LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
UNITED NATIONS H.Q.
SIR,—There are probably others besides myself who would be glad of enlightenment on the following points in connection with the choice of a site for the headquat ters of the United Nations: (t) The Preparatory Commission consists of representatives of the original members of the United Nations. Is it intended that, when the question comes before the General Assembly, it shall be decided by the original members or by the original members plus any new members whom it may be thought fit to admit? In the provisional agenda sub- mitted to the Preparatory Commission by its Executive Committee the choice of a site for the headquarters comes after the consideration of recommendations as to the admission of new members.
(2) Will the General Assembly decide by a bare majority vote or will a two-thirds majority be required? Article i8 of the Charter provides that decisions on " important questions " shall be made by a two-thirds majority, and goes on to say that these questions " shall include " certain specified matters, among which, however, the choice of a headquarters is not mentioned. It seems clear from paragraph 3 of the Article that a bare majority would suffice to defeat a proposal that a two-thirds majority should be required for the determination of any matter not specifically mentioned in the list of " important questions."
Commentators on the subject have not, of course, forgotten, but have not, perhaps, sufficiently emphasised the fact that of the fifty-one States represented on the Preparatory Commission, only eleven (exclusive of the U.S.S.R. and its two satellites) are European ; that Latin America has seventeen votes and the U.S.A.,. together with the States within its orbit (Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and the Philippines) another five ; and that, in advising the Assembly on this vitally important ques- tion, Ethiopia, Liberia and Saudi Arabia will have equal voting power with the United Kingdom and France, and a country like Sweden (which, together with a numbez of other European States, will, presumably, become a member of the Organisation) no voice at all.—Yours
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