15

All the members agreed that the association of the W.F.T.U. with the Economic and Social Council, in some form, was desirable and was feasible under the Charter. The point of difference was whether a special resolution of the General Assembly was expedient, and especially whether the W.F.T.U. alone should be mentioned in such a resolution. The latter point assumed importance because the General Committee had received requests similar to that from the W.F.T.U. from the International Co-operative Alliance, the International Democratic Federation of Women, and, with the support of the United States delegation, the American Federation of Labour. At this point Mr Fraser submitted the following draft resolution as a basis for discussion : " That in regard to the application of the World Federation of Trade Unions for representation in an advisory capacity at the meetings of the General Assembly and of the Economic and Social Council, the General Committee agrees to place the following resolution before the General Assembly as a basis for discussion : 'l. That provision be made for representatives of the World Federation of Trade Unions, and such other international organizations as are willing and able to assist the United Nations Organization and which are approved, and accepted by the General Assembly, to be present as invited guests at the meetings of the General Assembly ; the privilege of addressing the General Assembly on any subject on which a particular international organization can speak with special knowledge, experience and authority, to be extended exclusively by the General Assembly at its discretion. ' 2. That the Economic and Social Council be requested to take the necessary and appropriate action to bring into early operation the arrangements provided in Article .71 for consultation with non-governmental organizations, and that full opportunities for such consultation be extended to the World Federation of Trade Unions and such other organizations whose applications are accepted by the Economic and Social Council.' " This, and other suggested resolutions, came before a second subcommittee (on which New Zealand was again represented), but the attempt to draw up a text which would meet with general approval proved unsuccessful. When the sub.-committee brought before the General Committee an inconclusive report, the representative of the Soviet Union proposed the adoption of a resolution allowing the W.F.T.U. to take part for purposes of consultation in the work of the Economic and Social Council, its Commissions, and Committees. The New Zealand representative was in the small majority (seven to six) which supported this resolution. Although prepared to vote for a resolution which mentioned the W.F.T.U. alone, he could not withhold his assent from an amendment put forward by the representative of the United Staties of America adding the American Federation of Labour to the W.F.T.U. for the purposes of the Resolution. He could not but recognize that the Charter in its Article 71 expressly provides for consultation by the Economic