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since the Council was already overburdened with work. Furthermore, the joint resolution did in fact instruct the Council to report back its general impressions of the observations made. The Cuban amendment was thereupon rejected by 13 in favour with 23 (N.Z.) against. The joint resolution was adopted by 49 votes (N.Z.). 2. Proposals Dealing With Administrative Xlnions Between Trust Territories and Adjacent Territories In the general debate many speakers had expressed fears that the identity of trust territories might be extinguished where these territories were brought into close association or union with neighbouring non-self-governing territories. Similar fears had already been expressed in the Trusteeship Council, especially with regard to the scheme of inter-territorial organization for East Africa (providing for an administrative union of Tanganyika, Kenya, and Uganda) and the projected administrative union of the trust territory of Xew Guinea with Papua. In the Fourth Committee the representatives of most non-administering Powers showed that they regarded the preservation of the political individuality of the trust territories as the most serious problem facing the Trusteeship Council. In their opinion some administrative unions went beyond the provisions of the Charter and of the Trusteeship Agreements. The representative of the Soviet Union went much further, claiming that administrative unions were merely " veiled annexation." On the other hand, the representatives of the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, and Australia pointed to the benefits which accrued to the peoples of the trust territories by the provision of common services with neighbouring territories. Assurances were also given that .administrative unions would not hamper progressive development towards self-government or independence. Proposals put forward by a number of delegations as to the action which the Trusteeship Council might appropriately take with regard to this problem were eventually embodied in a joint draft resolution. This draft, after noting the observations made by the Council on .administrative unions, and expressing the opinion that " the present status and identity of the trust territories must be carefully maintained," recommended that the Council should investigate the whole question (recommending any necessary safeguards to preserve the " distinct political status " of the territories) and report back to the General Assembly (after requesting whenever appropriate an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice as to the legality of such unions). The resolution further recommended that before the establishment of any administrative union the administering authority concerned should -consult the Trusteeship Council.