THE OPENING SESSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26043, 5 January 1946, Page 5

THE OPENING SESSION

PROCEEDINGS TO BE BROADCAST LONDON, Jan. 3. Mr Attlee, Mr Bevin, and other Ministers to-day are conferring at Downing street to give final approval to the resolution to he brought before the first General Assembly meeting of the. United Nations, says the Press Association’s diplomatic correspondent. Six days’ notice of the proposals must be given by the nations, and the time limit expires to-morrow. It is now practically certain that the Assembly will meet for the first time at 4 p.m. on January 10, when the proceedings will be broadcast to the world. Mr Attlee, welcoming the delegates, will express Britain’s convictions • about the future of the United Nations’ Organisation. There will be only one reply, probably from a representative of one of the smallest nations. The only other business that day will be the election of president, for which the Belgian Prime Minister, M. Spaak, is at present favoured. The Assembly will get down to business next day. Mr Bevin is expected to deliver the first big speech of the session in the debate on the adoption of the report of the Preparatory Commission The debate will afford him and other delegates an opportunity of reviewing the world situation to-day, and may extend over four days. The election of six non-permanent members to the Security Council will follow, then the appointment of the Economic and Social Council. The Security Council will then be read.? to consider recommendations for the position of secretary-general, who is expected to be a European, since U.N.O.’s permanent headquarters will be located in America. A resolution dealing with the worldwide problem of refugees is already on the agenda. Other matters for consideration include the enlargement of the scope of the organisation by the inclusion of a number of neutral States. A small commission will go to America to-morrow to select a permanent site for the headquarters of U.N.O. It is instructed to return by February 1, so that the decisions regarding the second session may be taken.