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Adoption of Spanish as One of the Working Languages of the Assembly In compliance with a resolution adopted by the second session of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General reported on a proposal by the Philippine delegation that Spanish be adopted as one of the working languages of the Assembly. The Secretary-General was of the opinion that the proposal would involve additional costs amounting to $347,466 and would adversely affect the efficient organization and functioning of the Secretariat. These views were endorsed by the Advisory Committee. The question was discussed at considerable length in the Committee, where the New Zealand representative joined in expressing opposition to the proposal ; in his opinion the case had not been made out on the grounds of practical necessity, especially since the provision of simultaneous interpretation facilities had increased. Eventually the recommendation of the Advisory Committee endorsing the opinion of the Secretary-General that in the present circumstances of financial stringency it would not be advisable to impose upon the members of the United Nations this additional burden was approved by 21 votes (N.Z.) to 20 with 5 abstentions. When the report of the Committee came up for discussion in the Assembly there was a joint resolution before the Assembly in the name of Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, Pern, Philippines, and Uruguay proposing that Spanish be adopted as a working language. The New Zealand representative again spoke against the proposal. The discussion continued at several meetings of the Assembly and various arguments for and against were adduced by delegations. Eventually an amendment proposed by Mexico to the draft resolution of the Fifth Committee, reading " Resolves that Spanish should be included as a working language of the Assembly and that Rule 44 should be modified accordingly " was put to the vote. A Soviet proposal 'to include the Russian language in addition to Spanish was ruled out of order. The Mexican amendment was adopted by 30 votes to 21 (N.Z.) with 7 abstentions. The draft resolution as amended was then adopted by 30 votes to 20 (N.Z.) with 5 abstentions. This was the only instance at the session where a recommendation of the Fifth Committee was reversed in the Assembly. Appointment to Fill Vacancies in the Membership of Subsidiary Bodies of the General Assembly It was decided to recommend that the Auditor-General of Denmark be appointed as a member of the Board of Auditors to serve for a threeyear term commencing on 1 July, 1949.