Cablegram [UNY]279 CANBERRA, 16 October 1946
Your UN.522 [1] and 482. [2]
Minister instructed Bailey and Watt to the effect that any organisation should be a commission of Economic and Social Council. In this connection he expressed view that we should give no encouragement to additional specialised agencies or independent organisations and that any matter requiring attention of governments within the field of Economic and Social Council should be dealt with by the Council or a commission set up by it. This should guide you when matter discussed at Assembly.
2. See Departmental paper [3] on agenda item 23 reporting the views of Inter-Departmental Committee which will receive consideration of Government in due course. Neither Immigration or Treasury attach importance to participation and you should carefully avoid any commitment unless otherwise instructed, in particular avoid suggesting that the Government will make any significant financial contribution.
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1 Dispatched 12 October, it conveyed a request from the Secretary- General that the Australian representative to the General Assembly be given full powers to sign the constitution of the international Refugee Organization.
2 Dispatched 1 October, it foreshadowed further debate in the General Assembly on the constitution of the refugee organisation in view of ‘Eastern European’ opposition to the text adopted by the Economic and Social Council. (See Document 157 and Volume IX, Document 290). In response to an External Affairs Dept query, it predicted insufficient support for a non-permanent commission under the Economic and Social Council, suggesting instead a non- permanent commission under the General Assembly.
3 Document 157.
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[AA:A1067, ER46/3/15]