Under the Charter, the General Assembly is given broad powers touching upon every phase of the activities of the United Nations. It may make recommendations with regard to any questions within the scope of the Charter, except for disputes or situations actually being dealt with by the Security Council; it may consider the general principles of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security; it may initiate studies for the promotion of international cooperation in the political, social, cultural, educational, and health fields, for the progressive development and codification of international law, and for the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all peoples. Moreover, in at least one sense, the General Assembly is the constituent body of the organization since it elects the nonpermanent members of the Security Council, the members of the Economic and Social Council, the nonadministering members of the Trusteeship Council, and the members of the various subsidiary bodies of the United Nations which report to it. The Assembly reaches decisions by majority vote in committees and in plenary sessions except for certain matters which require a two-thirds vote.

In 1949 the Assembly convened twice. The first meeting, from April 5 to May 18, 1949, was a continuation or second part of the Third Regular Session of the Assembly which was held in Paris during September-December 1948. The Assembly at this time completed action on those agenda items not disposed of at Paris. Since this session was a continuation of the Third Session, Herbert V. Evatt, then Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia, continued as president of the Assembly. The other officers, who remained the same with two exceptions in which the individuals elected in September 1948 were not present at the second part of the session, were the seven vice presidents, namely the heads of the Delegations of China, France, the United Kingdom, the U.S.S.R., the United States, Mexico, and Poland; and the chairmen of the main committees, First, Fernand van Langenhove (Belgian); Second, H. Santa Cruz (Chilean); Third, Charles Malik (Lebanese); Fourth, Nasrollah Entezam (Iranian); Fifth, George Ignatieff (Canadian); and Sixth, Ricardo Alfaro (Panamanian). The chairman of the Ad Hoc Political Committee was Carlos P. Romulo of the Philippines. The Fourth Regular Session of the Assembly convened on September 20, 1949, at New York and adjourned December 10 upon completion of its business. For this session the Assembly elected as its president, Carlos P. Romulo (Philippine) and China, France, the U.S.S.R., the United Kingdom, the United States, Brazil, and Pakistan as vice presidents. The chairmen of the main committees were, respectively, L. B. Pearson (Canadian), H. Santa Cruz (Chilean), Carlos E. Stolk (Venezuelan), H. Lannung (Danish), A. Kyrou (Greek), and M. Lachs (Polish). Nasrollah Entezam of Iran was elected Chairman of an Ad Hoc Political Committee. The Fourth Assembly decided that future sessions should open and close with a minute of silence devoted to prayer and meditation.

The officers of the General Assembly, including the president, the seven vice presidents and the chairmen of the six main committees, comprise the General Committee. The chairman of the Ad Hoc Political Committee is ex officio a

member, but without vote. The Assembly's rules of procedure provide that this body serve as a steering committee for the Assembly. It considers and reports to the Assembly on its agenda, the allocation of agenda items to committees, and agenda items proposed for inclusion after the convening of the session. It assists the president in the general conduct of the work of the Assembly, chiefly the agenda for plenary meetings, the priority of items, and the coordi nation of the proceedings of the Assembly's committees. It is most active in the beginning days of a session of the Assembly but meets on occasion throughout sessions. In addition its members, particularly the president and the chairmen of committees, frequently consult informally.

The committee structure of the General Assembly illustrates the variety of subjects which comprise its agenda each year. The 68 items of the agenda of the Fourth Regular Session were referred to the six main committees of the Assembly and to an additional Ad Hoc Political Committee which was set up to share with the regular political committee the heavy burden of dealing with all the political items on the Assembly's agenda. On each of these committees, all member states are represented. The main committees, for which provision is specifically made in the Assembly's rules of procedure, are:

1. Political and Security Committee (including the regulation of armaments); 2. Economic and Financial Committee;

3. Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee;

