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b) Credits in working capital fund

288. The Conference took note of a document showing the status of the Working Capital Fund as at 15 November 1951 (C 51/III-6).

289. The Conference was not prepared Co vary the present level of the Working Capital Fund or decide on the ultimate level, in view e specially of the recent transfer of Headquarters, the effect of which on the capital needs of the Organization it had not yet been possible to appraise.

290. The Conference considered the report of the Twelfth Session of the Council on the Working Capital Fund and recommended that Member Nations present surplus credits. as well as any such credits which might accrue from 1951 and 1952 surpluses, be retained in the Fund pending a decision on the new level.

291. The Conference expressed its concern at the amount of arrears still owed to the Fund and addressed an urgent appeal to Member Nations in arrears to discharge their obligations as soon as possible. The Conference felt strongly that it was most inequitable for some governments to have to be asked to leave their surplus credits in the Fund because of the failure of other governments to pay their dues.

292. Several delegations expressed the intention of their governments to insist on the release of their surplus credits at the end of 1953 and wished the decision regarding the level of the Fund to be made in that year.

293. The Conference therefore adopted the following resolution:

Resolution No. 58
Surplus credits in the Working Capital Fund

The Conference

Having considered the recommendations of the Twelfth Session of the Council,

Decides that, in pursuance of Financial Regulation 6.5 (b), the present surplus credits of Member Nations in the Working Capital Fund, as well as any such credit. which may accrue from 1951 and 1952 surpluses in the General Fund, be retained in the Working Capital Fund until the end of 1953.

c) Establishment of a special fund (CL 13/8)

294. The Conference adopted the following resolution:

Resolution No. 59
Special Fund (Ford Foundation)

The Conference

Approves the establishment by the Director-General of a special Fund, under Financial Regulation 6.7 for the maintenance and administration of a grant from the Ford Foundation of $ 20,000 to finance representation by Protestant and Catholic groups at the FAO Conference and meetings, as well as follow-up work resulting therefrom.

Use of the organization's headquarters conference facilities (C 51/III-3)

295. The Conference approved the Director-General's proposal that the Organization's Headquarters Conference facilities be made available upon request to the United Nations, the other Specialized Agencies, intergovernmental organizations with which FAO maintains relationships, and non-governmental organizations which have consultative status with FAO. The Conference felt that the accommodation should not be made available to organizations outside the above-mentioned categories except in cases when the Director-General felt that an exception was appropriate. FAO meetings should, of course, always have priority.

296. The Conference approved the following resolution:

Resolution No. 60
Use of FAO Conference Facilities

The Conference

Having noted that requests are being received from international organizations concerning the availability of the Conference rooms and equipment in Building A, and Having noted the information from the Director-General that in addition to the extra expenditure incurred by the Organization for specific meetings, there would be overhead costs estimated at $ 10,000 per year,

Concurs with the proposal of the Director-General that the Conference accommodations shall be made available on a reimbursable basis to the United Nations and its Specialized Agencies, other inter-governmental organizations with which FAO maintains relationships, and non-governmental organizations having consultative status with FAO, in accordance with the following general principles:

Liquidation of international institute of agriculture and the international forestry center

297. The Conference took note of the report by the Director-General on this subject (C 51/35) and approved the Director-General's suggestion that the outstanding contributions to the International Institute of Agriculture of Romania, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Greece be reduced by one half because of the devastation in those countries caused by the war. The delegation of Yugoslavia reserved its position in this matter.

298. The following resolutions were approved by the Conference:

Resolution No. 61
Arrears of Contributions to IIA

That Conference

In consideration of the special contributions paid by Germany to the International Institute of Agriculture and to the International Forestry Center,

Resolves that the Federal Republic of Germany shall be exempted from paying arrears of contributions due to the former International Institute of Agriculture and to the former International Forestry Center.

Resolution No. 62
Basic Catalogue of the Legislative Service

The Conference

Noting the report of the Director-General on the desirability of completing the basic catalogue being prepared by! the Legislative Service (C 51/II-3),

Decides that, notwithstanding the resolution of the Special Session of the Conference in 1950 that the balance of the funds of the International Institute of Agriculture should be used to provide for additions to the FAO Library, a sum of $ 6,000 from those funds shall, if necessary, be allotted in 1952 for the purpose of completing, the catalogue.

