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SIXTH COMMITTEE The chief questions considered by the Sixth ("Legal) Committee were : 1. "Progressive Development of International Law and its Codification The Committee appointed by the previous session of the General Assembly to consider ways and means for the development and codification of international law recommended the establishment of an International Law Commission of fifteen members to be elected by the Security Council and the General Assembly in the same way as Judges of the International Court of Justice. The United States representative proposed that the Commission should consist of fewer members, should be appointed by the Assembly alone, and should serve on a part-time basis ; a group of specialists in international law should be developed within the United Nations Secretariat to work under the Commission's supervision. Both the United Kingdom and Soviet Union representatives advocated delay in the establishment of the Commission. The resolution eventually adopted provided for the establishment of a fifteenmember Commission, to be elected by the General Assembly at its third regular session for a three-year term, and directed the SecretaryGeneral to carry out the necessary preparatory work in the interval. 2. The Crime of Genocide In accordance with a resolution passed at the previous session of the Assembly, the Economic and Social Council submitted a draft convention on genocide. The United Kingdom representative questioned the desirability of such a convention. If a number of States did not adhere to it, doubt would be cast on the criminality of genocide, which was already clearly established. He thought the convention unrealistic, since the real sanction against genocide was war. Accordingly, the Assembly should reaffirm that genocide was a crime and should ask the International Law Commission, when established, to consider whether a convention was desirable or necessary. It was finally decided, however, to request the Economic and Social Council to proceed with the completion of the convention, taking into account that the International Law Commission had been charged with the formulation of the principles recognized in the Charter of the Nuremburg Tribunal and the preparation of a draft code of offences against peace and security. The Council should not await the comments of all members before commencing this task, which should be completed in time for the Assembly to consider the convention at its next session.