to the development and progress of their countries. These Member States are convinced that UNESCO can help. With this in mind, the U.S. supported the reasonable increase in youth activities which was proposed to the Conference. Social Sciences: The discussion of social sciences at the Conference demonstrated again that this part of the program is of great interest to the Soviet Bloc. It is the part of the program to which the Soviets attempt to tie their ideological aims. To date the social science program has not received the attention it deserves-either from other Member States, including the U.S., or the Secretariat. The principal new initiatives in the social science area call for greater promotion of human rights, especially racial equality, study of the economic and social problems of newly-independent countries, and research on the economic and social consequences of disarmament. These three new areas were added to the program by the DirectorGeneral with at least the partial purpose of trying to accede to the spirit of the persistent Soviet demands that UNESCO try to contribute to the solution of urgent world problems. To his credit, the DirectorGeneral has kept the projects proposed for these three areas relatively free of propaganda. The Soviets were not satisfied with these concessions, and made a strenuous effort at the Conference to reorient the social sciences program toward such aims as "peaceful co-existence", "the abolition of the vestiges of colonialism", and "the struggle against imperialism”. The Conference did not accept the Soviet proposals. After prolonged discussion, it eventually did approve a resolution drawn up by the Soviet and U.S. delegations which establishes that among the main purposes of the social sciences work of UNESCO are the promotion of human rights (including problems arising from religious intolerance as well as racial prejudices), the study of economic and social problems of newly independent countries, the study of the economic and social consequences of disarmament, and the promotion of peaceful and neighborly cooperation among Member States.33 Cultural Activities: The program of cultural activities approved by the Conference provides for greater attention to the problems of developing countries in establishing museums and libraries. It emphasizes the importance of preserving and disseminating information about the little-known cultures of the world, especially those of Africa which being based on oral tradition are fast disappearing. It provides for continuation of the major sectors of previous cultural activities programs, among them the International Campaign to Preserve the Monuments of Nubia.34 Mass Communications: The United States has repeatedly suggested that UNESCO take advantage of the tremendous opportunity to achieve a breakthrough in educational development through the promotion and dissemination of new educational techniques: television, 33 Res. 3.253 through 3.256; texts in UNESCO, Records etc., pp. 53-54. 34 See doc. II-59, supra. radio, films, programmed instruction, and so forth. For the first time, the Program for 1965-66 makes an effort to take account of these recommendations. It provides for the establishment of a number of intensive pilot projects in developing countries to prove out the theory that radically new techniques of instruction are the best way-and indeed may be the only way to guarantee speedy development of education in the countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. There is some hope this may prove to be an important first step. ADMINISTRATION Budget: After careful review and assessment of program needs and after detailed discussions with the Director-General and other major contributors, the United States, a large majority of Western Europeans, plus the Old Commonwealth and a few Latin Americans, concluded that a regular budget appropriation of $48.12 million was appropriate for the next biennium with any additional approved requirements to be funded from savings or the Working Capital Fund. After a spirited debate key-noted by the Director-General, who was enthusiastically supported by the developing countries, the plenary adopted a provisional budgetary ceiling of $48.925 million by a vote of 74 for, 18 against (U.S.), 13 abstentions.35 The Director-General was responsible for engineering this surprise increase without the approval of the Executive Board. It seemed to the United States and several other delegations to be an unwarranted use of his power. The Chairman of the U.S. Delegation challenged the Director-General's handling of the budget issue in a meeting of the General Committee of the Conference. He said the Director-General had forced a totally unnecessary vote on the budget against the wishes of all the major contributors and had openly disregarded the decision of the Executive Board. He called for immediate examination by the Executive Board of its relationship with the Director-General and reminded the Director-General that his administrative and fiscal responsibilities could not be ignored in the future. In response the Director-General said he thought he had failed in his responsibilities in not bringing the major contributors along on his budget request. He offered his resignation, but after further exchange of views, in which it was clear that no one was calling for his resignation, he indicated his intention to continue in office. In the final days of the Conference-after completion of the work of the Program and Administrative Commissions-the final budget ceiling was established at $48.857 million by a vote of 76 for, 0 against, 16 (U.S.) abstentions.36 The reduction of $68,000 resulted from administrative savings. It is worth noting that despite a deluge of resolutions many with budgetary implications-the Program Commission kept within its budgetary ceiling. Res. 7.1; text in UNESCO, Records etc., p. 92. It is estimated that assessments for the countries abstaining on the final budget vote account for 70 percent of the total budget. The reason for opposition to the provisional budget ceiling and abstention on the final vote by the U.S. was dissatisfaction with current budgetary procedures and with the handling of the budget by the Director-General at the 13th General Conference. To remedy some of the present difficulties, the U.S., supported by other friendly delegations, and by a decision of the 67th session of the Executive Board, has proposed establishment of an advisory committee on budget and related matters. Consideration of this proposal will take place at the 70th session of the Executive Board next April. Total resources available to UNESCO-both regular and extrabudgetary-will amount to about $100 million in the ensuing bien nium. Personnel: During examination of the question of salaries, allowances and housing loans, it was evident that the Secretariat was pushing for all the traffic would bear. Proposals included revision of salary scales upward at a cost of approximately $480,000 plus increases in other staff emoluments. The principal objection of the U.S. Delegation to the proposed salary scales was that they were based on principles not yet generally accepted in the UN system and were higher than all but one private employer in the Paris area. The suggestion was made by some Member States, including the U.S., that the entire matter be referred by the Conference to the International Civil Service Advisory Board for review. During discussions and review of the matter by a working committee, feelings ran high; and the UNESCO Staff Association threatened a strike. As a result of a personal intervention by the Director-General in plenary, the Conference overturned the recommendation of the Administrative Commission to scale down the proposed salary increases and endorsed a proposal by Belgium and Morocco to implement the proposed scale on April 1, 1965. It also agreed to a revision in the grading pattern, special allowance for language proficiency, and $1,200,000 in staff housing loans. The General Conference vote on these personnel proposals was 48 for, 9 against, and 22 (U.S.) abstentions. 