PRESIDENT OF CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26513, 30 August 1951, Page 7

PRESIDENT OF CONFERENCE

Mr Spender May Be Elected (Rec. 10 p.m.) NEW YORK. Aug. 29. Tho United States would support the Australian Ambassador to Washington (Mr P. C. Spender) for the key position of presiding officer at the Japanese Peace Treaty conference, tho "New York Times’’ reported to-d>y. James Reston, the newspaper s diplomatic correspondent, in a dispatch from Washington, said that it was generally expected that the United States Secretary of State (Mr Dean Acheson) would be elected president, but Mr Acheson is expected to defer to a deputy during the conference debate.

It is understood that the principal Western Powers are in general agree, merit on backing Mr Spender, for deputy. Normally, Mr Acheson, as temporary president, would preside over the conference until the rules of

procedure were adopted. The rules would make provision for the election of the conference’s officers, would forbid amendments to the treaty, and would place a strict one-hour limit on debates. Washington officials believe that the rules will provoke prolonged argument between the representatives of the United States and Communist nations. If this should develop, they thought it would be Imprudent for Mr Acheson—as leader of the United States' delegation—to preside over a iebate in which his own country was deeply involved. Reston said the plans were for Mr Acheson to ask the conference to eleet a deputy-president to preside.