The sixteenth session of the South Pacific Commission was held at headquarters in Nouméa from October 18 to November 8, 1956, under the chairmanship of His Excellency N. A. J. de Voogd, Senior Commissioner for the Netherlands. For the first time at a Commission session a memaber of a Pacific islands race, Lieut.-Col. the Hon. Ratu Edward Cakobau, O.B.E., M.C., Alternate Commissioner on the United Kingdom delegation, represented a participating government. The Commission, after reviewing arrangements for holding courses to train Pacific islanders in assisting themselves, approved plans for the South Pacific Fisheries Training Course, held at the Commission headquarters, November 19, 1956, to February 22, 1957, and a similar course in health education for about forty trainees in 1957 in cooperation with the World Health Organization. The Commission authorized continuation of the following programs: 1) entomological research in the campaign against the rhinoceros beetle; 2 development of fish farming and pond stocking; 3) field research and advice on mosquito control problems and mosquitoborne diseases; 4) the nutrition study, for which a basic survey of food habits and nutritional status was conducted in Papua, New Guinea, and Netherlands New Guinea in 1956; 5) assistance in the establishment of libraries, literature committees, and book shops by the Commission's Literature Bureau, which had stimulated the production of books, pamphlets, filmstrips, posters, leaflets, and flannelgraphs for the islanders during the previous two years; and 6) stimulation of interest in the formation and conduct of cooperative enterprises, the preparation of practical manuals on cooperation, and the planning of a technical meeting on cooperatives to be held in 1958.

The first part of the ninth ordinary session of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe was held in Strasbourg, April 29—May 4, 1957, under the presidency of Mr. Fernand Dehousse (Belgium, Socialist). During the session Mr. Lodovico Benvenuti (Italy, Christian Democrat) was elected Secretary-General of the Council of Europe. On the proposal of the Bureau of the Council, the Assembly decided that the Committee on General Affairs should be named the Political Committee.

The 39th session of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Conference was held in Geneva from June 6 to 28, 1956, under the presidency of Mr. Mohsen Nasr (government delegate and Minister of Labor, Iran). The Conference was attended by delegates from 73 member countries and observers from the Federation of Malaya, the Trust Territory of Somaliland under Italian administration, and Trinidad. During the session Morocco, Tunisia and the Sudan were admitted to membership.

The annual report of the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the year 1956 was a comprehensive account of the year's accomplishments, in which particular emphasis was laid on the eradication of certain communicable diseases, especially malaria, on WHO's role in the development of national health services and on the effect of the research stimulated, promoted or coordinated by WHO on the national health administrations. The report also referred to the responsibility of WHO in a new field of public health—the peaceful uses of atomic energy.

The eighth meeting of the Consultative Committee on Economic Development in South and Southeast Asia (Colombo Plan) was held in Wellington, New Zealand from December 4 to 8, 1956. The committee noted the progress reported by the United States on a proposal for a regional nuclear center in Manila, for which the United States was prepared to contribute approximately $20 million. The Canadian delegate announced an increase to $34.4 million in the Canadian contribution to the Colombo Plan. Canada also reported on progress in the construction of the Canada-India reactor being established at the Indian Atomic Energy Research Center near Bombay. A communique issued at the end of the meeting stated that during the previous year, a turning point in the progress of the Asian members of the Colombo Plan, many countries had formulated new or renewed national plans and had given continuing attention to improving the planning and execution of their public investment projects. It was reported that the greater part of the cost of development in the public sector was being provided through the efforts of the people of the area, and that, in addition to governmental development projects, private investment was making an important contribution, especially in agriculture and small-scale industries. The report, observing that one of the main obstacles to progress under the Colombo Plan was the lack of skilled personnel, stressed the need for training students in the more developed countries of the area and for sending experts to the area.

The second session of Regional Association I (Africa) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) opened at Las Palmas, Canary Islands, on January 21, 1957, under the presidency of Mr. Jacques Ravet. Twenty members, out of a total membership of 22, were represented by delegates. In addition, four WMO members from outside the region, one non-member territory and two international organizations sent observers who took an active part in the meeting. Two working committees were set up, one to deal with codes, telecommunications and maritime meteorology, and one to study observational networks, climatology and related matters, and arid zone problems. The various parts of the international codes subject to regional agreement were revised; the existing system of meteorological telecommunications in the region was revised in the light of the recommendations of a working group; and the networks of stations making surface and upper-air observations were examined in detail. The need for more upper-air observations from oceanic regions was stressed, and for the first time a regional network of ground radar weather observing stations was laid down. Among other items dealt with at the session were climatological practices and the preparation of a climatic atlas for Africa, and the promotion of hydrometeorological and agrometeorological activities within the region. A working group was set up to ensure better coordination of research work on the hydrometeorological problems of the arid zones within the region. The association decided that in its future program, first priority should be given to the implementation of the recommended observing networks and of the decisions concerning telecommunications.

