Evening star., 1947-02-28
Economic and Social
Council Of U. n. Hit
By Economy Wave
BY the Asseeiu,sd Press

!, LAKE SUCCESS, N. Y, Feb. a.
The United Nations Economic and
Social Council, which accounts for
"a large part Of the q. N. spending.
ran into an economy wave today.
As the 18-nation Council was
called into It's fourth session this
morning, Secretary General Trygve
Lie made public q revised list of
meetings In the economic and social
field with the explanation that
many had been excluded because Of
budget limitations.
Mr.. Lie also proposed that the
Council and its subsidiary commits
sions hold their next meetings at
Lake Success instead Of Geneva, as
originally planned, with a view to
minimizing expenses.
Purse-Strings Tightened.
At the same time, the delegates
found on their first days agenda
an item calling attention to q reso-
luton Of. the General Assembly
which stipulated that no resolution
involving expenditures from U. N.
funds should be approved until the
Council has before 1t a report from
the secretary general "on the f.
, nancial Implications Of the pro-
posal."
This tightening OF the purse
strings apparently was a result of
the tendency of the Council tc
create more and more commissions
. and arrange for international con-
! ferences on all kinds of questions.
David Owen, assistant secretary
general In charge Of economic ques-
tions, told reporters there will un-
doubtedly be a move from some
quarters to restrict the creation of
new agencies.
Some delegates feel strongly that
the time has come for some sort
of birth control to limit the grow
ing number Of commissions" owen
said.
= Agenda Is Crowded.
Meanwhile, the delegates were
faced with crowded agenda which
included proposals for a half dozen
more commissions, subcommissions
and international conferences, all of
which will require considerable
financial outlay.
These include two economic COM
missions, one for Europe and one
for Asia and the Far East, a COM
mission to study commodity prob
lens, and world conferences on
housing, freedom of information and
the conservation of natural re-
sources.
= The most important and perhaps
the most controversial issue before
the session was listed by U. N.
officials as the proposal to set UP
the two continental economic COM
missions, whose functions would be
to coordinate economic development
IN the war-devastated areas.
Although Soviet Russia has with
drawn her original opposition to the
, creation Of these commissions, she
: was expected to disagree sharply
with the United States and Great
Britain over the scope of the pro-
posed agencies. Russia wants pri-
mary emphasis placed on immediate
economic assistance while other
powers have previously urged long
range planning.
Spain Another Question.
Another question which is expect
ed to come up is the councils rela-
tionship with agencies in which
Franco Spain holds membership.
The Assembly went on record as
recommending that no U. N. organ
should maintain relations with any
organization of which the Franco
government is allowed to be a mem
ber.
This may come up tomorrow or
early next week when the council
considers the Assembly resolution
on the role Of non-governmentaI
organizations such as the Interna-
tional Chamber of Commerce. In
the Assembly, it was charged that
Franco Spain was a member Of
the Chamber Of Commerce and held
one Of its vice presidencies.