This appropriation is for payment of the United States share of the expenses of the United Nations and its specialized agencies; other international organizations; and inter-American organizations; all of which are established pursuant to treaties, conventions, or specific acts of Congress. Contributions by the United States are based generally on a proration of the approved budget of each international organization. While the United States participates in fixing the percentage distribution and the total budget of each organization, final determination of both is made by a majority of member -nations. The net increase of $125,424 in the estimate is composed of the following increases and decreases: The following is a résumé of the organizations for which funds are provided by this appropriation and a comparison of the positions and funds available for 1955 and requested for 1956 for each: The net increase of $19,000 for the United States mission to the United Nations is the result of an increase of $16,700 in personal services and $2,300 in supplies and materials. The personal service increase provides: (1) $6,000 for 5 months' compensation of a deputy United States representative in the Disarmament Commission, (2) $2,200 additional for overtime payment because of U. N. meeting schedules and, (3) $8,500 for strengthening management and advisory positions. The estimate for the United States resident delegation for International Organizations at Geneva provides for an additional messenger position which is offset by a decrease in travel funds. The increase of $31,000 for the United States mission to the Organization of American States is needed to provide adequate United States representation in the OAS and includes $28,000 for 3 additional permanent positions and 2 part-time positions, $1,300 for travel, and $1,700 for shipment of effects to Mexico City. International contingencies Current year appropriation. Deduct comparative transfer to "International Fisheries Commis- Current year funds comparable to 1956 request (base). Amount requested for fiscal year 1956._. Increase in 1956 request over comparable funds for current This appropriation provides for expenses of United States participation in international activities which arise from time to time in the conduct of foreign affairs and for which specific appropriations have not been provided. It is used to finance (1) participation in international conferences; (2) United States missions on special assignment; and (3) participation in temporary international organizations. The increase of $415,000 consists of $15,000 additional for normal participation in international conferences; and $400,000 which will be available to the Secretary of State to meet the expenses of United States participation for those "unforeseen" meetings which may be scheduled. Included in this category are: Meetings relating to the peaceful uses of atomic energy, meetings of the Manila Pact Council, further disarmament discussions and Four-Power discussions. To meet special situations in 1955, $100,000 was made available from the President's emergency fund. In both 1954 and 1955 fiscal years the Department has required supplemental funds to finance participation in these major ad hoc conferences, since no provision for them was made in the annual appropriation. The difficulty of presenting supplemental estimates is that there can be no assurance that funds will be available when required. The Department cannot use the funds provided for regular conference activities for these meetings as the accelerated rate of expenditure in anticipation of a supplemental appropriation is contrary to the provisions of the antideficiency law. Usually there is insufficient time prior to the convening of a conference to obtain a supplemental appropriation for the specific meeting. The 1956 request of $1,500,000 is the amount the Congress appropriated for the fiscal year 1953. This amount will again provide the Department with a contingency appropriation so that it can finance United States representation at the international conference table without recourse to annual supplemental requests. It was for this reason that Congress saw fit to establish the international contingencies appropriation in 1945. International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico Current year appropriations.. Deduct estimated unobligated balances. Total current year availability. Amount $1,750, 000 5,000 6, 280, 042 Construction projects eliminated in 1956: Upper dams--Diablo investigations. Balance of prior year appropriations to be carried forward to subsequent year__ Estimated comparable obligations for current year... Decrease in 1956 request below estimated comparable 8, 025, 042 -604, 631 -3, 110, 833 4,309, 578 -1, 944, 900 2, 364, 678 The International Boundary and Water Commission was established under the treaty of March 1, 1899, to resolve boundary problems requiring joint action by the two Governments. The comparable current year obligations and the 1956 estimates by appropriations are as follows: The net increase of $5,000 for salaries and expenses provides for an increase in general administration and engineering. The funds required for operation and maintenance are as follows: The increases are required for the following purposes: 1. El Paso-Rio Grande projects: More adequate maintenance of projects in which the initial investment exceeded $8.6 million, principally clearing floodway, levee, and channel areas of brush and undergrowth, maintenance of earthworks, roadways, canals and structures, rodent control, and floodway leveling. The estimate includes $12,000 for adjustment of wages to conform to prevailing rates; $99,000 for replacement of heavy duty maintenance equipment; $41,256 to restore normal standards of maintenance; and $92,400 to complete 235 miles of riverbank revetment. 