Audited accounts of fifth financial year

299. The Conference adopted the following resolution:

Resolution No. 63
Audited Accounts of Fifth Financial Year

The Conference

Having examined the Audited A counts of the Fifth Financial Year (1950) and the Auditor's report thereon (C 51/18), together with the comments of the Thirteenth Session of the Council,

Approves the Audited Accounts of the Fifth Financial Year.

Staff commissary

300. The Conference endorsed the action whereby the surplus of the old Staff Provident Fund had been transferred to a separate account to finance the purchase of stock for a Staff Commissary, and formally approved the action in the following resolution:

Resolution No. 64
Staff Commissary

The Conference

Noting that a sum of $ 18,390.99, representing the balance of the former Staff Provident Fund has been transferred to a separate account to finance the purchase of inventories for a Staff Commissary,

Approves the use of this balance for the establishment of a Staff Commissary Revolving Fund for the purchase of stocks for the Commissary. the Fund to be reimbursed from the proceeds of sale of such stocks.

Distribution of conference documentation (C 51/III-2)

301. At the suggestion of the Twelfth Session of the Council, the Conference considered the question of documentation for future sessions of the Conference, with a view to reducing its size and range. The Conference suggested that the Council might wish to give the Director-General detailed advice on this subject and might also consider the. possibility of reducing the number of documents which it required for its own purposes.

302. The Conference approved the recommendations of the Director-General:

Administrative and financial aspects of the expanded technical assistance program

303. The Conference c considered the report of the Director-General (C 51/51) setting forth the principles whereby it is ensured that funds available to FAO for its regular and Technical Assistance Program are properly used for their respective purposes, and took note of the comments of the Thirteenth Session of the Council thereon. The Conference expressed its satisfaction with the policy being followed.

304. The Conference also considered the question of a budget for the Expanded Technical Assistance Program of the Organization. It noted the resolution of the Special Session of the Conference in 1950 requesting the submission of program and financial information on the contemplated Program of Technical Assistance in such form that it could be evaluated in relation to comparable portions of the regular program of work The Conference felt that additional progress could be made in this respect, and suggested that the Director-General consult with the Committee on Financial Control concerning appropriate steps which might be taken with respect to future budgets.

Adoption by FAO of the UN salary, allowance, and leave system (C 51/III-5)
Cost-of-living differential for Rome (C 51/27)
Shipment of household goods
Appointment of staff pension committee (C 51/36)

Adoption by FAO of the UN salary, allowance, and leave system (C 51/III-5)

305. The Conference considered a report of the Thirteenth Session of the Council pointing out that, when the Council had discussed this matter; which was within its competence to decide, there had appeared a difference of opinion based on points of principle, and that the Council had in these circumstances referred the matter to the Conference for decision. The difference had been between those delegations which supported uniformity of terms of service between all United Nations agencies and thus wished the United Nations scheme to be adopted by FAO in toto, and those delegations which, while agreeing in general on the desirability of the adoption of the scheme by FAO, felt that some of the individual items of leave and allowances were not suitable for FAO.

306. The Conference noted that there were only two points of difference between the two groups in the Council, viz. the proposals regarding repatriation grants and home leave.

307. The discussion revealed that many delegations not represented in the Council felt strongly that FAO should have the same conditions of service as the United Nations and the other Specialized Agencies. In these circumstances some delegations who had objected to the proposed repatriation grant, did not press their objections. As regards home leave, it was indicated that the matter might be re-opened at the current session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, since some governments felt that the decision taken previously should be reconsidered.

308. The Conference noted that, even though it adopted the UN salary scheme, there would still exist in FAO some differences in net remuneration paid to certain employees of comparable grade and salary due to the adjustment in UN for staff assessments. Therefore, the Conference asked the Director-General to give further consideration to the matter, in consultation with the Committee on Financial Control, and to report thereon to the Council.

