reference of the Commission and affords the opportunity to present to the Commission recommendations on such matters. The principal officers of the Commission are the senior staff officers of the central secretariat-a secretary general, a deputy secretary general, a deputy chairman of the Research Council, and an industrial consultant, all of whom are appointed by the Commission. The first secretary general, who has been serving since September 6, 1946, is Lawrence W. Cramer. The first two officers are administrative, the third is director of all research activities of the Commission, and the fourth is concerned primarily with industrial development. The Commission holds not less than two meetings each year and is empowered to hold meetings at any time and at any place it may decide. The four co-chairmen, or their designated alternates, constitute a quorum. English and French are the official and working languages of the Commission. In addition, Netherlands and Spanish are the official languages of the Conference. Under article VI of the agreement "the Commission is empowered to determine the method of arriving at its decisions, providing that decisions other than those relating to procedure shall not be taken without the concurrence of the respective Co-Chairmen or their designated alternates". The rules of procedure drawn up by the Commission provide that any commissioner who differs from his co-chairman, whether on a substantive or procedural matter, is entitled to have his views recorded in the minutes. Decisions on procedural matters are considered approved if agreed to by at least three of the four co-chairmen. In the event of disagreement with regard to the classification of any question as substantive or procedural, the decision of at least three of the four co-chairmen prevails. FINANCES Budget. Article XV of the agreement establishing the Caribbean Commission provides that the secretary general shall prepare and submit to the Commission for approval an annual budget and such supplementary budgets as may be required. The budget of the Commission for the period September-December 1946 amounted to $87,096; for the calendar year 1947, $371,337; and for the calendar year 1948, $345,457. The budget for the calendar year 1949 is $345,000. Expenditures are financed almost entirely by member contributions. The Commission receives a small amount of revenue from the sale of publications. Members' Quotas. At a meeting of special representatives of the member governments in July 1946, a method of apportionment of the expenses of the Commission was approved by the four governments. One-third is apportioned in equal shares, one-third on the basis of population in the Caribbean area and one-third on the basis of national income of the member governments. The percentage scale based on this formula and the assessments against members for the calendar year 1949 are as follows: 1 Amounts represent credits in the form of pro rata shares of the balance of the revolving fund and savings in the 1948 budget. UNITED STATES RELATIONS Authorization. United States participation in the Caribbean Commission is authorized by a joint resolution approved by the President on March 4, 1948.2 The U.S. instrument of acceptance was deposited on March 8, 1948. On December 30, 1948, the President designated the Commission as a public international organization entitled to enjoy the benefits of the International Organizations Immunities Act.2 Payments. The joint resolution authorizing United States participation in the Commission also authorized an annual appropriation of not more than $142,000 for payment of the United States proportionate share of the expenses of the organization. The United States now pays its contribution with funds appropriated for this purpose to the Department of State. The following table shows the assessments against the United States since 1946: 1 Figure represents amount due after deducting U.S. pro rata share ($24,120) of savings in the 1947 budget. 2 Figure represents amount due after deducting U.S. pro rata share ($18,083) of the balance of the revolving fund and savings in the 1948 budget. Agencies Chiefly Concerned. The Department of State has the major responsibility for the formulation of United States policy toward the 2 See Basic Texts and Publications, p. 196, Caribbean Commission. The United States Commissioners report to the Secretary of State. A formal annual report is submitted to the United States Government. The practice is to forward these reports to both Houses of Congress. In executing its functions the Department of State is advised and assisted by other departments and agencies of the Federal Government. Participation. The Commissioners and such alternates as may be deemed necessary are appointed by the President who appoints one of them as co-chairman. Three of the present Commissioners of the United States section are from the Caribbean area. RELATIONS WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS While the Commission has no present connection with the United Nations, article XVIII of the agreement provides for cooperation with the United Nations and with its appropriate specialized agencies on matters of mutual concern within the terms of reference of the Commission. The Commission has authorized liaison with these organizations at the secretariat level, and there is reciprocity of information and publications. The United Nations and its specialized agencies have sent observers to meetings of the Research Council and the West Indian Conference. BASIC TEXTS AND PUBLICATIONS U. S. Department of State. Caribbean Commission: Agreement Between the United States of America, France, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Opened for signature at Washington October 30, 1946. Entered into force August 6, 1948. Pub. 3297. Treaties and Other International Acts series 1799. Washington, Government Printing Office, 1948. 