INTERNATIONAL Bureau for thE PUBLICATION OF CUSTOMS TARIFFS, The United States assessment is set at 6,833 gold francs which is 5.47 percent of a basic budget of 125,000 gold francs. However, due to the voluntary revisions in other Government assessments since 1890 the total assessments had risen to 159,642 gold francs in 1952. However, the United States assessment remained 6,833 gold francs which is 4.28 percent of total assessments. The organization's fiscal year is April 1-March 31. A protocol to the convention of 1890 was adopted at a conference held in Brussels in 1949. The protocol provides for an increase in the maximum annual budget to 500,000 gold francs. The United States has not yet adhered to the protocol. The protocol has been submitted to the Senate for ratification and should the United States adhere, its assessment would be 53 units out of 1,031 (about 5 percent) or $8,650 (26,500 gold francs at the rate of 0.3267 cents). Statutory authorization The convention forming the International Bureau for the Publication of Customs Tariffs ratified by the United States December 17, 1890 (26 Stat. 1520). INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, SEVRES, FRANCE The United States assessment is set at 26,250 gold francs predicated upon a basic 175,000 gold franc budget, with the maximum to be contributed by any 1 member set at 15 percent. The adherence of new members had raised total assessments to 193,798 gold francs by 1953. However, the United States assessment remained 26,250 gold francs which is 13.55 percent of total assessments. The decrease is predicated on resumption of payments in 1955 by Argentina, Chile, and Peru. Statutory authorization The convention establishing the Bureau ratified May 28, 1878 (20 Stat. 714), and the amending convention ratified September 19, 1923 (43 Stat. 1687). INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC UNIONS AND ASSOCIATED UNIONS Computation of estimate It is estimated that membership dues chargeable to the United States for the fiscal year 1955 will amount to $7,989. This estimate assumes a continuation of present rates of exchange, and of the present level of membership dues. Payments actually made in fiscal year 1953 amounted to $7,985. Amounts payable to the individual unions during fiscal year 1954 are estimated to be as follows: Although the membership of the constituent unions differ, it is estimated that the United States contribution is approximately 8.7 percent of the total assessments by the council and associated unions listed above. United States and other Government contributions are set amounts rather than being based on the percentage scales of contributions. Statutory authorization An act of Congress approved August 7, 1935 (22 U. S. C. 274). Contributions of members are on the basis of a quota established by the statutes of the Bureau. Each member subscribes 2 basic shares of 2,000 gold francs. Members which own 100,000 gross tons of shipping or more (Navy and merchant marine) contribute supplementary shares of the same value in accordance with a sliding scale in which the maximum is set at 15 shares for 20,750,000 gross tons and above. The tonnage of the United States, for purposes of determining its contribution, is 40,235,117 gross tons. The United States, therefore, is required to subscribe, in addition to 2 basic shares, 15 additional shares, making its total contribution 17 shares of 2,000 gold francs each, or 34,000 gold francs. However a 10 percent reduction in assessments was voted at the last meeting effective January 1, 1954, making the United States assessment 30,600 gold francs. Statutory authorization Act of Congress approved March 2, 1921 (41 Stat. 1215; 22 U. S. C. 275). INTERNATIONAL WHEAT COUNCIL, LONDON, ENGLAND No funds were requested in the fiscal year 1954 appropriation request since the old agreement had lapsed and the new agreement had not yet been ratified. Consequently, funds for the fiscal year 1954 assessment will have to be obtained either from savings in other items under this appropriation head or through the submission of a fiscal year 1954 supplemental appropriation request. 6, 540 $18,312 9,875 The fiscal year 1955 (August 1, 1954-July 31, 1955) budget will not be adopted until the spring of 1954 but is estimated to be the same amount as for the fiscal year 1954 for purposes of this estimate. The organization divides its assessments equally between the importing and exporting countries and the United States share for the fiscal year 1955 is estimated at one-half of the total of the exporting countries or 25 percent as compared with 24.88 percent in the fiscal year 1954. Statutory authorization The International Wheat Agreement ratified July 13, 1953. The budget of the organization for the calendar year 1954 (fiscal year 1955) amounts to $524,832, approximately $12,000 less than the previous year. However, due to a smaller amount of carryover and miscellaneous income, assessments to members increase by $6,306. The United States share (121⁄2 percent) of the increase