Thant Asks For More Money

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30530, 27 August 1964, Page 13

Thant Asks For More Money

(N.Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK. August 26. U Thant, estimates that the United Nations’ expenses next year will reach a record 104.693,750 dollars, or 3,366,150 dollars more than for this year.

A proposed increase of 294 posts in the secretariat staff, building charges, conference costs and the amortisation of U.N. bonds are mainly responsible for the record budget The estimates did not include the cost of undertakings financed outside the regular budget, such as certain peacekeeping operations. U Thant says the gap between liabliities and cash resources at the end of last year teas 127.400.000 dollars compared with 74.100.000 dollars a year earlier. The outstanding balance of assessed contributions to the Congo and Middle East peacekeeping efforts, together with the amount outstanding on the regular budget, totalled

147 million dollars, 43.1 m dollars more than at the end of 1962. U Thant told the General Assembly yesterday it was impossible to remedy the grave financial situation by mere budget reductions without crippling the U.N.’s normal activities. He said the solution depended mainly or exclusively on member states.