the Chiefs of Staff of the Independent African States will meet periodically with a view to ensuring the common defense of Africa in case of aggression against any part of this continent, and with a view to safeguarding the independence of African States.

3. The creation of a Liaison Office for establishing effective cooperation among the different organizations mentioned above and particularly for the holding within three months of a meeting of experts charged with defining the practical procedure concerning the functioning of the organizations in question.

2

We, the Heads of African States, convened in Casablanca from January 3 to January 7, 1961, reaffirm our faith in the Conferences of the Independent African States, held in Accra in 1958 and in Addis Ababa in 1960 and appeal to all Independent African States to associate themselves with our common action for the consolidation of liberty in Africa and the building up of its unity and security. We solemnly reaffirm our unshakable adherence to the United Nations Charter and to the Declaration of the Afro-Asian Conference held in Bandung with the aim of promoting cooperation among all the peoples of the world and of consolidating international peace.

304. "PLANS MUST BE MADE... TO MAKE THE SIXTIES A HISTORIC PERIOD OF DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS IN ALL OF AFRICA": Statement Made by the U.S. Representative (Stevenson) in Committee I of the U.N. General Assembly, March 23, 1961 (Excerpt) 5

Yesterday President Kennedy submitted to the United States Congress a special message on foreign aid. In this message he reaffirms the conviction of the Government and of the people of the United States that

There exists, in the 1960's, a historic opportunity for a major economic assistance effort by the free industrialized nations to move more than half the people of the less-developed nations into self-sustained economic growth, while the rest move substantially closer to the day when they, too, will no longer have to depend on outside assistance.

It is in this conviction that we approach the problem of African development which is now before the committee.

Last September President Eisenhower in a speech before the General Assembly outlined a program for the future development of Africa. In the intervening 6 months much has happened in Africa,

2 See American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1958, pp. 1074–1076. See ibid., 1960, p. 509.

3

4

See American Foreign Policy, 1950-1955: Basic Documents, pp. 2344–2352. ́U.S.-U.N. press release 3674 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Apr. 10, 1961, pp. 534-537).

Post, doc. 644.

Text in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pp. 60–70.