is $789. Statutory authorization Public Law 403, 80th Congress (22 U. S. C. 280) as amended by Public Law 806, 81st Congress (22 U. S. C. 262a). AMENDMENT REQUESTED CONTRIBUTIONS TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (House bill, p. 6) (House hearings, p. 199) Estimate $28, 321, 010 1954 act (excluding comparative transfers of $4,110 to international fisheries commissions and $143,000 to Public Health Service for Gorgas Memorial Laboratory). House allowance (a reduction of $71,010 in the estimate) AMENDMENT REQUESTED The Department requests the following amendment: Page 6, line 5, strike out "$28,250,000" and insert "$28,321,010", the estimate, or an increase of $71,010. EXTRACT FROM HOUSE REPORT (P. 4) "There is included in the bill $28,250,000 to meet the annual obligations of membership in international multilateral organizations, pursuant to treaties, conventions, or specific acts of Congress. These organizations include the United Nations and 7 of its specialized agencies, the Pan American Union of the Organization of American States, and 6 other inter-American organizations and 11 other international organizations in which it participates. The estimate for the Gorgas Memorial Institute has been transferred to the Public Health Service and the estimates for the International Whaling Commission and the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Commission have been transferred from this appropriation to the new appropriation 'International fisheries commissions.' "The committee is pleased to note that our percentage of contribution to the United Nations has finally been reduced to 33% percent. The United States share for the current fiscal year was 35.12 percent. In addition to the decrease in the percentage of contributions, the gross expenditure budget of the United Nations for fiscal year 1955 is approximately $2,400,000 less than 1954. However, in some of the specialized agencies the amount we are called upon to contribute is larger, not because of any increase in our percentage of contributions, but because of an increase in the gross budget. This points up the situation to which this committee has called attention on several previous occasions, that our representatives to these organizations must not only strive to reduce the percentage of our contribution but must take an active and aggressive part in holding down and reducing the overall budgets of these organizations." "The amount allowed by the committee for this item is $1,364,787 below the appropriation for the present fiscal year and is $71,010 below the budget estimate." JUSTIFICATION The estimates for the fiscal year 1955 which were submitted to the House of Representatives contained a request of $28,321,010 for the purpose of meeting the cost of United States contributions to the budgets of the United Nations and 7 of its specialized agencies, 7 inter-American organizations including the Organization of American States, and 11 other small international organizations. This represents the amount which will be required if the United States is to make its contribution in full to those international organizations in which the United States participates pursuant to treaty, convention, or special act of Congress. While a reduction of $71,010 in a total appropriation of over $28 million might not appear significant, in the case of this appropriation it might seriously impair the ability of the Department to carry out the purposes of the appropriation since the United States might not be able to meet its full financial obligation to these organizations. Over 95 percent of the amount requested represents contributions to organizations where the assessments have already been determined in accordance with the relevant provisions of their charters or constitutions. This leaves something less than 5 percent of the total appropriation on an estimated basis. The Department has forecast estimates for these activities on a conservative basis, and its best judgment in that the amounts stated are the minimum that will be needed. Included in the 5 percent is an estimate of the United States voluntary contribution to the ICAO joint support program. This contribution is not based on an "assessment" as is the case with United States contributions to the regular budget of the international organization, but is an independent commitment undertaken annually to provide support for the operation and maintenance of air navigation facilities essential to the safety of aircraft flying the North Atlantic. The United States, along with other ICÃO member nations using the facilities, voluntarily agrees to contribute to the support of these facilities on the basis of its proportionate share of North Atlantic air traffic. The contributions in question are to organizations to which we have pledged United States support through treaties, conventions and special acts of Congress. If final assessments exceed the amount appropriated, the Department will have no alternative but to become delinquent. The United States has been