During the sixth session of the Executive Board in Geneva from June 1 to June 9, 1950, it was reported that some difficulties had been encountered in the establishment of a regional office for Europe. Six member states had not replied to the request sent them on the subject, seven had expressed reservations, six had sent in negative replies, and only eight had indicated their approval. It was also proposed that rules of procedure of the Assembly be changed to permit the participation in discussions of representatives of the Executive Board in either plenary or committee meetings. During the biennial revision of the list of non-governmental organizations with which WHO maintained official relations, a total of eighteen were retained. The Executive Board also agreed that, while WHO was not an organization for sending supplies to governments, it was nonetheless true that supplies were occasionally indispensable to enable a government to carry out a specific program. A total of $100,000 had been thus distributed to Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Finland, India, Hashemite Kingdom of the Jordan, Monaco, Portugal, Thailand and Yugoslavia for the control of malaria and leprosy, the improvement of nursing care and similar activities.

A two-week session of the Arab League concluded in Cairo on February 2, 1951. On January 27, the League issued a statement that the Political Committee had examined the Libyan question and that after hearing a report of the Egyptian Foreign Minister (Mohamed Salah el Din Bey) on the developments of that question in the United Nations, had authorized the Egyptian government to continue its study of the problem so that the United Nations decision relative to the independence of Libya should be implemented.

As a result of certain decisions of the North Atlantic Council, the five Brussels treaty powers met in Brussels on December 20 to effect the immediate merging of the Western Union defense organization with that of the North Atlantic Treaty nations. It was decided that the Brussels Pact board of production and supply would be incorporated with the production board of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The defense forces of the Brussels Pact organization were to form the nucleus in the administration and personnel of the enlarged and unified North Atlantic defense organization. However, a statement issued by the Consultative Council of Western Powers revealed that the Brussels Pact organization would not be abolished and that the merger with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization “would in no way affect the obligations which the five countries have undertaken by virtue of the Brussels Treaty.”

The fourth session of the West Indian Conference met at Willemstad, Curaçao, Netherlands West Indies from November 24 to December 7, 1950. In addition to the sixteen commissioners from the four member governments, the conference was attended by delegates from fourteen of the fifteen territories administered by member governments and by a large number of observers representing the United Nations, ILO and FAO.

The seventh session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe was held in Paris on March 16 and 17; 1951. During a private meeting held before the session, the ministers agreed that Germany should become a full member of the Council. Final decision was deferred, however, pending consultation with the Standing Committee of the Assembly.

On December 7, 1950 it was reported that the Council of Deputies of the North Atlantic Pact Organization had resolved the difficulties standing in the way of the creation of integrated military forces for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization by accepting a compromise proposal put forward by the United States representative (Charles M. Spofford). The essence of the plan was reported to be that the twelve treaty countries would proceed with the formation of integrated forces under a supreme command, including German combat teams recruited by German civilian authorities under the supervision of the Allied High Commissioners; in the meantime the French would call a conference to explore the possibilities of forming a European army into which German units would be merged. Despite indications from western Germany that the Federal Republic was dissatisfied with the limitation of 6,000 men per combat unit as compared with units of from 10,000 to 15,000 for the twelve members of NATO, the press reported that the compromise was agreed to by the Council of Deputies and by the Military Committee at a meeting on December 12 and 13, 1950.

A summary of its activities in 1950 was released by the Organization for European Economic Cooperation in January 1951. During the first two years of its establishment, the report stated, OEEC had been essentially an instrument for the distribution of United States aid but then became increasingly an instrument of cooperation for the solution of European economic problems. In two years, European production had been restored, trade had almost entirely recovered and international financial stability was achieved. The establishment of a European Payments Union was considered one of the main achievements of OEEC during 1950.

At its meeting of December 6, 1950, the Council referred to the Inter-American Economic and Social Council studies in regard to a permanent Inter-American Committee on Social Security for an advisory opinion; and, noting that some seven members of the Inter-American Indian Institute had approved a draft agreement between it and the Council of the Organization, requested the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States to ascertain whether the other governments approved the draft.

The sixth session of the South Pacific Commission was held at Headquarters, Noumea, New Caledonia from October 23 to November 2, 1950 and was attended by the Commissioners of the six member governments (United States, Australia, New Zealand, France, Netherlands, United Kingdom). The principal agenda items included: 1) the work program for 1951 in health, economic development and social development; 2) resolutions of the first South Pacific Conference held in May 1950; 3) membership in the Research Council for 1951; 4) technical assistance; 5) information program and publications; 6) budget for 1951; and 7) relationship with the United Nations and specialized agencies. It was decided to hold the second South Pacific Conference in April 1953.

