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recognition by the New Zealand Government was a logical development of New Zealand's support for the General Assembly's resolution of November, 1947, recommending the establishment of a Jewish State in Palestine, and he referred to the which had been submitted by Israel for admission to the United Nations, which he felt would be favourably received both by the Security Council and the General Assembly.* In concluding his statement, Mr Fraser expressed his confidence that the Government and people of Israel would make a special contribution not only to the development of the Middle East, but also in the broader field of international relations. belief for Vales tine Refugees In November, 1948, the General Assembly authorized the appointment of a Director of United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees to organize aid for those people, numbering about 800,000, who had been displaced by the fighting in Palestine. Other international organizations were asked to assist, and supplies and services were made available by the International Refugee Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization, and the International Children's Emergency Fund. Contributions were also requested from member Governments, and, recognizing the urgency of the problem, the New Zealand Government has shipped goods to the value of £37,238 to be distributed to those affected. 2. The Ex-Italian Colonies In last year's report dissatisfaction was expressed with the procedure agreed upon by the Deputies of the Council of Foreign Ministers whereby interested Governments were likely to be called upon to express their views on disposal of the colonies without having had the opportunity to examine the reports compiled by the Four-Power Commission of Investigation. This Commission had been despatched to examine conditions in the areas concerned, in accordance with the terms of the peace treaty with Italy. Two statements were finally submitted to the Deputies on behalf of the New Zealand Government. The first, delivered on 14 June, before the Four-Power Conference reports had been received, emphasized that the opinions .expressed, since they were based on inadequate evidence, were necessarily preliminary and tentative. The New Zealand Government's interest in the Italian colonial question, it was explained, stemmed not only from the fact that

* Following approval of the application by the Security Council on 4 March, Israel was admitted to the United Nations by the General Assembly on 11 May, 1949.