Notes on Legal Questions Concerning the United Nations Reparation for Injuries suffered in the Service of the United Nations

Yuen-li Liang

doi:10.2307/2193639

Notes on Legal Questions Concerning the United Nations Reparation for Injuries suffered in the Service of the United Nations

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 April 2017

Yuen-li Liang

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Yuen-li Liang*: Affiliation:
Division of Development and Codification of International Law, United Nations Secretariat

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The International Court of Justice on April 11, 1949, gave its unanimous opinion that, in the event of an agent of the United Nations in the performance of his duties suffering injury in circumstances involving the responsibility of a Member (or a non-member) State, the United Nations as an organization has the capacity to bring an international claim against the responsible de jure or de facto government with a view to obtaining the reparation due in respect of the damage caused the United Nations. By a majority of eleven, with four judges dissenting, the Court also gave its opinion that the United Nations has the capacity to claim reparation due in respect of the damage caused to the victim or to persons entitled through him. The Court by ten votes to five gave its further opinion that when the United Nations as an organization is bringing a claim for reparation of damage caused to its agent, it can only do so by basing its claim upon a breach of obligations due to itself; and that respect for this rule will usually prevent a conflict between the action of the United Nations and such rights as the agent’s national state may possess, and thus bring about a reconciliation between their claims.

Type: Research Article
Information: American Journal of International Law , Volume 43 , Issue 3 , July 1949 , pp. 460 - 478

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2193639 [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © American Society of International Law 1949

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^{page 460 note 1} Reparation for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations, Advisory Opinion. I.C.J. Reports, 1949, p. 174; this Journal, p. 589.

^{page 460 note 2} U. N. Docs. A/650, A/BUR/102, Sept. 21, 1948.

^{page 461 note 3} For the list of those tragic incidents see U. N. Doc. A/674, Oct. 7, 1948.

^{page 461 note 4} U. N. Doc. A/P.V. 136, Sept. 21, 1948, p. 47.

^{page 461 note 5} U. N. Doc. A/P.V. 142, Sept. 24, 1948.

^{page 461 note 6} U. N. Doc. A/674, Oct. 7, 1948.

^{page 461 note 7} Ibid., at p. 5. The Secretary General, while stating that no exact precedent existed, relied upon the analogy of the responsibility of a state for injury to the nationals of other states. He cited Mavrommatie’ Palestine Concessions Case, Publications of the Permanent Court of International Justice: Series A, No. 2.

^{page 462 note 8} U. N. Docs. A/C.6/SB.112-121, and 124.

^{page 462 note 9} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/279, and Corr. 1, Nov. 20, 1948. Amendments were submitted by France, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/282, and U.S.S.R., Doc. A/C.6/284.

^{page 462 note 10} U. N. Docs. A/C.6/281 and Rev. 1, Rev. 2, Nov. 20 and 22, 1948.

^{page 462 note 11} U. N. Docs. A/C.6/276, Nov. 19, 1948, and A/C.6/SE.116, pp. 7-9; an amendment was submitted by France, U. N. Doe. A/C.6/278, Nov. 20, 1948.

^{page 462 note 12} U. N. Docs. A/C.6/275, Rev. 1, and Rev. 1/Corr. 1, Nov. 19 and 20, 1948, and A/C.6/291, Nov. 24, 1948. Amendments were presented by Prance, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/ 277, Nov. 20, 1948; United Kingdom, U. N. Docs. A/C.6/280, Nov. 20, 1948, A/C.6/283, Nov. 22, 1948; France and Iran, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/285, Nov. 22, 1948; Venezuela, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/292, Nov. 24, 1948; Greece, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/293, Nov. 25, 1948. A combined text is found in U. N. Doc. A/C.6/294, Nov. 25, 1948.

^{page 462 note 13} U.S.S.R., U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.114, Nov. 20, 1948, pp. 2-3; Egypt, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/ SE.117, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 11; France, U. N. Docs. A/C.6/SE.112, Nov. 20, 1948, pp. 13-15; A/C.6/SE.114, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 6; A/C.6/SE.115, Nov. 22, 1948, p. 5.

^{page 463 note 14} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/114, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 6.

