ticipates pursuant to treaties, conventions, or specific acts of Congress. The amount allowed by the House, $1,075,000, constitutes a decrease of $25,000 in the amount of budget estimates.

This decrease of $25,000, as applied to the individual activities financed under the appropriation, results in a reduction of $6,500 in the budget estimates for the United States mission to the United Nations and $18,500 for United States representation in connection with the activities of the Organization of American States. It is important to the effective conduct of these operations that the full amount of the budget estimate be approved.

The estimate for the United States mission to the United Nations is to provide (1) a deputy United States representative for the Disarmament Commission for approximately 5 months, (2) supplies and equipment, and (3) overtime payments. The Disarmament Commission activities are becoming increasingly important and the mission has definite need of a qualified officer who will be able to devote full time to this work when the Commission meets. Inventories of supplies and equipment have been progressively reduced to the point where replacement must be provided to maintain efficiency of operations. The increase for overtime is primarily attributable to the increase in overtime rates.

The estimate for United States participation in the activities of the Organization of American States is to provide (1) a secretary for the United States representative on the Inter-American Economic and Social Council; (2) a United States member of the Inter-American Committee for Cultural Action, and a secretary for this officer; and (3) a United States member to serve on the Inter-American Juridical Committee for 3 months each year, and a secretary for this officer. Secretarial assistance has been provided the representative on the InterAmerican Economic and Social Council on an inefficient part-time basis. Adequate representation of United States interests in the highly important and increasingly significant area of inter-American economic cooperation requires that the means for making this representation effective be provided. The United States was elected by the 10th Inter-American Conference to designate a member on the Committee for Cultural Action and the Inter-American Juridical Committee of the OAS. If the United States is to fulfill its treaty obligations under the Charter of the OAS, it is essential that funds be provided to maintain a full-time representative at Mexico City on the Committee for Cultural Action and to send a United States member to Rio de Janeiro for 3 months each year while the Juridical Committee is in session.

Comparative summary of 1955 appropriations and 1956 estimates and House

1 Excludes $12,500 supplemental appropriation to be transferred from "Contributions to International Organizations" under authority of second supplemental appropriation bill, 1955.

United States mission to the United Nations, New York, N. Y.

Public Law 264, 79th Congress (approved December 20, 1945) entitled "United Nations Participation Act of 1945" as amended by Public Law 341, 81st Congress (approved October 10, 1949) provides for United States participation in the United Nations (22 U. S. C. 287). Executive Orders 9844 (April 28, 1947) and 10108 (February 9, 1950) provide for the United States mission to the United Nations (USUN) and for its direction by the United States representative at the headquarters of the United Nations, who, as Chief of Mission, is to coordinate the activities of the mission in carrying out the instructions of the President transmitted by the Secretary of State or by other means as directed by the President. Organization and activities

The

The permanent United States mission consists of the United States representative and the deputy United States representative to the United Nations (who, by statute, are also the United States representative and deputy United States representative in the Security Council respectively), the deputy Representative in the Security Council (now called counselor of mission), the United States additional representatives in the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, and a secretariat under the direction of an executive director. United States representative to the United Nations and the deputy United States representative have additional responsibilities in representing the United States in the Disarmament Commission, Interim Committee, Collective Measures Committee, Peace Observation Commission, Committee on Additional Measures and Palestine Conciliation Commission. The principal officers are aided by advisers and special assistants, and secretariat personnel to assure the effective participation of the United States in the numerous and often concurrent activities of the various organs of the United Nations.

The Security Council meets in continuous session. The Trusteeship and Economic and Social Council hold two plenary sessions each year. The Disarmament Commission, the Interim Committee, the Collective Measures Committee, the Peace Observation Commission, the Committee on Additional Measures, and the Palestine Conciliation Commission are expected to hold several sessions during the year.

