The General Assembly,

Having considered the report of the Special Committee established by General Assembly resolution 270 (III) of 29 April 1949,

Being of the opinion that the United Nations Field Service, as proposed by the Secretary-General in document A/AC.29/I2 and modified by the report of the Special Committee, will contribute to the more efficient operation of United Nations missions,

Considering that the Secretary-General has authority to establish the United Nations Field Service, subject to budgetary limitations and the normal administrative controls of the General Assembly,

Takes note of the intention of the Secretary-General to establish this proposed unit as modified by the observations contained in the report of the Special Committee.

The International Cotton Advisory Committee held its ninth plenary meeting in Washington from May 22 to 31, 1950. Principal goals of the meeting were to further progress toward the committee's three major objectives of 1) furnishing information on the current economic international position of cotton, 2) serving as a forum for the exchange of views and ideas looking toward a solution of the international cotton industry's problems, and 3) formulating suggestions for international economic study in dealing with world cotton problems. Representation at the meeting was the largest since the committee had been organized in 1939; delegates from the following governments participated: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Greece, India, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

First established at the International Penitentiary Congress of London in 1872, the International Penal and Penitentiary Commission was organized as it now exists by constitutional regulations adopted in 1880, confirmed in 1886, and revised in 1926, 1929, 1946 and 1948. Eleven international congresses have been convened, the last in Berlin in 1935; and the commission held its most recent meeting in Bern in August of 1949. The commission took as its terms of reference responsibility for promoting exchanges of views among expert penologists of all countries in order to develop standards and advise as to the development of progressive methods of preventing crime and treating offenders: The expenses for 1949 were estimated at 121,400 Swiss francs ($28,365), payable by the members at a ratio of 170 Swiss francs ($39.64) per one million inhabitants. By a resolution of October 16, 1948, the commission and other major international organizations concerned with the prevention of crime and treatment of offenders agreed on the various aspects of the field in which each would work and on cooperation with the United Nations. ILO, WHO, and UNESCO were among the specialized agencies which agreed to the resolution. A later resolution on cooperation with the United Nations, adopted by the commission in August 1949 was reviewed by ECOSOC which, in turn, requested the United Nations Secretary-General to coatinue consultations with IPPC with a view toward its integration in the United Nations system.

The General Assembly,

Considering its request to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion, formulated in resolution 258 (III) of 3 December 1948 concerning reparation for injuries incurred in the service of the United Nations,

Having regard to the advisory opinion rendered by the International Court of Justice on 11 April 1949.

Considering that it is highly desirable that reparation be secured for injuries incurred in the service of the United Nations,

Considering that the Secretary-General has submitted in his report of 23 August 1949 (A/955) a number of proposals relating to the aforementioned advisory opinion,

In June 1949, the International Tin Study Group appointed a working party to 1) prepare a statement on the position and prospects of the tin industry for the guidance of a proposed United Nations conference in determining whether, under Article 62 of the International Trade Organization's charter, a commodity control agreement on tin might be desirable; and 2) to prepare the draft of such an agreement. The working party met at The Hague in October and November 1949 for these purposes and submitted both the completed statement and the draft convention to the Study Group which subsequently met in its fifth meeting in Paris from March 20 to 29, 1950. At this meeting, attended by representatives of all fifteen members of the group, the draft agreement was considered, modified, and amended; the final draft text was completed on March 29. The agreement, as approved, set forth its objectives as follows: 1) to prevent or alleviate widespread difficulties arising from an inability of adjustment between tin production and consumption; 2) to prevent excessive fluctuations in the price of tin; 3) to ensure the availability of supplies of tin adequate at all times to satisfy world demand at reasonable prices; 4) to provide the framework for the consideration and development of measures to effect economic adjustments designed to promote the expansion of tin consumption and the development of secondary industries based upon domestic production of primary commodities; and 5) to maintain and develop natural tin resources. Any government accepting the agreement as either a producing country

On the recommendation of the General Committee, the General Assembly shall, at the beginning of each session, fix a target date for the closing of the session.