30 pp. The Caribbean Islands and the War: A Record of Progress in Facing Stern Realities. Pub. 2023. Washington, Government Printing Office, 1943. 85 pp. Bulletin, March 14, 1942, pp. 229–230. “Anglo-American Caribbean Commission." (Text of joint communiqué released simultaneously in London and in Washington March 9, 1942. The communiqué is also included in the first annual report cited below.) International Organizations Immunities Act (59 Stat. 669; 8 U.S.C. 203, 215; 22 U.S.C. 288 a, b, c, d, e, f, note; 26 U.S.C. 116, 1400, 1426, 1600, 1607, and notes, 1621, 3466, 3469, 3475, 3797; 42 U.S.C. 401, 409, 1001, 1101, notes) made applicable to the Caribbean Commission by Executive Order 10025, December 30, 1948. Report of the Anglo-American Caribbean Commission to the Governments of the United States and Great Britain: 1942-43.* Washington, Barbados, and London, 1943. 94 pp. 1944.* Washington, 1945. 46 pp. 1945.* Washington, 1946. 39 pp. Report of the Caribbean Commission to the Governments of the French Republic, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States of America: 1946.* Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 1947. 56 pp. 1947.* Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 1948. 32 pp. 1948. (In draft.) Report of the West Indian Conference: First Session, 1944.* Second Session, 1946 Washington, Barbados, and London, 1944, 43 pp. Washington, Government Printing Office, 1946. 86 pp. Third Session, 1948.* Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. 1949. 99 pp. United States Section of the Anglo-American Caribbean Commission. Sugar and the Caribbean Problem for 1942-43-44.* Washington, 1942. 58 pp. Anglo-American Caribbean Commission. Caribbean Tourist Trade: A Regional Approach.* Washington, April 1945. 171 pp. Guide to Commercial Shark Fishing in the Caribbean Area.* Washington, March 1945. 149 pp. The Commission has published a number of issues of a "Crop Inquiry Series" on the major commodities of the area, and an "External Trade Series." A Monthly Bulletin is published in the four languages of the Caribbean area. South Pacific Commission Noumea, New Caledonia ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT One of the goals which the Governments of Australia and New Zealand set for themselves in the Canberra Pact of January 1944 was the establishment of a regional commission which might assist governments in promoting the economic and social advancement of the nonself-governing territories of the South Pacific region. To achieve this goal, the South Seas Conference was convened at Canberra in January 1947 for the express purpose of preparing an agreement for the establishment of such a regional commission. The Conference was attended by Delegations from Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Within a period of eight days, the Agreement Establishing the South Pacific Commission was drafted. It was signed by the representatives of the six governments on February 6, 1947.3 The agreement came into force on July 29, 1948, when all signatories had deposited their acceptances. *Available publications of the Caribbean Commission and the former AngloAmerican Caribbean Commission may be obtained from the International Documents Service, Columbia University Press, 2960 Broadway, New York 27, New York. 3 See Basic Texts and Publications, p. 201. In accordance with article XX of the agreement, preliminary arrangements for the establishment of the Commission were undertaken jointly by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand. Invitations were issued to the other four participating governments to appoint liaison officers with the organizing secretary and staff of the Interim Organization. Representatives of the six signatory governments met in November 1947 at Sydney in a preparatory meeting, at which items dealing with administrative organization of the Commission's secretariat were discussed. The first and second sessions of the Commission were held at Sydney in May and October 1948, respectively. The third session was held at Noumea, New Caledonia, in May 1949. These sessions established the administrative and organizational basis for the work of the Commission. In addition personnel were selected for the senior positions; the permanent site for the secretariat was chosen; and the work program for the Commission was formulated. MEMBERSHIP In accordance with the terms of the agreement, the Commission consists of not more than 12 commissioners, representing the Governments of Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Each participating government appoints two commissioners and designates one of them as its senior commissioner. Each government is also empowered to appoint such alternates and advisers as it considers desirable. PURPOSES, POWERS, AND FUNCTIONS The Commission acts as a consultative and advisory body to the participating governments in matters affecting the economic and social development of the non-self-governing territories within the scope of the Commission and the welfare and advancement of their peoples. Its powers and functions, as set forth in the agreement, are (a) to study, formulate, and recommend measures for the development, and where necessary the coordination, of services affecting the economic and social rights and welfare of the inhabitants of the territories within the scope of the Commission, particularly with respect to agriculture, communications, transport, fisheries, forestry, industry, labor, marketing, production, trade and finance, public works, education, health, housing, and social welfare; and to facilitate research, make recommendations and furnish technical assistance on economic and social matters, and to discharge such other functions as may be agreed upon by the participating governments. |