The eleventh annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund was held in Washington, D. C, from September 24 through 28, 1956, under the chairmanship of Antonio Carillo Flores (Mexico). Of the six plenary sessions, two were held jointly with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. In addition, an informal session on recent developments in monetary analysis was held.

The Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) held the first part of its fifth ordinary session in Strasbourg, May 14–17, 1957, under the chairmanship of Dr. Hans Furler (Federal Republic of Germany, Christian Democrat). At the opening meeting Dr. Furler commented on the signature of the treaties establishing the European Economic Community (common market) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and their consequences for the Assembly. Stating his opinion that plans for a broad association between all European institutions could not be established until later, he cited the efficient collaboration between ECSC and the Council of Europe and advocated the study of a plan for coordinating European parliamentary activities by creating a standing committee of the three bureaux with the possible addition of representatives from other institutions. Dr. Furler felt, however, that identity of membership in the assemblies should be limited to a third and at the most half of the representatives. Mr. Mayer, President of the High Authority, reviewed the work of ECSC between 1953 and 1956, during which time, he said, productivity per man had increased by 9.5 percent in the coal mines, giving a total increase of production of about 30 percent, while in the steel industry manpower had increased by 10 percent and production by 43 percent giving a rise of 29 percent in productivity per man. Turning to problems facing ECSC, Mr. Mayer called attention to the decreasing investment in the mines and insufficiency of manpower, and to the limitation of the development of the steel industry by problems of supplying raw materials. In the general discussion members commented on the price of coal and steel, falling trade within ECSC, and the High Authority's decision to lower the levy rate from 0.45 to 0.35 percent. Mr. Mayer replied that prices had risen to a smaller extent within ECSC than in other countries, that diminishing trade was a consequence of the priority given to the supplying of domestic consumers within each country, and that the fall in the levy rate did not reflect pressure from producers. The Assembly heard a statement on cooperation between the High Authority and governments, discussed reports on industrial concentrations and on the coordination of European transport, and adopted a resolution approving the establishment of a permanent body responsible for taking measures to ensure security and rescue in the mines.

The Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) held an extraordinary session at Strasbourg from November 27 to 30, 1956. It elected as its President, Mr. Hans Furler (German Federal Republic, Ohristian Democrat) and the following Vice-Presidents: Messrs. Jean Fohrmann (Luxembourg, Socialist), Roger Motz (Belgium, Liberal), G. Vixseboxse (Netherlands, Historical Christian), Emile Vanrullen (France, Socialist) and Emilio Battista (Italy, Ohristian Democrat). The Assembly discussed four reports. The first dealt with the crisis in the coal market, and pointed out that one of the causes for the crisis was the exceptional cold the preced-ing winter which had led to heavy drawing on stocks and the oil shortage. Under its Treaty, the ECSC had the duty of seeing that adequate supplies reached its members, but the High Authority had not been given many means of ensuring this. The report recommended that the High Authority, in collaboration with the Assembly's Committee on the common market, take up a number of specific questions relative to coal, preferably in the framework of a special conference along the lines of that set up to study security in the mines. The questions included 1) the coordination of measures proposed within each member country, 2) steps to increase production and to bring about economies in the use of coal and coke, and 3) questions of delivery and the import of coal from the United States. The other three reports dealt with 1) the creation, functions and composition of one or more joint committees (“commissions paritaires”) within the framework of the Community, 2) the social aspects of the proposed common market, and 3) security and rescue systems in the mines of the Community.