1. The Kingdom of the Netherlands unconditionally and irrevocably transfers complete sovereignty over Indonesia to the Republic of the United States of Indonesia and thereby recognizes said Republic of the United States of Indonesia as an independent and sovereign State.

2. The Republic of the United States of Indonesia accepts said sovereignty on the basis of the provisions of its Constitution which as a draft has been brought to the knowledge of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

3. The transfer of sovereignty shall take place at the latest on 30 December 1949.

The International Whaling Commission, created by a convention signed on December 2, 1946, which entered into force on November 10, 1948, held its first meeting in London from May 30 to June 7, 1949. Of the seventeen signatories to the convention, thirteen had ratified or adhered and, accordingly, were represented: Australia, Canada, France, Iceland, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States; Union of South Africa and USSR. The commission, within the framework of the convention, determined its course of work as follows: 1) to amend from time to time as required the schedule of regulations controlling whaling; 2) to organize studies and investigations relating to whales and whaling; 3) to collect and analyze statistical information; and 4)to study, appraise and disseminate information concerning whaling stocks. At the first meeting of the commission, two standing committees were created: a Scientific and Technical Committee and a Finance and Administrative Committee.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of the United States of Indonesia,

having resolved on a basis of free will, equality, and complete independence to bring about friendly cooperation with each other and to create the Netherlands Indonesian Union with a view to effectuate this future cooperation,

having agreed to lay down in this Statute of the Union the basis of their mutual relationship as independent and sovereign States,

thereby holding that nothing in this Statute shall be construed as excluding any form of cooperation not mentioned therein or cooperation in any field not mentioned therein, the need of which may be felt in the future by both partners.

The International Wool Study Group met at London from November 7 to 9, 1949. The meeting noted that world wool production had increased slightly since the war to a point where it was equal to prewar production. The group for the first time decided to release for publication its report on the world wool situation and reports on the wool situation in member countries, unless requested otherwise; On the basis of review it was decided that no immediate problems called for intergovernmental collaboration in world trade of wool; although it was recognized that the problem of surplus stocks which had led to the establishment of the group in 1946 had largely disappeared, it was felt that the group would prove a useful means for the improvement of wool statistics and a useful body to which world wool problems could be referred.

The seventh meeting of the Rubber Study Group was held in Brussels from May 2 to 5, 1950 to review the world rubber situation and consider means of expanding consumption and improvement of packing and marketing systems. The meeting was attended by delegations from Australia, Belgium, the United Kingdom colonies, Burma, Canada, Ceylon, Denmark, France, Hungary, Italy, Liberia, the Netherlands, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, the United States of Indonesia, and by observers from the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Rubber Development Committee.

The Republic of the United States of Indonesia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands inspired by an equal desire to achieve cooperation in the field of their foreign relations,

have decided to conclude the following agreement to regulate such cooperation.

Following upon the meeting of the three foreign ministers in Paris on November 9 and 10 the United Kingdom, French and United States High Commissioners were authorized to discuss with the Federal Chancellor the letters which he had addressed to them on the subject of dismantling a view to a final settlement of this problem. The instructions to the High Commissioners also covered a wider field and required them to examine with the Chancellor other points to be included in a general settlement. Discussions took place accordingly on November 15, 17 and 22 on the Petersberg.

As Secretary-General, it is my firm belief that a new and great effort must be attempted to end the so-called “cold war” and to set the world once more on a road that will offer greater hope of lasting peace.

Recalling the finding of the General Assembly in its resolution of 21 October 1949 that the Government of the Republic of Korea is a lawfully established Government ”having effective control and juridiction over that part of Korea where the United Nations Temporary Commission on Korea was able to observe and consult and in which the great majority of the people of Korea reside; and that this Government is based on elections which were a valid expression of the free will of the electorate of that part of Korea and which were observed by the Temporary Commission; and that this is the only such Government in Korea”