A.—2

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Council, the initiation of studies and making of recommendations by the Assembly regarding international law, and the revision of treaties and the receipt and consideration of reports by the Assembly. To New Zealand, as to the other smaller Powers, the questions considered by this Committee were of outstanding importance, particularly those relating to the functions of the Assembly and its relationship with the Security Council. Unlike the Assembly of the League of Nations, which could deal with any matter within the sphere of action of the League, the General Assembly as proposed at Dumbarton Oaks was merely a forum with a somewhat limited range of discussion. As a result of this Committee's exhaustive examination and discussions, covering twenty-five meetings, the functions of the General Assembly were strengthened. Subject to the one important qualification —that it should not make recommendations on a matter being dealt with by the. Security Council —it was finally agreed that the General Assembly could discuss anything within the scope of the new Organization; and, further, the Conference succeeded in generally widening the scope of the Organization to include not only questions of peace and security, but those relating also to human rights, to colonial peoples, and economic causes of conflicts. This section of the Charter had been studied with particular interest by New Zealand, and several amendments were put forward. At the second meeting of the Committee on 7 May Mr. Fraser moved the first New Zealand amendment to paragraph 1 of Section B, of Chapter V —-namely, that " The General Assembly should have the right to discuss any matter within the sphere of international relations," and, second, the deletion of the limiting provisions contained in the last sentence of Section B, paragraph 1. This motion produced an immediate discussion, in which it was apparent that there was very wide support for the New Zealand desire to increase the powers of the Assembly. At the next meeting, on 9 May, although the Committee was still discussing paragraph 1, the principal United States delegate, Senator Vandenberg, moved a composite amendment to paragraph 6 of Section B. He explained that he took this course because the proposal he was putting forward was of particular relevance and would probably influence the attitude of delegates towards paragraph 1 which was under discussion. This was as follows: — " The General Assembly should initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of promoting international co-operation in political, economic, social, and cultural fields to assist in the realization of human rights and basic freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, language, religion, or sex, and also for the encouragement of international law. " Subject to the provisions of paragraph (1) of this section, the General Assembly should be empowered to recommend measures for the peaceful adjustment of any situation, regardless of origin, which it deems likely to impair the general welfare or friendly relations among nations, including situations resulting from a violation of the purposes and principles set forth in this Charter." Senator Vandenberg stated further that while the second part of this composite amendment, which was obviously based on his own previously expressed and widely acclaimed views, had been put forward by the United States it had since been agreed to by the other sponsoring Powers and France. The Senator made it clear that it was his wish that the Assembly should be what he termed the " town meeting of the world," and that he did not, moreover, want its powers to be circumscribed by definition, but to be left as wide as possible,