During the second part of the first session of the United Nations General Assembly, the General Committee decided not to support the request of the Union of South Africa (SA) that the complaint of the Indian government concerning the treatment of Indians in SA be removed from the agenda on the grounds that the matter was essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of SA. Two days later, on 26 October, the General Assembly decided to include the complaint in its agenda as an item entitled: "Treatment of Indians in the Union of South Africa" and later decided that it should be considered jointly by the First and Sixth Committees. In November a multi-racial delegation from South Africa, led by Dr. A.B. Xuma, president-general of the African National Congress and including Sorabjee Rustomjee, H.A. Naidoo and Senator H.M. Basner, arrived in New York to follow the discussions at the UN and advise the Indian delegation. On 8 December 1946, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 44(1), its first resolution on the racial policy of SA. It stated that the treatment of Indians in South Africa should be in conformity with the international obligations under the agreements concluded between the two Governments, and the relevant provisions of the United Nations Charter.
24 October 1946
The UN decides not to support the request of the Union of South Africa concerning the treatment of Indians in SA

- Updated
- 23 Oct 2020

How we know this
- 01Muller, C.F.J. (ed) (1981). Five Hundred years: a history of South Africa;3rd rev. ed., Pretoria: Academica, p. 460.
- 02Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds) (1970). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Cape Town: NASOU, v. 11, p. 78.
Last updated · 23 Oct 2020
South African History Online. (2011, March 16). The UN decides not to support the request of the Union of South Africa concerning the treatment of Indians in SA. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011694
South African History Online (2011) 'The UN decides not to support the request of the Union of South Africa concerning the treatment of Indians in SA', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011694 (Accessed: 12 November 2026).
South African History Online, The UN decides not to support the request of the Union of South Africa concerning the treatment of Indians in SA [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011694, (accessed 12 November 2026).
"The UN decides not to support the request of the Union of South Africa concerning the treatment of Indians in SA." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011694. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.
South African History Online. "The UN decides not to support the request of the Union of South Africa concerning the treatment of Indians in SA." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011694.
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