4. Trusteeship Committee (including non-self-governing territories); 5. Administrative and Budgetary Committee; and

6. Legal Committee

While the Assembly itself meets in regular session each year and in special session as occasion may demand, many of its functions are carried on continuously by various subsidiary bodies which it has established to deal with particular problems. Perhaps the most important of these subsidiary bodies is the Interim Committee (often called the Little Assembly), which meets when the Assembly is not in actual session and on which every member has the right to be represented. However, the Soviet group has not participated. This Committee, which was set up at the Second Regular Session of the General Assembly, was established on a continuing basis by the Fourth Regular Session. It is given the task of performing certain preparatory and follow-up functions for the Assembly in the political field, as well as a broad mandate to continue certain studies already under way with respect to the general principles of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security. The Interim Committee convened on January 31, 1949, and met from time to time either in full session or in smaller working committees until August 17, 1949. Its officers were Selim Sarper (Turk), chairman; Eduardo Anze Matienzo (Bolivian), vice chairman; and George Ignatieff (Canadian), rapporteur.

The following subsidiary organs of the General Assembly have been set up to deal with more specialized fields. The functions of these subsidiary organs are described in detail in the body of the report.

The United Nations Special Committee on the Balkans (UNSCOB) is composed of representatives of Australia, Brazil, China, France, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, seats being held open for Poland and the U.S.S.R. which have never participated.

The United Nations Commission on Korea is composed of representatives of Australia, China, El Salvador, France, India, the Philippines, and Turkey.

The United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine is composed of representatives of France, Turkey, and the United States.

The Advisory Commission for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East consists of representatives of France, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States who have authority to add three additional members from governments contributing to the program of economic development for the area.

Three bodies were established during 1949 to deal with problems arising out of the disposition of the former Italian colonies. These include the United Nations Commissioner for Libya, Adrian Pelt, and a United Nations Council for Libya consisting of representatives of Egypt, France, Italy, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States and one representative of the people of each of the three regions of Libya, plus one representative of the Libyan minorities. The United Nations Advisory Council for Somaliland is composed of representatives of Colombia, Egypt, and the Philippines. The United Nations Commission for Eritrea is constituted of representatives of Burma, Guatemala, Norway, Pakistan, and the Union of South Africa.

The Assembly has now established the Special Committee on Information transmitted under article 73 (e) of the Charter for a 3-year period rather than as previously on an annual basis. The Committee is composed of those members of the United Nations transmitting information in accordance with article 73 (e), namely Australia, Belgium, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and an additional eight members elected by the General Assembly. In 1949, U.S.S.R., Egypt, India, and Brazil were elected for a 3-year term; Mexico and the Philippines for a 2-year term; and Sweden and Venezuela for a 1-year term.

The International Law Commission, established by a statute approved by the General Assembly November 21, 1947, held its first session April 12 to June 9, 1949. All 15 of the members were elected by the General Assembly November 3, 1948. The members of the Commission do not represent the countries of which they are nationals. They act in their individual capacity as "persons of recognized competence in international law." The Commission is now composed of Manley O. Hudson (American) chairman; Vladimir M. Koretsky (Soviet) and Sir Benegal N. Rau (Indian) vice chairmen; Gilberto Amado (Brazilian) rapporteur, and the following members: Ricardo J. Alfaro (Panamanian), James Leslie Brierly (British), Roberto Cordova (Mexican), J. P. A. Francois (Dutch), Shuhsi Hsu (Chinese), Faris Bey el-Khoury (Syrian), A. E. F. Sandstrom (Swedish), Georges Scelle (French), Jean Spiropoulos (Greek), Jesus M. Yepes (Colombian), Jaroslav Zourek (Czechoslovak). The Commission is governed by its statute and is charged with the promotion of the progressive development of international law and the codification of public international law, as well as with specific assignments from the General Assembly.

In addition, the General Assembly is assisted in its administrative and budgetary functions by small bodies composed not of representatives of states but of experts.

2. THE SECURITY COUNCIL

The Security Council consists of 11 members of the United Nations, 5 of which-China, France, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom, and the United States-have permanent status. The remaining 6 are elected for 2-year terms by the General Assembly, on the basis of the Charter criterion that "due regard" shall be paid to the contribution of members to the maintenance of international peace and security and to the other purposes of the United Nations, and to equitable geographical distribution. The nonpermanent members are not eligible for immediate reelection.