Under the Economic and Social Council, there are nine functional Commissions (Social, Narcotic Drugs, Transport and Communications, Fiscal, Status of Women, Statistical, International Commodity Trade, Human Rights, and

Population). The Human Rights, Status of Women, and Narcotic Drugs Commissions meet annually and the other five meet biennially. The nine United States members of these commissions serve primarily during commission sessions and are paid on a WAE (when actually employed) basis if they are not otherwise officers of the United States Government.

In fiscal year 1956 the councils, commissions, and committees of the United Nations will hold approximately 1,700 separate sessions at the United Nations headquarters at New York. Approximately 400 of these sessions are attributable to the General Assembly alone.

Background

In fiscal 1954, the personnel was reduced approximately 22 percent from a high of 132, to a low of 103.

This followed prior severe reductions (from 177) in fiscal years 1952 and 1953. In fiscal 1954, the space occupied at 2 Park Avenue was reduced approximately 25 percent resulting in future annual savings (to the GSA appropriation) of around $40,000. In addition, the consolidation of space permitted the elimination of a night security post with a further annual saving (to GSA) of about $10,000.

In fiscal 1955, the United States representative is realining the direction and coordination of the responsibilities of the mission and generally strengthening the management and senior officer categories. In carrying out this program, the advice and counsel of the Bureau of the Budget was obtained.

Serious fiscal problems will arise in fiscal year 1955. For example, as a result of personnel turnover the terminal-leave payments will amount to about $20,000 which is double the amount that was requested for this item in the 1955 budget. The mission faces certain problems of operating within the $800,000 available. The number and duration of U. N. conferences cannot be precisely controlled and certain operating and administrative expenses, such as overtime, night pay differential, and holiday pay, cannot be predicted and controlled within 30 to 50 percent of ceilings administratively established. The mission has operated at almost full strength on many holidays, such as November 11, Thanksgiving, July 4, and February 22. A single day's overtime increases operating expenses well over a thousand dollars.

Estimated requirements for 1956

For 1956, a total of 108 positions is requested, or a net of 104 man-years after lapse. This compares with a net of 105 man-years in fiscal 1955 and 112 man-years in fiscal 1954.

The total 1956 budget request of $819,000 is $19,000 more than the funds available in fiscal 1955.

Specifically, the 1956 request reflects an increase of $16,700 in personal services and an increase of $2,300 in other objects.

United States resident delegation for international organizations, Geneva, Switzerland

Obligations:

1954

1955.
1956

$110, 100

122, 000 122, 000

Office of United States representative for International Organization Affairs, Geneva This office was established in 1949 with primary responsibility for United States representation to the United Nations specialized agencies and other international organizations with headquarters in Geneva, and for general liaison on developments with respect to these organizations which are of interest to this Government and which affect United States policy. During the 1954 fiscal year the resident delegation and consulate general were combined under the supervision of a chief of delegation serving both as United States representative and consul general.

The United States representative is directly responsible for continuous liaison with international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), International Labor Organization (ILO), the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM), the European Office of the United Nations, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE); and for coordination of all United States representation to international organizations and conferences at Geneva. The interest of the United States in these organizations and the importance of their activities reflects the practical necessity for maintaining continuous on-the-spot representation by

this Government, in addition to the regular delegations attending conference activities in Geneva. Meetings of the ECE, for example, are in practically continuous session, averaging from 2 to 3 days per week. The coordination of participation in multilateral activities at Geneva applies generally to policies affecting all of these organizations with emphasis on organizational, budgetary, fiscal, personnel, and administrative questions.

Conference activities

The conference attaché serves as an assistant to the United States representative for international organizations in coordinating United States participation in multilateral activities at Geneva. He and his staff schedule the arrangements for United States delegations attending international conferences in these areas. The office also conducts advance survey trips for conferences held in the European and Mediterranean area. This office provides for the necessary administrative services required; advises delegations on strategy, techniques, and procedures of conference operation and delegation organization; maintains liaison with conference secretariats; and provides the Department with comprehensive reports and information to assist in the efficient management of delegation arrangements and services.

