candidate in London for a seat on this Council and had withdrawn in favour of Yugoslavia, which country announced its intention of standing for re-election at this meeting of the Assembly. While we had let it be known that New Zealand was a candidate for election, we did no canvassing whatever, despite the fact that canvassing was very general, and our election on the first ballot with a very heavy vote was due, in my opinion, to three factors : (a) A sense of equity, in view of New Zealand's withdrawal in London. (b) A recognition of the part New Zealand has always played in international gatherings, invariably holding and stating its views with moderation but conviction, and without vacillation; and (c) (which I think was the deciding factor), a widespread appreciation of what New Zealand has done and is doing in the social and humanitarian field to point, and to lead, the way to a better life for all. Pursuant to the approval of seven trusteeship agreements, the General Assembly elected Mexico and Iraq to membership of the Trusteeship Council for three years. The other members of the* Trusteeship Council are Australia, Belgium, France, New Zealand, United Kingdom, as States administering trust territories, and China, the Soviet Union, and the United States as permanent members of the Security Council not administering trust territories. At the beginning of the session a general debate was held in which most delegations participated. Extracts from the speech delivered on behalf of New Zealand appear as an Appendix to this report. During the course of its eight weeks of deliberation the Assembly considered no fewer than seventy-one separate subjects, and the variety of matters under discussion placed a further strain on all delegations, and particularly on those which were small in number. Indeed, at times it was extremely difficult satisfactorily to man all the various committees, sub-committees, and sub-committees of sub-committees which were sitting, often simultaneously. The results of this meeting of the Assembly can be described as moderately encouraging. Unquestionably, there was, on the whole, a distinct improvement on the atmosphere that characterized the Paris Peace Conference, and I think it fair to say that there was, throughout the discussions, a reasonable disposition on all sides to take into account the existence and the validity of opposing points of view. The Assembly firmly asserted its authority and its competence as the " town meeting of the World " and made abundantly clear its distaste for the veto power in the Security Council. But it cannot be said that any epochmaking decisions were taken at this meeting —indeed, they could not perhaps be expected at this early stage. It is generally felt that the most important resolution passed at the Assembly was that relating to disarmament, and that this resolution was important no one can properly doubt. On the other hand, in any

5