Evening star., 1945-05-15
Major Role Planned
For Economic Council
In Security Setup
By GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Staff CORRESPONDENT.

AAAS cNoAloAAIAC dIiQ kOCldl SOuIl
Gil of the new international or
ganization will be made a prin
cipal agency under plans rapid
formulating in the United Ma
tions Conference, it was disclose,
today.
1t is realized that economic an,
social problems during the next L
years will be major problems. o.
their solution will depend the con
tinuation Of peace. If they are no
solved, conditions will arise in part
Of the world which will give dema
gogues like Hitler and Mussolin
opportunity to attain great powe,
With the coming of peace in Eu
rope, these problems already ar,
tossed into the lap of the new inter
national organization for peace.
Problems Included.
They include infiationary trends
stability of currencies, internationa
credits, stability of food supplies
international trade, health anC
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Oh all k1IlQS
The conference Committee or
Economic and Social Cooperation
which is considering that section
of the charter providing for the
establishment Of the economic ano
social council, already has deter
mined to ask for a major status fol
the council.
In the Dumbarton Oaks propos-
ais the council is not included in
the list of principal organs" but is
tucked away as an agency of the
general assembly. Since the OPEN
ing of the conference here, however
the Importance of the work pro-
posed for the council has been en-
phasized more and more by impor-
tant delegations, including that OF
the United States.
If present plans are carried out
before the conference adjourns il
will provide for an interim commits
sion, whose principal duties will be
to organize and plan for the perma-
nent economic and social council
and to work out terms of co-opera-
ton with such special agencies as
United Nations Relief and Rehabili-
tation Administration, the Interna-
tional Labor Organization, Bret
ton Woods, and the International
Food and Agriculture Commission.
This interim commission will be
assigned the task also of planning
for the first meeting of the general
assembly. 1t will study, too, emer-
gency economic problems and be
ready to report on them to the gen.
eral assembly when it meets, which
may not be for another year.
The Committee on Economic and
Social Cooperation is headed by
an Indian delegate, Sir A. Rama
swami Mudaliar. All the other ma
tions are entitled to representation
in the committee, and the United
States and Canada are among the
most active.
Eighteen or nineteen countries
have offered amendments dealing
with the proposed economic and
social council. Many of them are
overlapping and they have been
consolidated In a series of amend
ments proposed by Canada. 1t is
believed that they will be adopted.
AS originally proposed at Dunn
barton Oaks, the economic and So
cial council would be composed of
18 members of the international or
ganization, elected by the general
assembly for terms of three years.
Each state would have one member
OF the council and one vote, and
decisions would be by simple ma
1orlty OF those present and voting.
Election System.
The Canadian amendments do
not change the number of the
council members, but provide that
six shall be elected for terms of
three years, six for terms of two
years and six for terms of one
year in the first election so as to
insure continuity. The amendments
also provide for decisions by ma
jority vote, but specify that at
least II members must vote if a
decision is to be reached.
The Canadian amendments specify
that in the election of members
of the council the assembly shall
have due regard for adequate rep
resentation of states of major eco
nomic Importance.
These amendments also bring into
the picture new objectives and new
authorizations for the council. The
council would deal with cultural
matters and the promotion of
human rights in addition to purely
economic and social matters. It
would be given authority to make
on it's own initiative studies, reports
and recommendations on economic
and related matters of international
concern. The council would be-
come great fact-finding agency,
ready to supply needed information
on all economic and social SUBJ
jects to the assembly, to related
organizations and to individual
nations.
A new objective set out in the
Canadian amendments is co-opera-
ton of the economic and social
council with the members of the
United Nations and the organization
itself, with the object of attaining
higher standards of living and
economic and social progress.
Will Have Permanent Staff.
The council is to have a per-
manent staff, constituting a part of
the secretariat of the international
organization.
Tt would be authorized, among
other things, to bring economic,
social and similar inter Government
agencies, having specialized respon-
sibilities as defined in their basic
instruments, into relationship with
the United Nations organization.
The one controversial issue which
has so far arisen in the COMMITTEES
discussions is whether the ILO shall
be specifically mentioned in thu
charter as one of the agencies with
which the council shall cooperate
The British are asking that it bt
written in, but the United State.
and particularly Russia, are OBJ.
jecting.
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