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Rapporteur or Conciliator.-—hi view of the fact that this is not a particularly urgent question, and that the Interim Committee is at present engaged in a study of the whole field of the pacific settlement of disputes, the Committee adopted by 37 votes (N.Z.) to 1 with 3 abstentions a resolution recommending that the question be recommitted to the Interim Committee for further consideration in the context of these broader studies. This proposal was adopted by the Assembly by 48 votes (N.Z.) to 2 with 4 abstentions. (2) Creation of a Panel for Inquiry and Conciliation.—The intention of this proposal was to establish a panel consisting of persons designated by member States from which could be chosen members of commissions of inquiry or conciliation set up to attempt settlement of controversies. The doubts of the New Zealand delegation which were expressed at the first part of the session* regarding the practical value of this proposal were reiterated at this session. New Zealand was in favour of the principle of establishing such a panel of conciliators, but preferred the more elastic method of informal approaches by the SecretaryGeneral to member Stages. The proposal was, however, eventually adopted by the Committee by 41 votes to 6 with 3 abstentions (N.Z.). The New Zealand delegation also abstained in the Plenary Session, where the Committee's recommendation was approved by 49 votes to 6 with 2 abstentions. It was agreed that while the persons to be included in the panel were expected to do their best to make themselves available if their services were requested, they would be under no legal obligation to serve on any Commission. United Nations Guard The Secretary-General of the United Nations had proposed the creation of a United Nations guard to assist United Nations missions in the field. The reasons given for this proposal were that three years of experience in the operation of United Nations missions had shown the need for a small force of well-trained men readily available to protect the security of members of missions and the property of the United Nations. The tragic events of the previous year in Palestine had brought home the necessity of every possible step being taken to ensure that United Nations personnel were not again exposed to such perils in other troubled areas.

It was pointed out that United Nations missions need not only protection but also transport, communication, and other technical services which could not easily be supplied except from a standing force which could be trained as a unit. International personnel were also needed to assist missions in the implementation of truce terms and to supervise plebiscites.

* See report of New Zealand delegation to first part of third session, page 77 {External Affairs Publication No. 75).