37 CONCLUSION With a few exceptions, the results of the 13th General Conference were generally satisfactory from the point of view of U.S. interests. The so-called general debate, consisting of interventions by the chairmen of delegations of most Member States, was of a higher caliber than in previous years. At the suggestion of the Executive Board and the Director-General, the interventions focussed on the overall policy of UNESCO, the main trends of the Organization's work, and significant guidelines for the future. In contrast with previous general debates when speakers frequently discussed their own national 27 Res. 27.11, 27.21, 27.31; texts ibid., pp. 124-125. educational, scientific, and cultural developments, the general debate at the 13th General Conference had considerably more coherence and unity and produced a stimulating exchange of views. As a result, it was possible for the first time in UNESCO history to summarize the general debate in an overall policy resolution." 38 The proposed program for 1965-1966 as set forth in Document 13C/5,39 which the U.S. had strongly endorsed, was approved with but a few minor changes. Discussion of the proposed program might have been more felicitous had it not been for the deluge of draft resolutions over 200 of them-with which the Program Commission had to contend. Over 100 of these came from one Member State, the Soviet Union. Because the U.S. Government had been generally satisfied with the proposed program for 1965-1966 and had made known its views through the Executive Board, it had submitted no draft resolutions for consideration by the Conference. In retrospect, this was a mistake. Inasmuch as attention tends to be concentrated at the General Conference on proposals embodied in these resolutions-frequently at the expense of the program itself-it will be in the U.S. interest in the future to develop program proposals and to submit them in accordance with prescribed procedures. A greater U.S. initiative is thus indicated in future. There is an obvious need for streamlining the procedures of the General Conference. Present procedures were developed at a time when the Organization was only a fraction of its present size in terms of membership, budget and staff. They are today wholly inadequate. Drastic changes may well be necessary-changes in the method of developing and presenting the budget, changes in the rules of procedure, changes in handling of draft resolutions, and changes in consideration of the proposed program. To achieve these goals there must be more and better staff devoted to UNESCO problems within the Government, both in Washington and in Paris. Our representatives in Paris must learn more about UNESCO problems, both in Paris and in the field. There is also need for continuous improvement in U.S. preparation for General Conferences and in the quality and experience of the delegation. It is most important to develop continuity on General Conference delegations, difficult though this may be for meetings which occur only every two years. The speeches and papers prepared by the Department must be a great deal more topical and realistic. At this Conference there was little or no guidance at all on two or three of the most important issues where speeches had to be given. Finally, we must attempt to get more people with general political background and skill on the delegations. UNESCO today is in a state of constant expansion. Its activities are wide-flung and ever increasing. The 13th General Conference proved conclusively that new means, new methods, new ideas must be developed and brought to the fore to adapt UNESCO to present-day needs and circumstances. In effecting these changes the U.S. must 38 Res. 6.11; text ibid., pp. 86–88. "Not printed here. obviously play an important role both in the intellectual contribution it makes and in the reforms it recommends for improving the procedures and administrative capacity of the Organizaton. THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION Document II-61 Activities of the World Meteorological Organization During 1964: ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT (JOHNSON) TO THE CONGRESS ON U.S. PARTICIPATION IN THE U.N., TRANSMITTED MARCH 1, 1966 (ExCERPT) 40 The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) facilitates worldwide cooperation in the field of meteorology and hydrometeorology through networks of observation stations, meteorological centers, international exchange systems, research, and training. The World Meteorological Congress establishes regulations relating to meteorological practice and fixes the policy, program, and budget of the organization. 41 Particular emphasis has been placed on the responsibilities of the WMO resulting from the 16th and 17th General Assembly resolutions in the field of outer space. The first report of the WMO on the Advancement of Atmospheric Sciences and their Application in the Light of Developments in Outer Space in 1962 outlined the elements of the World Weather Watch envisaged as a cooperative global meteorological observing and prediction system. The third report of the WMO on outer space in 1964 set forth the developments underway to lay the requisite groundwork for the establishment of a World Weather Watch under the aegis of the WMO. Consideration was given to the establishment of World Weather Centers, the possible utilization of regional centers, the extensive use of weather information from satellites, and the need for a much more efficient telecommunication system. Related to these developments were studies of the most efficient organization of facilities for communications, analysis, and warnings based on national systems already in existence, and the training of meteorologists to use weather information from satellites. Careful attention was given to the problem of implementation of a worldwide network of conventional reporting stations required to supplement information from weather satellites. 40 10 U.S. Participation in the UN: Report by the President to the Congress for the Year 1964, pp. 214–218. "See American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1961, pp. 1202–1205; ibid., 1962, pp. 1348–1352. |