The report of the United States High Commissioner for Austria (Donnelly), covering the last quarter of the year 1950, listed the communist-led general strike and its subsequent repression as the most outstanding event for the period under review. The Federal Chancellor of Austria (Figl) charged the Soviet element of the quadripartite government for Austria with aiding and abetting the general strike, and interference with the Austrian police in its attempt to restore order. At the Executive Committee meeting of November 3, 1950, the United States, United Kingdom and French deputy commissioners advocated the adoption of a resolution upholding “the right and duty of the federal police authorities to exercise all rights and duties vested in them” to maintain law and order. The High Commissioner reported that the coalition government was considerably bolstered by the prestige and confidence it received from its resolute handling of the communist-led disturbance of October.

On March 6, 1951, the Allied High Commission released a communiqué summarizing the decisions agreed upon between it and the German Federal Republic to implement the agreements reached bythe foreign ministers in September 1950.

On January 23, 1951, the United States, United Kingdom and France replied to a Soviet proposal of December 30, 1950, concerning a proposed meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers. Theidentic notes pointed out that the western powers had specifically stated that they were unwilling to participate in a conference restricted to Germany alone and felt that the agenda should include the principal problems whose solution would permit a real and lasting improvement of relations with the Soviet Union and the elimination of the cause of existing international tension throughout the world. The three powers requested a clarification of the Soviet note on this point.

A meeting of the International Sugar Council was held in London, June 26 to July 20, 1950. The meeting was attended by delegates of Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Dominican Republic, France, Haiti, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Peru, Philippine Republic, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Yugoslavia, and the United States. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the world situation in sugar and the proposal for a new international sugar agreement. The council adopted a protocol which extended the international sugar agreement of 1937 one year from August 31, 1950. During 1950, the council created a special committee to 1) study the changing sugar situation as it related to the need or desirability for negotiating a new agreement, and 2) report to the council, as occasion might arise, on its findings and recommendations as to the possible basis of a new agreement. The special committee prepared a document which set forth certain proposals in the form of a preliminary draft agreement. The draft agreement included six fundamental bases: 1) the regulation of exports, 2) the stabilization of sugar prices on the world market, 3) a solution to the currency problem, 4) the limitation of sugar production by importing countries, 5) measures to increase consumption of sugar and 6) the treatment of non-signatory countries. The draft was then considered by the council at its meeting on July 20 at which time the council decided to submit it to member and observer governments for comments and to transmit such comments for consideration at a meeting of the special committee.

The International Tin Study Group announced that world production of tin concentrates had attained the postwar record of 15,600 long tons in June 1950. The increase was partially attributed to the high Bolivian figure of 4,001 tons. Malaya, Indonesia and the Belgian Congo also reported high levels of production in tin concentrates for the month. The figure for world production of tin metal in June 1950 was 700 tons.

The second session of the International Wheat Council, which met in London, was held in two parts; the first part from November 1 to 4, 1949 and the second part convened in January 1950 and held meetings until March 15, 1950. It was announced that Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama and Guatemala had ratified the International Wheat Agreement and that China, Colombia, Liberia, Uruguay and the Philippine Republic had signed the agreement. The application of Haiti, the West German Federal Republic and Costa Rica for membership together with their respective requests of 28,000, 1,800,000 and 30,000 tons of wheat for importation were received and the council approved the requests of Ceylon, Israel and Egypt for increased purchases of wheat under the agreement.

The fourth annual meeting of the International Wool Study Group composed of representatives of twenty or more wool exporting and importing countries convened at London on October 2, 1950 to review the current wool problems arising from reduced supply and increased demand and the ensuing rise in wool prices.

Notingthat the Security Council, because of lack of unanimity of the permanent members, has failed to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in regard to Chinese Communist intervention in Korea,

Having approved the supplementary rules of procedure relating to the participation of Italy in the work of the Trusteeship Council,

Noting that Rule A thereof provides for Italy's participation without vote in the deliberations of the Trusteeship Council relating to the Trust Territory of Somaliland under Italian administration and to general questions relating to the operation of the International Trusteeship System;

By the present Treaty the High Contracting Parties institute among themselves a EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY, based on a single market, common objectives, and common institutions.

The military defense of the Continent is essential to the stability of its democratic institutions and the well-being of its peoples; The American republics have assumed obligations under the Charter of the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance to assist any American states subjected to an armed attack, and to act together for the common defense and for the maintenance of the peace and security of the Continent;