largely instrumental in holding down the budgets of the organizations involved and has just achieved in the United Nations a reduction in its percentage share to 33% percent, a goal toward which it has been striving for a number of years. The net result of United States economy efforts has been a request for this fiscal year which is over $1,100,000 less than the requirements for the fiscal year 1954. It is believed that the full amount requested is the minimum that will be required to meet our financial obligations for the fiscal year 1955. INTERGOVERNMENTAL MARITIME CONSULTATIVE ORGANIZATION Chairman BRIDGES. Mr. Key, I understand you are going to testify. Mr. KEY. Mr. Chairman, the day before yesterday, information was requested in this committee about the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization. I have before me data on this organization, which I promised to furnish, and which I should like, with your permission, to summarize and then to enter into the record. The Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization, known as the IMCO, has not yet come into being. A convention for the establishment of this organization was signed by 21 countries in 1948 and has been ratified by 14 countries, 7 of which have more than a million gross tons of shipping. The United States ratified the convention on August 17, 1950. The main purposes of the organization are to promote the safety and efficiency of navigation and to encourage the removal of discriminatory action and unnecessary restrictions by governments affecting shipping. As I say, that summarizes it, and I have more detailed information here. (The information referred to follows:) INTERGOVERNMENTAL MARITIME CONSULTATIVE ORGANIZATION (IMCO) The Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) has not yet come into being. A convention for the establishment of this organization was signed by 21 countries in Geneva in 1948, and has been ratified by 14 countries including 7 which each have more than 1 million gross tons of shipping. The United States ratified the convention on August 17, 1950. The purposes of IMCO are: 1. To provide machinery for cooperation among governments in the field of governmental regulation and practices relating to technical matters of all kinds affecting shipping engaged in the highest practicable standards in matters concerning maritime safety and efficiency of navigation; 2. To encourage the removal of discriminatory action and unnecessary restrictions by governments affecting such shipping so as to promote the availability of shipping services to the world without discrimination. (Government assistance to shipping is not in itself considered discrimination, provided this assistance is not designed to restrict the freedom of shipping of all flags to take part in world trade); 3. To provide for IMCO's consideration of any matter concerning shipping referred to it by any part of the United Nations; 4. To provide for exchange of information among governments on matters being considered by IMCO; 5. To provide for the consideration by IMCO of matters concerning unfair restrictive practices by shipping concerns. The functions of IMCO are to be consultative and advisory. The machinery would consist of an assembly to meet every 2 years, a council consisting of 16 members, and a maritime safety committee consisting of 14 members. The United States has an interest in seeing not only that there are adequate shipping services throughout the world, but also that the world's trade is open to all shipowning nations on a fair, competitive basis. The IMCO will be an instrument through which complaints may be aired and suggestions and recommendations affecting world shipping can be initiated. IMCO would provide a forum where the United States could begin action against those international aspects of shipping practices which run contrary to our free, competitive enterprise system and which might be designed to further political ends. It is felt that it would thus materially aid the American private shipping industry in competing with the so-called state-trading countries. Further, there has never been an organization set up to provide for the orderly development of maritime safety and other highly technical regulations such as those contained in the International Safety of Life at Sea Convention, signed in 1929. The need for such an organization was foreseen as early as 1889 at a maritime conference held in Washington. There is a pressing need for IMCO at present because the International Safety of Life at Sea Convention, signed in 1948, assigns important duties to IMCO, and cannot be completely implemented unless there is such an organization. Moreover, arrangements for the coordination of aircraft, shipping, telecommunications, and meteorology in the interests of safety which have been developed under the auspices of the United Nations, cannot be effective unless there is an intergovernmental shipping organization to cooperate with the organizations already established in the other fields. |