2. Lower Rio Grande flood control: More adequate maintenance of a project in which the United States has an initial investment of $10.6 million consisting principally of repairing damage due to heavy rain and wind erosion, clearing of levee and floodway areas, clearing and repairing revetments, and maintenance of structures. Further deferment of maintenance will jeopardize the project. The estimate includes $19,000 for adjustment of wages to conform to prevailing rates; $22,000 for replacement of maintenance equipment; $142,062 to restore normal standards of maintenance; and $18,000 for maintenance wholly deferred in recent years. 3. Falcon Dam and powerplant: The increase results from the annualization of the costs of operating the powerplant, which commenced operation in the second quarter of fiscal year 1955. 4. International gaging stations: The increase represents additional cost of supplies required for the stations. The Rio Grande flood control appropriation is used in flood fighting and the repair of flood damage. The $20,000 requested is to restore a balance to the appropriation, which is available until expended. No funds are requested for construction. The 1956 requirements, financed from funds previously appropriated, reflect the payment of claims of construction contracts and unforeseen contingencies on the Falcon Dam projects. In addition work on the Anzalduas project, commenced in 1955, will be continued. The following is a résumé of the commissions for which funds are provided by this appropriation, and a comparison of the positions and funds available for 1955 and requested for 1956 for each: The International Boundary Commission maintains jointly with Canada an effective boundary line as provided by the treaty proclaimed July 17, 1925. The International Joint Commission provides a means for the adjustment and settlement of questions involving the rights, obligations, or interests of the United States or Canada or the people of either country along the common boundary, as provided by the treaty signed January 11, 1909. The increase of $4,600 for the International Boundary Commission is to permit the employment of one additional junior engineer to train in the work of the Commission. The two engineers currently employed, age 69 and age 65, are approaching retirement. The increase of $4,800 for the United States section of the International Joint Commission is needed to provide a staff of 5 for the full fiscal year. The increase of $5,600 for Geological Survey is to permit urgent maintenance and repair work on gaging stations. International fisheries commissions Current year appropriation Comparative transfer from "International contingencies". Current year funds comparable to 1956 request (base).... Amount requested for fiscal year 1956_. Amount $310,000 15, 000 325,000 425, 000 100, 000 Increase in 1956 request over comparable funds for current year. The purpose of this appropriation is to provide funds for the several commissions which conduct studies with the objective of determining regulatory measures necessary to the preservation and expansion of fishery stocks. The following is a résumé of the commissions for which funds are provided by this appropriation, and a comparison of the funds available for 1955 and requested for 1956 for each: International Pacific Halibut Commission.-The United States and Canada share equally the expenses of this Commission. The total budget of the Commission for 1955 is $99,500 and for 1956 is $128,220, the United States share being one-half. The increase of $28,720 in 1956 in the total budget United States share $14,360 is required to expand the Commission's scientific work which is expected to produce an increased yield from the fishery. İnternational Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission.-The United States and Canada share equally the expenses of this Commission. The budgets for 1955 and 1956 are Canadian $279,000 or approximately United States $290,000 at the current rate of exchange, the United States share being one-half. The increase of United States $1,795 in 1956 is required to offset partially the difference in the exchange rate and does not represent an increase in the Commission's budget. Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission.-Under the terms of the Convention the costs of this Commission's program are divided in proportion to utilization of the tuna catch, and the United States share has been 99.8 percent of the total cost. With the entrance of Panama, the Commission has adopted the policy that the other two participating nations (Costa Rica and Panama) and any other nation which adheres in the future shall pay a minimum contribution of $500 each. The Commission's budget for the fiscal year 1956 amounts to $198,290 of which $197,290 represents the United States portion. The increase of $81,845 is required to permit the Commission to undertake the program prescribed by the treaty. Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Commission.-The Commission will adopt its budget for 1956 in the spring of 1955. The $3,885 requested in this appropriation is the same amount as requested for 1955 and assumes no increases in the United States share of the Commission's budget. International Whaling Commission.-The United States contribution of $420 is one-seventeenth of £2,550 (equivalent to $7,140) assessed member governments. International North Pacific Fisheries Commission. Of the Commission's total budget of $39,000, the United States share will be one-third or $13,000. The |