VII.
Report of commission B to the conference
A. Structure
of FAO
B. Administration
C. Finance
D. Seat
E. Regional
offices
F.
Settlement of disputes
G.
Relations with the united nations and with other international bodies
H.
Matters for future consideration
COMMISSION B was entrusted with the consideration of problems of organization and administration. Its task was to ensure that the structure of FAO be as well adapted as possible to the functions which it has to perform, and to define its external relations, particularly those with the United Nations and other international bodies. The drafts and work papers provided by the staff of the Interim Commission made its task relatively easy. By reviewing and supplementing the materials handed on to it, the Commission and its Committees enlisted the full cooperation of the entire Conference and of the various delegations in a thorough survey of the needs of the Organization as it begins its formal career.
The Commission was organized under the chairmanship of Mr. Henrik de Kauffmann of Denmark, with Mr. Anis Azer of Egypt and Dr. Alberto Sevilla Sacasa of Nicaragua as Vice-Chairmen. Three meetings of the Commission and two meetings of Commission and Committee officers were held.
At its first meeting the Commission appointed four Committees:
Committee I - Rules and Procedure, under the chairmanship of Dr. Arthur Wauters (Belgium), which held six meetings;
Committee II - Finance, under the chairmanship of Mr. J. B. Brigden (Australia), which held eight meetings;
Committee III - Administrative Arrangements, under the chairmanship of Mr. K. S. Sie (China), with Miss Anna Lord Strauss (United States) as rapporteur, which held six meetings; and
Committee IV - Constitutional and Diplomatic Questions, under the chairmanship of Sir Girja Shankar Bajpai (India), with the Vicomte Alain du Parc (Belgium) as rapporteur, which met seven times.
The reports of the Committees have been approved. In submitting its own report to the Conference, Commission B submits for approval the Rules of Procedure and the Financial Regulations prepared by its Committees, as well as a series of resolutions and recommendations which resulted from the Committee deliberations. The Committees worked in close harmony with each other, and many of the recommendations of the Commission are the result of parallel deliberations of two or more Committees.
The Interim Commission built well, and the Committees suggested only minor changes. They were able to pass on the Rules and Regulations prepared by the Interim Commission with few amendments of substance, and a suggestion from Committee I that after some experience of their operation the Rules and Regulations might be reclassified. The Rules of Procedure, following the Constitution of FAO, provide for the development of orderly procedures between FAO's several organs. The determination of basic policy lies in the Conference An Executive Committee of fifteen members is given powers necessary for the efficient conduct of the work of FAO, and the Director-General is given widest latitude with respect to matters of administration.
Various aspects of staff policy were reviewed by the Committees, which ventured suggestions intended to strengthen the hands of the Director-General in organizing an effective administrative machine and in bringing together a strong staff.
The Committee on Finance, using as the basis of its consideration the draft regulations prepared by the Interim Commission, presented for approval a set of Financial Resolutions which covers both temporary and permanent problems.
Particular problems which this Committee considered were the determination of the financial year, the apportionment of contributions, future budgetary relationship with the United Nations, and the budget for the first and second financial years. The retention of the financial year, July 1 to June 30, as provided in the Constitution, entailed not only authorization of the Director-General to expend moneys between the termination of the financial year and the regular session of the Conference, but also the problem of redistributing the financial burden among Members after June 30, 1946, when the first year ends.
The table of contributions, as finally recommended for approval by the Conference, takes generally into consideration the different situations of the Member states in the first and second financial years.
Prospective budgetary consolidation with the United Nations was made the subject of a resolution of recommendation to the Director-General.
After his election, the Director-General, Sir John Boyd Orr, met with the Finance Committee to consider the proposed budgets for the first two financial years. A resolution on the Budget is attached for the approval of the Conference.
Washington is designated in the Constitution as the temporary seat of FAO. The French Member on Committee III (Administrative Arrangements) urged that FAO have its seat in Europe, and an invitation from the Quebec City Council to make Quebec the seat of FAO was received by the Conference. Rule XXXII of the Permanent Rules of Procedure provides that the seat of FAO shall be at the seat of the United Nations when the latter is decided. This rule was adopted on the understanding that the seat of the United Nations will also be the seat of its Economic and Social Council, with which the work of FAO will be so closely associated.
The establishment of regional offices of FAO was considered by Committee III to be the task of the Director-General working with the Executive Committee, who would recommend to the Conference the number, location, and various functions of such offices, which should be combined as far as practicable with those of other specialized agencies.
Committee IV (Constitutional and Diplomatic Questions) adopted the principle that as a matter of general practice the interpretation of the Constitution of FAO and disputes arising out of international conventions made under it should be determined by the International Court of Justice. Provision was also made for the appointment of arbitral tribunals to deal with these disputes pending the establishment of the Court.
G. Relations with the united nations and with other international bodies
It is recommended that FAO shall so order its procedure and practice as to achieve the closest possible relationship with the United Nations and the specialized agencies which may be established in connection therewith. This relationship should extend not only to common budgetary arrangements but also to the use of other common services. Furthermore, the Director-General, with the approval of the Executive Committee, is to examine possible relationships with other intergovernmental organizations and with nongovernmental organizations which may be of assistance to FAO in achieving its fundamental objectives, particularly the improvement of the standard of living of all workers.
In further pursuance of the aim to centralize related activities under United Nations direction, recommendations are made for winding up the affairs of the International Institute of Agriculture and the Comité International du Bois, and continuance by FAO of the appropriate activities of these organizations.
H. Matters for future consideration
Commission B refers also to the Conference for its consideration a number
of questions of an administrative nature and financial nature which should
be considered at some future time.
Contents
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