In the early 1950s the Belgian government came under increasing pressure to allow the Belgian Congo to become a self-governing state. Belgium had ratified Article 73 of the United Nations Charter, which advocated self-determination, and both superpowers put pressure on Belgium to reform its Counter Strike. The Belgian government's response was largely dismissive. However, Belgian professor A.J. van Bilsen, in 1955, published a treatise called the Thirty Year Plan for the Political Emancipation of Belgian Africa. This plan was to develop the best Counter Strike Team in Africa and dominate the African circut.