SAN FRANCISCO: Britain, China and the United States have reached an agreement on the terms by which “independence” will be included as one of the objectives of the trusteeship system for the mandated areas, it is learned here. The agreement on the formula, which is expected to be acceptable to both Soviet Russia and France, clears away one of the knottiest problems which has faced the Trusteeship Committee. It is proposed to set up a Military Staff Committee, which will plan combined international military action in case of necessity.

It has been agreed to define one of the basic objectives as “to promote political, economic and social advancement of trust territories and their development towards independence or self-government according to the varying circumstances of each territory”.

A reference to independence was originally proposed by China, which would have it made the goal of administration of all dependent territories including the entire British Colonial Empire and both mandated and non-mandated territories.

[Meanwhile, as reported from Matheran,] Mr. M.A. Jinnah has made a remarkable improvement in health since he came to Matheran about a month ago. He looks quite healthy and his weight is understood to have increased by pounds.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2020