Mr. President, let me first of all welcome you to the presidency for this month and also record our appreciation of the skilful and experienced manner in which your predecessor, Ambassador Malik, dis- charged his duties throughout the month of June. 48. Coming now to our ,agenda, my delegation, speaking on behalf of the Australian Government, has been very happy to endorse the recommendation of the Committee on ,the Admission of New Members that the Council should recommend to the General Assembly that the Commonwealth of the Bahamas be admitted to membership of the United Nations. 49. The Committee has examined the application for membership submitted by the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Mr. Lynden Pindling, and has agreed unanimously that the Commonwealth of the Bahamas is well qualified for admission to membership, In this connexion we have taken note of the Prime Minister’s solemn undertaking to accept ,the obligations contained in the Charter and <to fulfil them. 50. My delegation has followed with interest and great goodwill the progress of the Bahamas to self- government in 1969,, and more recently, as a member of the Special Committee on decolonization, we have kept abreast of the steps leading to the attainment of full independence on 10 July last. We were satified then, as we are now, that the decision taken by the Bahamian Legislature in November of last year to proceed to independence during 1973 olearly reflected the wishes of the majority of the people of ,the Bahamas. 51. On its accession to independence the Bahamas becomes a fellow member of the commonwealth of nations. We in Australia feel that special sense of association with the people of the Bahamas that comes from having to a certain degree a shared background of tradition and experience. I do not make that remark 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a speech by a representative of the Australian Government to the United Nations, discussing the admission of the Bahamas to the organization. The speech highlights the Bahamas' progress towards self-government and independence, and expresses Australia's support for their membership. The language used is formal and diplomatic, suggesting that the topic is a formal international matter.

**Category**
International relations, Politics