The Council of the ANZUS Pacific Security Pact met in Washington on November 17, 1956. The three member governments were represented by their foreign ministers: Mr. Hoover (Acting Secretary of State) for the United States, Mr. Casey for Australia, and Mr. Macdonald for New Zealand. The ministers reviewed the work done under the aegis of ANZUS since the Council had last met, in September 1955, and noted that, in addition to meetings of the ANZUS Military Representatives and Staff Planners, agreements with the United States had been signed by both Australia and New Zealand for cooperation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy. The ministers expressed the conviction that the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization had contributed substantially over the preceding year to the welfare and security of Southeast Asia.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held its ninth General Conference in New Delhi from November 5 to December 5, 1956. It was presided over by Mr. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Minister of Education (India).1 Of the 76 states which were members of UNESCO as of June 30, 1956, the Conference recognized as valid the credentials of 73 attending member states. In addition, the Conference was attended by delegates from associate members, and observers from non-member states, the UN and international and non-governmental organizations.

The fifth annual report prepared by the secretariat of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), International Trade 1956, opened with a survey of developments in the structure and pattern of international trade. During 1956 the value of international trade had risen by II percent from 1955 to more than $90,000 million during the first half of the year and $95,000 million in the second. Because of a slight increase in the general price level the volume of world trade had risen somewhat less, but had exceeded the rate of increase in industrial output. Trade between industrial and non-industrial areas had continued to decline. Due to the greater increase in value of exports of industrial countries than of those of the non-industrial areas, as well as to the greater rise in volume of exports of industrial countries to each other than to non-industrial destinations, the share in world exports of trade among industrial countries had risen to 40.3 percent, while the share of trade between industrial and non-industrial countries fell to 49.2 percent and that among non-industrial countries to 10.5 percent. The report attributed this trend to the decline in exports from non-industrial areas at a time when the share of their imports in world trade had remained unchanged, a situation due primarily to industrial development, slow growth of primary production, and increased domestic demand in the semi-industrialized countries. Examining the long-term market outlook for primary products in western Europe and North America, the report concluded that prospects for export of raw materials and fuels from non-industrial areas were favorable, but that with respect to the market for most foodstuffs the future was uncertain, depending on the rate of growth of agricultural production in the industrial countries.

The sixth annual meeting of the International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries was held in Halifax, Canada, June 11–15, 1956, under the chairmanship of Captain T. de Almeida (Portugal). After the opening addresses the panels reviewed the research programs being carried out in each regional sub-area and proposed various improvements in sampling, reporting the tag recaptures and statistics of catch and effort, and related matters. An ad hoc committee, which had been appointed to consider difficulties reported by the French Commissioner in connection with the mesh regulation proposed at the fifth annual meeting, recommended that research should be undertaken to determine the consequences of using multiple cod ends and to find methods of strengthening the cod end without diminishing the selective effect of the gear. Another ad hoc committee was appointed to deal with a suggestion that the exemption from mesh regulations be amended. With respect to the establishment of the two ad hoc committees, the Commission decided to discuss at its next meeting whether it should refer regulatory and enforcement questions to ad hoc committees, or whether a standing committee should be formed to deal with such problems.

The Council of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) held its fifth session in Geneva, October I–10, 1956; prior to the session the nine-nation Executive Committee held a private session beginning on September 20. After adopting the Director's progress report, a final 1956 movement program of 126,160 Europeans, and a budget of $44.5 million, the Council approved the 1957 plan for resettlement of 122,000 European migrants at a cost of nearly $44 million. Delegates from ten nations pledged contributions amounting to $680,680 for a special fund of nearly $1 million established by the Council for assistance to refugees and migration services. The ICEM Director, Harold H. Tittmann, reported the decline in 1956 of movements to Latin America, and suggested the possibility of increased migration to Colombia, which had accepted relatively few European migrants. A United States delegate (Walter) announced that the United States was prepared to allocate part of its $15 million Latin American Development Fund to promote land settlement programs in Latin America. He stated that the United States could not originate such programs, but required a Latin American nation to make land available for resettlement of migrants and a migrant-sending European nation to contribute its share of financial and economic assistance. In accordance with the United States offer the Argentine delegate said his government would set aside 70 plots of land to assist immigrants in the Melchior Romero colony near Buenos Aires. In addition, 23,000 hectares of land owned by the Banco de la Naoion and located in various parts of the country would be earmarked for other projects.

Representatives of three of the members of the Arab League bordering on Israel (Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan) met at Beirut on October I, 1956, reportedly to discuss the lodging of a joint complaint to the UN Security Council relative to Israel military actions along their frontiers bordering on Israel.

