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Distribution of Membership in Subsidiary Organs of the Economic and Social Council Introducing this subject the representative of Argentina (I)r Corominas) stated that only 39 of the 58 members of the United Nations were represented on the eight functional commissions of the Council, although there were 120 seats available. To some extent the restriction of membership was due, he considered, to the ■ custom of' the five permanent members of the Security Council seeking election to all commissions. A draft resolution, put forward in the names of Argentina, Colombia, and Cuba, recommended the Economic and Social Commission " when proceeding to the election of the members of its commissions, sub-commissions, and other working organs, to take all members of the United Nations into consideration with a view to utilizing the special services of each." The United Kingdom, United States, and China, while agreeing with the principle of rotation, considered that on expert commissions members should be appointed on the basis of their personal qualifications. The Chinese delegate stated that the enlistment of " support and interest " was more important than strict adherence to geographical representation. Others questioned whether, for budgetary and personnel resource reasons, all countries would desire representation. After considerable discussion the Joint Committee appointed a subcommittee 1 to draw up a resolution covering the views expressed by members of the Committee. The sub-committee, under the chairmanship of I)r Sutch {New Zealand), adopted a draft resolution whereby—- " The General Assembly " Recommends the Economic and Social Council, in the election of member States entitled to nominate members of functional commissions, and in elections and arrangements for elections of members of other subsidiary bodies, to take all members of the United Nations into consideration, with due regard to an equitable geographical distribution, to the special contribution each of the member States may bring to the work of the Council, and to their ability to take effective action in response to their election." The Committee, and later the Assembly, adopted this resolution unanimously. Increase to Twenty-four of the Number of Member States Represented on the Economic and Social Council This item had been on the 1947 Assembly agenda, when the Joint Second and Third Committee, to which it had been referred, had recommended that no further action be taken.

1 Argentina, Belgium, Byelorussia, Colombia, Cuba, France, New Zealand, Norway, and Pakistan.