309. The Conference adopted the following resolution:

Resolution No. 65
Adoption of the UN Salary, Allowance, and Leave System

The Conference

Having examined the implications of the present United Nations Salary, Allowance, and Leave System in relation to FAO, and recognizing the desirability of uniformity with respect to such matters in the United Nations and the Specialized Agencies,

Adopts such Salary, Allowance, and Leave System for FAO, effective I January 1952, except the provisions applicable to home leave which may be reconsidered in the United Nations and

Requests the Director-General to revise the Staff Regulations of the Organization accordingly.

310. In order to make clear the procedure to be followed by FAO when a modification by the United Nations of the United Nations System takes place, the Conference also adopted the following resolution:

Resolution No. 66
Adoption of Modifications to the UN basic Salary, Allowance, and Leave System

The Conference

Instructs the Director-General to inform the Council of any modification made by the United Nations of the United Nations basic Salary, Allowance, and Leave System, and

Requests the Council, in view of the recognition by the Conference of the desirability of uniformity with respect to such matters in the United Nations and the Specialized Agencies, to give early consideration to the adoption by FAO of any such modification reported to it

311. During the discussion of this item, the Conference had before it the views of the FAO Staff Association.

Cost-of-living differential for Rome (C 51/27)

312. The Conference had before it a request from the Director-General to authorize modifications in the cost-of-living differential applied to the salaries of professional staff members stationed in Rome, if such modifications appeared necessary in the light of the result of the cost-of-living survey currently being undertaken in Rome by the United Nations.

313. It was the view of the Conference that while the approval of the adoption by FAO of the United Nations Salary, Allowance and Leave System implied also the approval of a system of cost-of-living differentials, such differentials should be calculated for Headquarters in Rome bearing in mind the difference in cost of living between Rome and New York at the time of any survey.

314. The Conference agreed that in cities other than Rome where FAO had offices, differentials should be applied in line with those applied by other international agencies.

315. The Conference adopted the following resolution:

Resolution No. 67
Cost-of-Living Differential for Rome

The Conference

Taking note that a new cost-of-living survey for Rome is currently being undertaken by the United Nations at the request of the Director-General, which it considers should take into account the difference in cost of living in Rome and New York at the time of the survey, and

Taking note that the United Nations may provide for adjustments in the salaries of United Nations staff in New York,

Authorizes the Director-General to apply, with effect from a date not earlier than 1 January 1952, to salaries of professional staff of FAO stationed in Rome, such modifications in the cost-of-living differentials as are indicated by the two foregoing factors, provided that these modifications are agreed with the Committee on Financial Control;

Requests the Council to arrange that the Committee on Financial Control shall be so empowered in view of the need for early decision;

Requests the Director-General to analyze the various problems involved in the application of cost-of-living differentials, in consultation with the United Nations and the Specialized Agencies, and report thereon to the next session of the Conference; and

Further authorizes the Director-General to apply from a date not earlier than 1 January 1952 such cost-of-living differentials in Washington and other areas as may be appropriate in the light of action taken by the United Nations and other international agencies.

316. With regard to the salaries of local staff, the Conference approved the present policy whereby FAO local staff members are paid at best prevailing local rates but not in excess of those rates.

Shipment of household goods

317. The Conference agreed with the policy proposed by the Director-General, whereby staff members having appointments of two years or more would receive reimbursement for the cost of shipping their household goods at the time the goods were moved, regardless of whether or not the staff member had at the time completed his probationary; period. The Organization would not, under this policy, reimburse to a staff member who had not completed his probationary period satisfactorily, and thus was not retained for the whole term of his appointment, the cost of shipping his household goods back from his duty station to his home country.

Appointment of staff pension committee (C 51/36)

318. The Conference adopted the following resolution:

Resolution No. 68
Staff Pension Committee

The Conference

In accordance with Article 21 of the Joint Staff Pension Regulations,

Appoints as members from 1 January 1952 to 31 December 1953 of the FAO Staff Pension Committee:

and as alternates for the same period:

And further approves the suggestion of the Director-General that the terms of office for both the appointees of the Director-General and the members elected by the Staff to this Committee shall, in the case of the members who enter on duty on 1 January 1952 be staggered as follows:

And further decides that all subsequent appointments and elections shall be for a period of two years.