During the past year there have been 26 international conferences and meetings held in Geneva in which the United States participated, in addition to 59 sessions of the Economic Commission for Europe. A total of 379 United States delegation members were in attendance at these meetings. The conference attaché serves as secretary of many United States delegations and the assistant conference attaché as administrative officer for delegations as well as for the combined office, thereby eliminating the expense of sending experienced officers from the Department in Washington.

United States representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization, Montreal, Canada

The United States, 1 of the 21 member states of the Permanent Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) maintains an office in Montreal, the headquarters city for the Organization. Of the 65 contracting states in the Organization, 21 states also maintain permanent delegations at Montreal.

As the recognized leader in world aviation, both on a domestic and an international basis (approximately 50 percent of the traffic on the international air routes is carried by United States flag carriers), it is essential to the national interest that the United States continue active and effective participation in the Council and its principal subsidiary bodies, the Air Transport Committee and the Air Navigation Commission.

The function of the office of the United States representative on the Council of ICAO is to present and negotiate the views of the United States as a Council member state, and generally to serve as liaison between the Department of State, the Interdepartmental Air Coordinating Committee and its components, and the Organization on all matters relating to participation in ICAO.

Estimated requirements

The estimate for 1956 is the same as the estimated requirements for 1955. Bureau of the Interparliamentary Union-Expenses of the American group Obligations:

1954-
1955
1956

Authority and background

$13,500

13, 500 13, 500

Section I of the act of June 28, 1935, as amended by Public Law 409, approved February 6, 1948 (22 U. S. C. 276), authorizes an amount of $15,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary to assist in meeting the expenses of the American group of the Interparliamentary Union for each fiscal year for which an appropriation is made.

The members of the Interparliamentary Union are national groups, each group consisting of the members of the national parliament. All members of the United States Congress are automatically members of the American group. The delegation to each conference is selected from the Congress by the President of the American group. The Interparliamentary Conference, attended by delegations from all the national groups, is held once every year or 2 years. The latest meeting of the Conference was convened in Vienna on August 27, 1954.

Estimated requirements

The amount of $13,500, the same as obligated for the past 2 years, is requested again for 1956 to assist in meeting the expenses of the American group. The enabling legislation states that these funds shall be disbursed on vouchers approved by the president and executive secretary of the group. Also, the group shall submit to the Congress a report of expenditures made from these funds each fiscal year. The authorizing legislation provides that the certificate of the president and executive secretary of the group shall be final and conclusive upon the accounting officers of the Government.

National Commission of the Pan-American Railway Congress Association Obligations:

1954.

1955 1956_

Authority and background

$500 500

500

Section 2 (b) of Public Law 794, 80th Congress authorizes such additional sums as may be needed for the payment of all necessary expenses incident to participation by the United States in the activities of the Pan-American Railway Congress Association.

According to article 12 of the charter of the Association, each adhering government is to organize a national commission of not more than 10 members to further the program of the association within its country. The members of the United States National Commission are appointed by the president; William T. Faricy, president, Association of American Railroads, serves as Chairman of the United States National Commission.

Obligations solely for activities of the United States National Commission are chargeable to this appropriation. Obligations incurred which relate to international meetings of the organization are chargeable to the "international contingencies" appropriation.

Estimated requirements

No provision is made for personal services since the members of the National Commission serve without compensation.

Printing and reproduction

It is estimated that $500 will be required to cover the cost of printing and reproduction of documents required for distribution to the members of the United States National Commission.

The United States participation in the Organization of American States (OAS) is authorized by this Government's ratification of the charter of the Organization of American States. Participation of the United States in the OAS is a continuation of United States membership in the International Union of American Republics (founded in 1890) and the Pan American Union (PAU).

The purposes of OAS are: (a) to strengthen the peace and security of the continent; (b) to prevent possible causes of difficulties and to ensure pacific settlement of disputes that may arise among the member states; (c) to provide for common action on the part of the members in the event of aggression; (d) to seek solution to political, juridical, and economic problems that may arise among member