According to press reports, representatives of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Jordan signed an Arab solidarity agreement in Cairo on January 19, 1957. The agreement was intended to provide Jordan with the equivalent of $36,000,000 to be devoted to the Jordanian Hashemite armed forces, including the national guard forces. The agreement was to come into force from the date of the exchange of the instruments of ratification, which, according to the press, was to occur some time in April. The agreement also stipulated that the share of each state participating in the Arab obligations was to be paid in two equal installments; the agreement was intended to replace the discontinued United Kingdom grants to Jordan, and the government of Jordan was to purchase all requirements of the armed forces, when equipment became available, in the countries of the contracting parties, the cost of these purchases being deducted from the aid allocations. Part of the allocations were to be in hard currency. According to a statement issued in Cairo, the Arab heads of state also agreed, in reference to the “Eisenhower doctrine”, to reject the “vacuum theory, and decided that Arab nationalism was the sole basis on which Arab policy could be formulated”. The statement also said that occupation of any part of Egyptian territory, including the Gaza Strip, would be regarded as a “continuation of the tripartite Anglo-French-Israel aggression against Egypt”. Press reports further stated that a supplementary report, referring to proposals for placing the Gaza Strip under UN administration, and upholding the Egyptian government's viewpoint, held that any attempt to change the form of rule in Gaza would be interpreted as an unacceptable continuation of the aggression.

The International Cotton Advisory Committee held its fifteenth plenary meeting in Washington, D. C, from May 8 through 17, 1956, under the chairmanship of Mr. Marvin L. McLain (United States). Sixty-two governments were represented, 32 as members of the Committee and 30 as observers. The Committee received a report from the Standing Committee on the present world cotton situation and the Secretariat's annual review, heard statements by member countries and observers, and held an extensive discussion of the world cotton situation, in which it attributed the present imbalance between supply and demand and the consequent build-up of world cotton stocks to the 1) existence of relatively high cotton prices, 2) marked improvement in cotton production techniques, and 3) economic progress in a number of underdeveloped countries, bringing new areas into cotton production. The conference felt that changes in United States government policy would lead to an improvement in cotton's competitive position and would offer some disincentive to uneconomic cotton production. At the same time, the Committee warned against any sudden or substantial decline in cotton prices which would adversely affect the economies of both producing and consuming countries. Finally, the Committee stressed the unsettling effect on world markets of uncertainty regarding the future level of cotton prices. With respect to the price question, the Committee recommended reasonable short-term stability to facilitate orderly distribution of crops and longer-term price flexibility to permit adjustments in cotton supply and demand.

The Council of the Baghdad Pact held its annual meeting in Karachi from June 3 through 6, 1957. Representatives were present from the five member countries—Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and the United Kingdom—and the United States was represented by an observer delegation. The Council had been scheduled to meet months earlier, but Iraq originally refused to meet with the United Kingdom. At the opening session, presided over by Mr. Suhrawardy, Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Prime Minister of Iraq, Nuri es Said, was reported to have spoken forcefully about the dangers implicit in the problems of Israel, Algeria, Kashmir and Cyprus. Mr. Lloyd, Foreign Minister of the United Kingdom, was reported to have followed Mr. Nuri es Said's remarks with a speech in which he announced his government's offer of a contribution of £500,000 a year in cash and in kind for building up the minimum military infra-structure in member countries. The speeches of other delegates were reported to be noteworthy for their frank recognition of past weaknesses in the Baghdad Pact organization and the need to give it new effectiveness. In the course of the first session the United States formally accepted an invitation to join the Pact's Military Committee; and a United States military delegation headed by General Nathan F. Twining started participating in a separate concurrent meeting of the Military Committee. The United States thus became a member of the Pact's three main committees, but had still not become a formal member of the Pact.

The chiefs of state of members of the Baghdad Pact, except the United Kingdom, met November 5–8, 1956, in Teheran. Their statement issued after the meeting condemned “Israeli aggression”, called for immediate withdrawal of Israel troops from Egypt and release of Egyptian prisoners taken by Israel, and requested the United Kingdom and France to stop hostilities, withdraw their forces from Egypt, and respect Egypt's sovereignty, integrity, and independence. The statement welcomed the General Assembly resolution contemplating the establishment of an international police force. The Suez dispute, it said, should be settled through negotiations with Egypt, under the auspices of the UN, “which should, inter alia, insure free passage through the canal with full respect for Egyptian sovereignty”. It added that those present had emphasized the necessity of solving the Arab-Israel dispute and considered the UN 1947 resolution an appropriate basis for negotiating a settlement.