319. The Conference considered the question of agreements between FAO and those Member Governments in whose territory its offices are situated and concluded that there was no necessity for these agreements to be identical one with the other. The Conference c approved the following resolution:

Resolution No. 69
Regional Site Agreements

The Conference

Authorizes the Director-General/ to discuss with those Member Governments in whose territory the Organization maintains regional 07 other offices such site agreements as appear to him suitable in the particular circumstances of each case, and

Instructs the Director-General to present such agreements for the approval of the Council before they are finally concluded.

Europe

320. After considering the suggestion of the Director-General for the establishment at Rome in 1952 of a European Regional Liaison Office within Headquarters, as set forth on page 61 of the Draft Budget for 1952-1953 (C 51/17), the Conference was not convinced that the need for such an office had yet been established beyond doubt.

321. The Conference adopted the following resolution:

Resolution No. 70
Proposed European Regional Liaison Officer

The Conference

Noting that several Member Nations wish further consideration to be given to the scope and functions of the post of proposed European Regional Liaison Officer,

Considering that a clear indication of the need for that appointment cannot be obtained until the Headquarters of the Organization have further experience of work- in Europe,

Recommends that the appointment to the post be deferred, and

Requests the Director-General to consult with European Member Governments on this question, end report to the Council as 50011 as possible on the results of tines/ consultations,

Near East

322. The Conference noted a formal request from the representative of Israel that the Director-General's Regional Representative for the Near East or his immediate subordinate should visit Israel during 1952.

Asia and the Far East

323. The Conference considered the question of the site of the Regional Office for Asia and the Far East, established originally at Bangkok in 1948. There was general agreement that the office should remain at Bangkok at least until the end of 1953 and that the question should be reviewed by the 1953 session of the Conference. The Conference approved the following resolution:

Resolution No. 71
Permanent Site of Regional Office for Asia and the Far East

The Conference

Noting that the Director-General is engaged in negotiations with various Member Governments concerning the permanent site of the Organization's Regional Office for Asia and the Far East,

Requests him to continue those negotiations,

Decides that the Organization's Regional Office in the Far East shall be maintained at Bangkok; at least until the end of 1953, and

Recommends that the question of the permanent site of this off ice shall be reviewed by the 1953 session of the Conference.

Latin America

324. The Conference approved the regional establishment for Latin America as set forth in Document C 51/14,

325. The Conference considered the draft comprehensive agreement between the Organization of American States and FAO and, after healing the comments of the representative of the Organization of American States, approved the following resolution:

Resolution No. 72
Agreement between FAO and OAS

The Conference

Wishing to continue and amplify on a more formal basis the co-operations effectively established between FAO and the Organization of American States, and

Taking note that in accordance with the request of the Special Session of the Conference in 1950, FAO and OAS at the invitation of the Director-General have prepared in consultation a new draft agreement between them and that this draft has already been approved by the Inter-American Economic and Social Council,

Expresses its satisfaction with this draft agreement, the text of Director-General which is attached (Appendix C), and

Authorizes the Director-General on behalf of FAO to accept and sign the agreement as soon as possible.

Relations with the United Nations, the Specialized Agencies and Other International Organizations

326. The Conference had before it a comprehensive report on the relationships of FAO with the United Nations, the Specialized Agencies and other international organizations (C 51/24). The Conference took note of and commended this report, and adopted the following resolutions:

The Conference

Having examined the Report of the Director-General (C 51/24) concerning FAO's relations with international organizations, and

Noting that it is essential to develop, an active working relations between FAO and other international organizations in related fields, in order to bring about the fullest possible utilization of personnel and resources of all such organizations,

Considers that satisfactory progress is being made with respect to other UN agencies, especially if WHO and the UN Regional Economic Commissions, and several regional organizations such as OAS,

Requests the Director-General:

Resolution No. 74
Relations with Non-Governmental Organizations

The Conference

Noting the proposal made to the Twelfth Session of the Council by the Council Committee on Relations with International Organizations regarding the amendment of paragraph (c) of the Resolution on "Relations with Non-governmental Organizations" of the Fifth Session of the Conference,

Adopts the following revised text of paragraph (c) of that Resolution:

"International non-governmental organizations having particular specialized interests in common with FAO shall be accorded specialized consultative status which will afford them an opportunity for consultation with the Organization through appropriate technical divisions. Such specialized consultative status will be granted at the discretion of the Director-General, in consultation, when he considers it necessary, with the Committee on Relations with International Organizations. Such specialized consultative status shall include the privilege of sending observers to appropriate technical meetings with the approval of the Director-General, appearing before the Committee on Relations with International Organizations, receiving appropriate publications, and submitting memoranda to the Organization on technical aspects of the FAO program of mutual specialized interest. The Director-General shall keep the Committee informed on applications received and actions taken with regard to specialized consultative status."