^{page 463 note 15} Syria, U. N. Docs. A/C.6/SR.112, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 13; A/C.6/SR.116, Nov. 22, 1948, pp. 7-9; A/C.6/SR.117, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 2; Greece, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SE.112, Nov. 20, 1948, pp. 16-18; Peru, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.117, Nov. 24, 1948, pp. 7-8.

^{page 463 note 16} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.117, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 7.

^{page 463 note 17} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.115, Nov. 22, 1948, pp. 10-11.

^{page 463 note 18} United States, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.112, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 5; Netherlands, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.118, Nov. 27, 1948, p. 7; Chile, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.113, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 12; Iran, ibid., pp. 12-13, Brazil, ibid., p. 14; Venezuela, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.114, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 4; Colombia, U. N. Doe. A/C.6/SR.116, Nov. 22, 1948, p. 3; Afghanistan, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.120, Nov. 29, 1948, p. 7; China, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.118, Nov. 27, 1948, p. 5. See I.C.J. Doc. Distr. 47/48, pp. 5-6.

^{page 463 note 19} Iran, Venezuela, statements cited, supra, note 18.

^{page 464 note 20} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.115, Nov. 22, 1948, pp. 2-3.

^{page 464 note 21} United Kingdom, U. N. Doe. A/C.6/SR.112, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 7 ; Australia, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.113, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 2; Turkey, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.114, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 3 ; Ecuador, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.120, Nov. 29, 1948, p. 7.

^{page 464 note 22} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.112, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 7.

^{page 464 note 23} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.113, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 2.

^{page 464 note 24} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.118, Nov. 27, 1948, p. 11.

^{page 465 note 25} This text is pieced together from U. N. Docs. A/C.6/279 and A/C.6/284 and the records of the discussion in the Sixth Committee. See particularly Docs. A/C.6/SR.119, pp. 3-11 ; A/C.6/SR.120, pp. 2-5.

^{page 465 note 26} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.120, Nov. 29, 1948, pp. 5-6.

^{page 465 note 27} Ibid., p. 8.

^{page 465 note 28} Ibid., at pp. 8-14.

^{page 465 note 29} Ibid., at p. 9.

^{page 465 note 30} The representative of Syria withdrew his proposal, but reserved his delegation’s right to make necessary observations to the International Court of Justice. U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.124, Nov. 27, 1948, p. 3.

^{page 465 note 31} See supra, note 12.

^{page 465 note 32} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/286, Nov. 22, 1948. The Delegation of Greece submitted an amendment to this proposal. U. N. Doc. A/C.6/287, Nov. 23, 1948.

^{page 465 note 33} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/294, Nov. 25, 1948.

^{page 466 note 34} U. N. Doc. A./C.6/SR.124, Nov. 27, 1948, p. 7.

^{page 466 note 35} U. N. Doc. A/749, and Corr. 2, Dec. 2, 1948.

^{page 466 note 36} U. N. Doc. A/P.V.169, Dec. 3, 1948, p. 47.

^{page 466 note 37} General Assembly resolution 258 (III), Dec. 3, 1948.

^{page 467 note 38} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.113, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 8.

^{page 467 note 39} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.114, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 4.

^{page 467 note 40} U. N. Docs. A/C.6/SR.114, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 8; A/C.6/SR.115, Nov. 22, 1948, p. 13.

^{page 467 note 41} U. N. Docs. A/C.6/SR.113, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 13 ; A/C.6/SR.116, p. 2.

^{page 467 note 42} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.115, Nov. 22, 1948, p. 5.

^{page 467 note 43} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.117, Nov. 24, 1948, pp. 3, 11.

^{page 467 note 44} Ibid., at p. 6.

^{page 467 note 45} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.124, Nov. 27, 1948, pp. 7-8.

^{page 467 note 46} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.113, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 14.

^{page 467 note 47} Ibid., at p. 10.

^{page 467 note 48} Ibid., at p. 13.

^{page 467 note 49} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.114, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 8.

^{page 467 note 50} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.113, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 10.

^{page 468 note 51} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.112, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 6.

^{page 468 note 52} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.115, Nov. 22, 1948, p. 3.

^{page 468 note 53} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.U2, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 16.

^{page 468 note 54} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SK.117, Nov. 24, 1948, pp. 2-3.

^{page 468 note 55} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.114, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 3.

