U.N. HOME SITE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22201, 11 December 1946, Page 5

U.N. HOME SITE

EAST U.S. COAST URGED SAN FRANCISCO IN RUNNING (9.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 10. Mr. Warren Austin, United States, moved in the United Nations’ sites committee a resolution to the effect that the Assembly should declare itself this session in favour of a site on the eastern seaboard but should postpone the selection of a specific site until the 1947 session. Meanwhile, sites in Philadelphia, New York, Boston and any new location suggested on the east coast should be investigated by the head' quarters committee. Mr. Austin obviously had in mind a suggestion made during the week-end that the United Nations should build skyscraper headquarters in New York City similar to the Rockefeller centre.

The Secretary-General, M. Trygve Lie. intervening, said it would cost the United Nations 1,820,000 dollars to move the staff and equipment to San Francisco. The extra travelling costs for

the secretariat and the delegations were estimated at 500,000 dollars. Most of the specialised agencies affiliated with the United Nations had undertaken to establish headquarters in the same place as the United Nations, but he did not believe it would bo possible to persuade them all to go to San Francisco. Mistake to Rule Out ’Frisco Brigadier-General C. Romolo, Philippines, said it would be a mistake to rule out San Francisco, at least until an east coast site was found capable of obtaining the necessary majority in the Assembly. Mr. Austin, at a special night meeting of the committee, amended his resolution limiting the search for a site for the United Nations’ permanent headquarters to the east coast, and included San Francisco for consideration, Mr. Kenneth Younger, Britain, opposed Mr. Austin’s proposal that the decision should be deferred until 1947, and asked for an immediate vote. Mr. David Wilson, New Zealand, said: “Let us build a floating island with all the United Nations buildings on it. We could have it on the Atlantic one year and then take it through the Panama Canal to the Pacific next year.” The committee adjourned with the next meeting tentatively scheduled for Wednesday. The Associated Press says the majority of members appeared to be determined that a vote must be taken at the next meeting.