327. The Conference took note also of the Repot by the Thirteenth Session of the Council on FAO's relations with international organizations (C 51/46). With regard to the proposal of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers that the Constitution of FAO be amended to permit organized agriculture to be brought into organic relationship with the Member Governments, the Conference noted the comments and suggestions on this subject of the Working Party on the Program of Work; and Associated Long-term Problems. The Conference felt that, since no specific documentation had been prepared for its consideration, it could not usefully comment at this stage and requested the Director-General to prepare such documentation for the guidance of the Council with a view to further consideration.

328. The Conference endorsed the recommendation of the Council suggesting the appointment of a Special Conference Committee, on a selective basis, to meet with representatives of non-governmental international organizations who might desire to have consultations with the Conference and/or its subsidiary bodies on matters of particular interest. It therefore adopted the following resolution:

Resolution No. 75
Conference Committee on Relations with International Non-Governmental Organizations

The Conference

Noting the recommendation of the Council that a Special Conference Committee be appointed to meet with representatives of non-governmental organizations during the Sixth Session of the Conference,

Approves this recommendation, and

Decides that the Committee shall be composed of representatives of the following Member Nations: Belgium, Burma, Cuba, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, United States of America, Venezuela.

329. The Conference took note of the report of its Special Committee on Relations with International Non-Governmental Organizations which reads as follows:

Members of the Special Conference Committee on Relations with International Non-Governmental Organizations met on 29 November 1951, with representatives of non-governmental organizations attending the Sixth Session of the Conference.

330. Government representatives present were from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States of America. Professor Ugo Papi of Italy served as Chairman.

331. The following international non-governmental organizations were represented: Associated Country Women of the World, Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, International Federation of Agricultural Producers and the World YMCA.

332. In addition to the international organizations, representatives of national organizations which were members of government delegations to the FAO Conference, attended as observers for their national bodies. These were: the Canadian Federation of Agriculture; and, from the United States of America, the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Association of Consumers National Council of Farmer Cooperatives,

National Grange, National Farmers Union, National Fisheries Institute; also the National Farmers Union of the United Kingdom; and, from France, the General Confederation of Agriculture, the Federation of Consumers Cooperatives, and the National Union of Family Associations.

333. The representatives of the non-governmental organizations expressed appreciation for the appointment by the Conference of a special committee to consult with them, and suggested that this practice be made part of the permanent arrangements for future FAO Conferences. It was their opinion that in accordance with the recommendation of the Working Party on the Program of Work and Associated Long-term Problems, organizations might meet during this and future Conferences to discuss Conference issues of special interest to them. It was generally agreed that the organizations desired to be able to ask the Special Committee of the Conference to meet at their call to discuss such issues as might arise during any Conference with the government representatives of the Committee. The Chairman of the Special Committee might then be asked to present the collective views of the international non-governmental organizations to the Conference.

334. The representatives of international non-governmental organizations recommended that national delegations to the FAO Conference include as members representatives of national non-governmental organizations which have a special interest in the field of work of FAO. Also, that non-governmental organizations be included in National FAO Committees, either as regular or advisory members.

335. The international non-governmental organizations requested the Chairman of the Special Conference Committee on Relations with International Non-Governmental Organizations to present their view before Commission III and the Conference, that special consideration in providing for the use of FAO's Headquarters facilities be given to the international non-governmental organizations having consultative status, for their international conferences, under agreements to be worked out with the Director-General.

336. Other items discussed were: 1. the advisability of establishing a permanent advisory group of international non-governmental organizations to work; with the Director-General; and 2. the possibility of changing the FAO Constitution to permit international non-governmental organizations to have an organic part in the official structure of FAO, as recommended by the last Conference of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers. It was agreed that both subjects require further study before international non-governmental organizations can present a common view to the Conference of FAO.

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