The calendar year 1956 budget of the Organization will not be known until the biennial conference convenes late in 1955. However, for purposes of this submission, it is estimated that the budget of the Organization will be $6 million and the United States percentage share 30 percent, the same as for the calendar year 1955. The decrease in the request for the fiscal year 1956 is attributable to the fact that due to the split-year budgeting for this Organization, the fiscal year 1955 appropriation bore a larger part of the calendar years 1954 and 1955 assessments than the fiscal years 1954 and 1956, respectively. This situation more than offsets increases attributable to the fact that an unexpectedly large working capital fund credit of $239,376 is available against the United States calendar year 1955 assessment which is not anticipated for the calendar year 1956 and that a larger amount of miscellaneous income is available in 1955 than is anticipated for 1956. Statutory authorization Public Law 174, 79th Congress (22 U. S. C. 279) as amended by Public Law 806, 81st Congress. The total assessment budget for the calendar year 1955 (fiscal year 1956) approved by the 37th International Labor Conference amounts to $6,990,913 or $434,026 more than the comparable figure for the calendar year 1954 (fiscal year 1955). The primary factors responsible for this increase are (1) in-grade salary increments under the ILO staff regulations, (2) increased home leave travel costs attributable to the fact that a greater number of staff members are eligible for home leave in 1955 than in the other 2 years of the 3-year home leave cycle, and (3) an increase in the requirements for the fieldwork program. The United States percentage share remains the same at 25 percent. The increase in the United States contribution attributable to the increase in the assessment budget is offset in part by a slightly higher credit due the United States in 1955 as compared to 1954. Statutory authorization Public Law 843, 80th Congress, (22 U. S. C. 271-272) as amended by Public Law 806, 81st Congress (22 U. S. C. 262a). The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) operates under two budgets-an ordinary budget and an extraordinary budget. The former includes the expenses of the headquarters and is apportioned among all the members of the ITU; the latter covers the cost of conferences and meetings and is apportioned in accordance with the attendance at each meeting. The 1956 budget of the ITU will not be approved by the Administrative Council until the spring of 1955 but it is expected that it will be in approximately the same amount as the 1955 budget. 2 The Swiss franc exchange rate is a fluctuating rate but has not been less favorable to the United States recently than the 4.28 to $1 which has been used for the purpose of this estimate. 3 Extraordinary expenses are not known until after the conferences have been held and the final expenses and number of countries (units) participating have been determined. Consequently the amounts for all 3 years are only estimates at this time. The increase for fiscal year 1956 represents a higher estimate for extraordinary expenses due to a larger estimated meeting schedule for 1956 than 1955. Scheduled for 1956 are the eighth plenary assemblies of the Consultative Committees on Radio and Telegraph and a Telephone and Telegraph Conference. Statutory authorization The International Telecommunication Convention, Atlantic City, 1947, and Buenos Aires, 1952. The Atlantic City convention was ratified by the United States on June 18, 1948 (63 Stat. (2) 1399). The Buenos Aires convention has been submitted to the Senate for ratification. The slight increase in the approved assessment budget is offset by a decrease in the United States percentage share from 11.45 percent to 10.76 percent (120 units out of 1,115) due to the accession of new members (Ethiopia, 4 units; Germany, 50 units; Bolivia, 6 units; Spanish Morocco, 2 units; Spanish Guinea, 1 unit; British Caribbean, 4 units). Statutory authorization The convention of the World Meteorological Organization ratified March 4, 1949 (T. I. A. S. 2. 2052). CONTRIBUTIONS TO INTER-AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS It is estimated that a total of $4,054,656 will be required in the fiscal year 1956 to meet the obligation of the United States to support the budgets of interAmerican organizations. This amount is to provide funds for payment by the United States of its annual share of the expenses of certain inter-American organizations from which it derives substantial benefits; and to whose maintenance it is obligated to contribute annually by reason of its membership deriving from conventions, treaties, or special acts of Congress. This amount includes $131,703 to meet United States arrearages to the Pan American Institute of Geography and History for the fiscal years 1952-55. The following table indicates the amounts provided for United States contributions to inter-American organizations: NOTE. The budget and percentage share are calculated figures and are not the determining factors in establishing the amount of the United States contribution. The statutes of the Institute establish the amounts member governments are assessed. Assessments are based upon population and range from $200 to $10,000. The United States is assessed $10,000. At the Directing Council meeting in May 1954, the Director proposed increased contributions for all members but Argentina, Brazil, and the United States. The other members of the Directing Council considered it would be inequitable to exclude any member government from the increase, and the proposal was held over until the December meeting for reconsideration. At that time, a proposal by the Director is contemplated which would increase the United States share from $10,000 to approximately $15,000, and make adjustments in the contributions of other governments yielding a total of $41,350 of which the United States contribution would be 36.28 percent. Statutory authorization An Act of Congress, approved May 3, 1928 (22 U. S. C. 269 (b)), as amended by Public Law 806, 81st Congress (22 U. S. C. 262 (a)). NOTE. The budget and percentage share are calculated figures and are not the determining factors in establishing the amount of the United States contribution. The convention which established the Indian Institute specifies the number of units assigned each member state, the value of the unit and the dollar amount of each member's quota. Article V of the convention fixes the annual budget of the Institute at $30,600 and establishes a total of 102 units based on participation of all the American Republics, thereby setting the value of each unit at $300. The United States is assigned 16 units at a value of $300 per unit for an annual assessment of $4,800. Since all the American Republics do not participate in the Institute, the income from assessments to members amounts to $20,700. Statutory authorization The convention approved by the Senate on May 26, 1941, and ratified by the President on June 6, 1941 (56 Stat. 1303). INTER-AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, TURRIALBA, COSTA RICA The United States assessment is determined by the convention establishing the Institute which provides that (1) annual quotas shall be in proportion to the population of each contracting state and shall not exceed $1 per thousand of population, and (2) quota payments may be increased by unanimous consent of the member governments. The latest population figure made available to the Pan-American Union of the Organization of American States by the United States Census Bureau is 165,531,400. Under the terms of the convention provisions quoted above, there is under consideration a proposal to increase the rate of assessment from $1 per thousand of population to $1.25 per thousand of population. This would have the effect of (1) raising the United States assessment from $162,801 for 1955 to $206,914 for 1956, an increase of $44,113, (2) raising total government assessments from $232,971 to $296,184, an increase of $63,213, and (3) assuming that income from other sources approximates previous years, raises the total fund availability of the Institute by approximately $60,000 in order to make possible a minimum adequate program for the Institute in carrying out its assigned functions under the convention. 59824-55-33 |