STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION AND BACKGROUND Public Law 264, 79th Congress (approved December 20, 1945), entitled "United Nations Participation Act of 1945" as amended by Public Law 341, 81st Congress, (approved October 10, 1949) provides for United States participation in the United Nations (22 U. S. C. 287). Executive Orders 9844 (April 28, 1947) and 10108 (February 9, 1950) provide for the United States mission to the United Nations (USUN) and for its direction by the United States representative at the headquarters of the United Nations, who, as chief of mission, is to coordinate the activities of the mission in carrying out the instructions of the President transmitted by the Secretary of State or by other means as directed by the President. ORGANIZATION AND ACTIVITIES The permanent United States mission consists of the United States representative and the deputy United States representative to the United Nations (who, by statute, are also the United States representative and deputy United States representative in the Security Council respectively), the deputy representative in the Security Council, the United States representatives in the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, and a secretariat under the direction of a Secretary-General. The United States representative to the United Nations and the deputy United States representative have additional responsibilities in representing the United States in the Disarmament Commission, Interim Committee, Collective Measures Committee, Peace Observation Commission, Committee on Additional Measures, and Palestine Conciliation Commission. The principal officers are aided by advisers and special assistants, and secretariat personnel to assure the effective participation of the United States in the numerous and often concurrent activities of the various organs of the United Nations. The Security Council meets in continuous session. The Trusteeship and Economic and Social Council hold two plenary sessions each year. The Disarmament Commission, the Interim Committee, the Collective Measures Committee, the Peace Observation Commission, the Committee on Additional Measures, and the Palestine Conciliation Commission are expected to hold several sessions during the year. Under the Economic and Social Council, there are eight functional commissions: Social, Narcotic Drugs, Transport and Communications, Fiscal, Status of Women, