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Poland, Belgium, Colombia, and Syria. The terms of office of the first three expire on 31st December, 1947, and of the other three on 31st December, 1948. The Security Council is so organized as to be able to function continuously. Though New Zealand is not at present a member of the Council, attention has naturally been given to its deliberations on questions affecting world peace and security, which are of equal importance to all members of the United Nations. During the period under review the Council considered such matters as — Atomic energy : The question of taking measures against the Franco Government of Spain : The applications for admission to the United Nations of Albania, Outer Mongolia, Sweden, Eire, Portugal, Afghanistan, Iceland, and Siam : Disarmament and the disclosure of information concerning armed forces : The Statute of Trieste : Greek complaint of frontier violations by Albania, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia—establishment of a Balkan Commission : British complaint concerning laying of mines in Corfu Channel: United States Trusteeship agreement for Japanese Mandated Islands : United States aid to Greece and Turkey. 3. The Economic and Social Council {a) Economic and Social Council Article 55 of the Charter of United Nations provides : With a view to the creation of conditions of stability and well-being which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, the United Nations shall promote — (a) Higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development; (b) Solutions of international economic, social, health, and related problems; and international cultural and educational co-operation ; and (c) Universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion. Responsibility for the promotion of these aims is vested, under the authority of the General Assembly, in the Economic and Social Council, on which eighteen members of United Nations are represented. On 19th June, 1946, New Zealand was elected a member of the Council for a threeyear term, which commenced on Ist January, 1947. The wide measure of support accorded New Zealand's nomination may be taken as a recognition of the contribution that New Zealand is considered to have made and to be able to make to the attainment ■of the aims of United Nations in the sphere of international economic and social cooperation. It is also a measure of the responsibility which rests upon New Zealand in these matters. During 1946 the Economic and Social Council established nine Commissions— Narcotics, Human Rights, Economic and Employment, Transport and Communications, Statistical, Social, Population, Fiscal, and Status of Women. (Some have twelve members, some fifteen and some eighteen. The Council selects States to nominate members of the Commissions, and each State appoints an expert to serve on the Commission.) Provision was made in certain cases for the appointment of necessary Sub-Commissions. A Sub-Commission on the Economic Reconstruction of Devastated Areas, on which New Zealand was represented, was established in June, 1946. New Zealand was selected to nominate members of the Social and Fiscal Commissions. In accordance with the provisions of the Charter, the Council negotiated agreements (which were later approved by the General Assembly) to co-ordinate the activities of the United Nations and four specialized agencies—Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Labour Organization (ILO), and United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It created a Standing Committee to ensure full and effective implementation

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