Evening star., 1951-08-19
O'Conor Report Finds
U. N. in Fiscal Chaos
Writer Quotes Senate Group
On Lack Of Budget Control
By Fronk r. Kent

There is terrific yowling In certain
quarters over the recent action of the
House Of Representatives In reducing
this country's contribution to the
United Nations. Considering that the
cut amounts only to So million; that we
now shoulder the great bulk Of the
United Nations cost and that there is
very great difficulty getting some Of
the member nations to meet their rela-
lively small assessments. this does not
seem too horrendous.
Actually, 1t seems somewhat ridiculous
in view Of the recently printed report
Of the subcommittee Senator Herbert
O'Conor. Of Maryland, chairman)
named by the Committee on Expendi-
lures in the Executive Departments, to
study our relations with international
organizations. The O'Conor report dis
closes q condition within the United
Nations of such complete fiscal con-
fusion as to be almost without prece-
dent. The waste, duplication and over
tapping thus revealed. while perhaps
not justifying loss of faith in either
the idea or the organization, certainly
should disturb It's most ardent friends.
One wonders how, In so short q period.
its machinery could become so mired
and muddled
But that Is the well-documented and
convincing picture the O'Conor COM
mittee paints. For example, it points
out that no one possibly can tell exactly
what the United Nations will cost in
any year for the simple reason that the
Finance Committee Of the General As
- - a.
budget and expenditures Of the numer-
Gus other committees. councils and
specialized agencies attached to and
part Of the United Nations. Each Of
these multitudinous agencies makes and
controls its own budget. It also controls
its ewn destiny even concerning
where 1t shall live and work. An In
stance Is given Of an agency for which
the secretary general had provided
space In the New York building but
which insisted 1t should 60 to Rome.
And. at large expense, to Rome 1t went.
As to costs, the committee reports
that between 1946 and including 1850
the United Nations and its agencies ex-
pended approximately $557 million, Of
which so per cent was contributed by
the United States. The utter financial
looseness Of the organization Is ex-
planned in the following excerpt fr0ln
the report, I'm the United Nations
there is adequate budgetary review but
most Inadequate budgetary control. The
secretary general formulates his budget
estimates on the basis of programs and
projects authorized by the various po-
litical bodies. All he Is able to do about
these Is to interpret them In terms OF
cost Of meetings, personnel, common
services. etc. He has no authority to
eliminate projects nor override the
action Of political bodies"
The O'Conor report makes it clear
that there Is no such thing as restraint
under the existing system. It gives
many instances, cites figures and snakes
the obvious recommendation but is
clearly appalled, at conditions of
finance that would bring any individual
family business or corporation to bank
ruptcy In the end it viii do the same
tnlng TO nation-and to the United
Nations. The O'Conor committee de-
serves credit for the clarity with which
II has thrown light upon a very bad
SITUATION but 1t is clearly not hopeful
That action can be taken soon to enable
the United Nations to clean house and
institute reasonable intelligence and
enciency in the conduct of its affairs
Action VIII come only after much more
publicity has been given the facts and
reai pubic sentiment created.