UNITED NATIONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 69, 2 January 1946, Page 3

UNITED NATIONS

PREPARING FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY

CENTRAL HALL NEARLY READY (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 1. The Central Hal! at Westminster is now nearly ready to receive nearly 2000 delegates who will represent 51 nations at the United Nations Genferai Assembly at the conference which begins on January 10.

It was originally intended that delegates should meet in the historic Westminster Hall, adjacent to the Houses of Parliament, but it was found that the heating facilities could not be made adequate. The Central Hall, which is the headquarters of the Mjethodist Church Conference, has been requisitioned throughout the war by the Government. Painters and cleaners have been busy in the main conference hall and other rooms which have not been decorated since before the war.

The meetings will he held in the great hall, which has been transformed with blue and gold drapery, oak panelling and decorations, which make it a scene of beauty comparable with the great halls at Geneva. Delegates will he seated on the floor of the hall at tables which will give the name of their countries. Delegates will speak from a rostrum. In the gallery will be reservations for distinguished strangers, newsjmper correspondents radio commentators, and the general public. Flags ot' the United Nations which were used at the San Francisco conference have been flown from America and will he displayed outside the Central Hall when the General Assembly is in session.

The opening of the first session on January 10 is likely to he one of the greatest State occasions since the Coronation. At the official reception for delegations, in the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords, will he assembled the most representative gathering of the heads of States since Geneva. Two thousand food ration cards will be issued for delegates and their staff. Emergency clothing coupons may he given in cases of hardship. Three hundred service cars will he at the disposal of the delegates, and will he assembled in a “cab rank” jn the Horse Guards Parade. The Royal Marines will act as guards and guides at the Central Hall.

A running broadcast will he given during the first meeting of t>S General Assembly of the United Nations Organisation in London. When nearly 2000 delegations, representing 51 nations assemble in the Central Hall at Westminster the scene will resemble Geneva during the heydey of the League of Nations, says the Press Association. Four hundred home and overseas journalists and radio commentators will record the unique gathering. For the first plenary session it is expected that there will be a world hook-up of the three principal cable services.