^{page 468 note 56} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.117, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 7.

^{page 468 note 57} Ibid., at p. 2.

^{page 468 note 58} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.112, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 16.

^{page 468 note 59} Ibid.

^{page 469 note 60} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.120, Nov. 29, 1948, p. 7.

^{page 469 note 61} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.112, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 4.

^{page 469 note 62} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.119, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 9.

^{page 469 note 63} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.119, Nov. 24, 1948, pp. 7-8.

^{page 469 note 64} See for example U. N. Docs. A/C.6/SR.112, pp. 4-5, 7, 11-12; A/C.6/SR.117, Nov. 24, 1948, pp. 7, 10 and 12.

^{page 469 note 65} See statement of United Kingdom representative, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.112, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 7.

^{page 469 note 66} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.113, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 8.

^{page 469 note 67} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.117, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 4.

^{page 469 note 68} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.113, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 13.

^{page 469 note 69} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.115, Nov. 22, 1948, p. 3.

^{page 469 note 70} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.117, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 3.

^{page 469 note 71} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.116, Nov. 22, 1948, p. 3.

^{page 469 note 72} u. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.113, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 8.

^{page 469 note 73} Ibid. at p. 13.

^{page 469 note 74} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.116, Nov. 22, 1948, p. 3.

^{page 469 note 75} See statement of representative of France, U.-N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.117, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 5. This view is supported by the text of the preamble of the resolution unanimously adopted by the General Assembly. See infra.

^{page 470 note 76} U. N. Doc. A/C.6./SR.112, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 17.

^{page 470 note 77} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.114, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 3.

^{page 470 note 78} U. N. Doc. A/674, Oct. 7, 1948, pp. 5-6. See statement of Mr. Feller, U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.113, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 4.

^{page 470 note 79} U. N. Doc. A/749, Dec. 2, 1948.

^{page 470 note 80} Greece, Syria and Turkey.

^{page 470 note 81} Egypt, Iran, Netherlands, Uruguay, U.S.S.R.

^{page 470 note 82} The representatives of France and Belgium thought that the United Nations should only claim for injury suffered by the agent or persons entitled through him. The representatives of the United States and Czechoslovakia were of the opinion that the United Nations could only claim for injury suffered by the Organization itself. The United States maintained this view in its written Statement presented to the Court. I.C.J. Doc. Distr. 49/48, pp. 12-15.

^{page 470 note 83} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.112, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 15.

^{page 471 note 84} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.115, Nov. 22, 1948, p. 12.

^{page 471 note 85} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.112, Nov. 20, 1948, pp. 16-17.

^{page 471 note 86} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SK.113, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 8.

^{page 471 note 87} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.112, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 10.

^{page 471 note 88} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.114, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 2.

^{page 471 note 89} Ibid., at p. 7.

^{page 472 note 90} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.112, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 18.

^{page 472 note 91} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.114, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 6.

^{page 472 note 92} U. N. Doe. A/C.6/SR.117, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 3.

^{page 472 note 93} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.113, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 9.

^{page 472 note 94} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.115, Nov. 22, 1948, p. 10.

^{page 472 note 95} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.112, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 9.

^{page 472 note 96} Ibid., at p. 11.

^{page 472 note 97} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.113, Nov. 24, 1948, p. 10.

^{page 472 note 98} U. N. Doc. A/C.6/SR.112, Nov. 20, 1948, p. 10.

^{page 472 note 99} The written observations of governments which follow are summarized from records printed in I.C.J. Doc. Distr. 49/48.

^{page 472 note 100} The oral statements of governments which follow are summarized from mimeo graphed records of the Court which will be published at a later date.

^{page 473 note 101} See oral statements by Dr. Kemo and A. H. Feller on behalf of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Reparation for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations (March 7-8, 1949).

^{page 477 note 102} The International Court of Justice affirmed this view, stating its opinion that “The action of the Organization is in fact based not on the nationality of the victim but upon his status as agent of the Organization. Therefore . . . the question of nationality is not pertinent to the admissibility of the claim.” I.C. J. Reports, 1949, p. 186.

^{page 477 note 103} I.C.J. Reports, 1949, p. 182.

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Notes on Legal Questions Concerning the United Nations Reparation for Injuries suffered in the Service of the United Nations

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