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What is an International Conference?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2017

Yuen-Li Liang
Yuen-Li Liang*
Affiliation:
Division of Development and Codification of International Law, United Nation's Secretariat
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Type
Research Article
Information
American Journal of International Law , Volume 44 , Issue 2 , April 1950 , pp. 333 - 341
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of International Law 1950

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References

1 General Assembly resolution 366 (IV). General Assembly, 4th Sess., Official Records, Resolutions, 1949, U.N. Doc. A/1251, pp. 64, 65.

2 General Assembly resolution 367 (IV), ibid., p. 65.

3 Article 62 of the Charter reads as follows:

” 1 . The Economic and Social Council may make or initiate studies and reports with respect to international economic, social, cultural, educational, health, and related matters and may make recommendations with respect to any such matters to the General Assembly, to the Members of the United Nations, and to the specialized agencies concerned.

“2. It may make recommendations for the purpose of promoting respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.

” 3 . It may prepare draft conventions for submission to the General Assembly, with respect to matters falling within its competence.

“4. It may call, in accordance with the rules prescribed by the United Nations, international conferences on matters falling within its competence.”

4 See Provisional Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly, U.N. Doc. A/71/Rev.l. See also Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly, U.N. Doc. A/520, Dec. 12, 1947, p. 29. The supplementary rule reads as follows:

“Pending the adoption under paragraph 4 of Article 62 of the Charter, of definite rules for the calling of international conferences, the Economic and Social Council may, after due consultation with Members of the United Nations, call international conferences in conformity with the spirit of Article 62 on any matter within the competence of the Council, including the following matters: international trade and employment; the equitable adjustment of prices on the international market; and health.”

It may be noted that the Economic and Social Council has already called one nongovernmental conference, the United Nations Scientific Conference on Conservation and Utilization of Resources, and three conferences of states, namely, the Conference of the World Health Organization, the International Conference on Trade and Employment and the United Nations Conference on Freedom of Information.

5 General Assembly resolution 173(11). General Assembly, 2nd Sess., Official Records, Resolutions, 1947, U.N. Doc. A/519, p. 104.

6 U.N. Doc. E/836.

7 Economic and Social Council, Official Records, 4th Year: 8th Sess., Feb. 7-March 18, 1949, pp. 403-405.

8 See Resolution 220 (IV) of March 2, 1949, Economic and Social Council, Official Records, 4th Year: 8th Sess., Resolutions, p. 41. The draft rules were reproduced in U.N. Doc. A/943. The Sixth Committee of the General Assembly discussed the subject during thirteen meetings, which were held from November 9 to 21, 1949. See General Assembly, 4th Sess., Official Records, Sixth Committee, 1949, pp. 301-387 (hereinafter referred to as Official Records, Sixth Committee, 1949).

9 Official Records, Sixth Committee, 1949, pp. 303, 304. The Soviet amendment reads as follows: “The Council may, after due consultation with the Members of the United Nations, decide to call conferences of States on any matter within its competence in all cases in which, in its opinion, the work to be done by such conference cannot be done successfully by the main or subsidiary organs of the United Nations or by the specialized agencies.”

U.N. Doc. A/C.6/L.72.

10 Official Records, Sixth Committee, 1949, p. 308.

11 Ibid.

12 Ibid., p. 315.

13 Ibid., p. 314. i* Ibid., p. 304.

15 Ibid., p. 310. It may be noted that reference was made in the Sixth Committee to the following passage of the report of the rapporteur of Committee II/3 of the San Francisco Conference:

“27. The Committee has recommended that the Council be given power to call conferences of members on matters falling within its scope, in accordance with the rules prescribed by the Organization (paragraph g). There was some discussion as to whether this should relate only to emergency situations or whether it should be more general. It was agreed that the general power was more desirable since it was felt that there should be both a flexible and a prompt method of calling conferences.” [Documents of the United Nations Conference on International Organization, San Francisco, 1945, Vol. 10, p. 276. This report was approved by Commission II (Vol. 8, p. 86).]

16 Official Records, Sixth Committee, 1949, p. 304. With regard to capacity of U. N. to bring international claims, see Report of the Sixth Committee on “Reparation for Injuries Incurred in the Service of the United Nations,” U.N. Docs. A/1101 and A/1101/Corr.l.

17 Official Records, Sixth Committee, 1949, p. 304. Article 68 of the Charter reads as follows: “The Economic and Social Council shall set up commissions in economic and social fields and for the promotion of human rights, and such other commissions as may be required for the performance of its functions.”

18 Ibid., pp. 309, 310.

19 Ibid., p. 310.

20 Ibid., ., p. 304.

21 Ibid., p. 311.

22 U.N. Doc. A/C.6/L.76.

23 Official Records, Sixth Committee, 1949, p. 322. The Chairman, however, stated that the competence of the Economic and Social Council was not involved in that vote.

24 Official Records, Sixth Committee, 1949, p. 318.

25 Ibid., p. 311.

26 Ibid., pp. 324-325.

27 Ibid., p. 323.

28 Ibid., pp. 322, 323 and 324-326.

29 Ibid., p. 326.

30 Ibid., pp. 307, 308, 312.

31 Ibid., pp. 310, 311.

32 Ibid., p. 317.

33 Ibid., p. 318. The representatives of Burma, Cuba, Ecuador and New Zealand declared that they had voted against the proposals because they were of the opinion that the term “international conference” in the context of Art. 62 should be interpreted to include conferences of non-governmental organizations and experts.

34 Ibid., p. 384.

35 U.N. Doc. A/1165, p. 1.

36 The draft rules were adopted by 39 votes to none, with 6 abstentions. U.N. Doc. A/SB.266, p. 5.

37 U.N. Doc. A/C.6/L.73. For text of supplementary rule, see note 4, supra.

38 Official Records, Sixth Committee, 1949, pp. 383, 384. The reference was to resolution 304 (IV) of Nov. 16, 1949. General Assembly, Official Records, Resolutions, 1949, p. 27.

39 U.N. Doc. A/C.6/L.77.

40 See the arguments of the representative of Prance, Official Records, Sixth Committee, 1949, p. 386; XT.S.S.E., ibid.

41 See the argument of the representative of Argentina, Official Records, Sixth Committee, 1949, pp. 384, 385; Chile, ibid., p. 385; Cuba, ibid., p. 386; Philippines, ibid.; United States, ibid.

42 Official Records, Sixth Committee, 1949, p. 387.

43 This resolution was adopted by a vote of 40 to 3, with 6 abstentions. U.N. Doe. A/SE.266, p. 5.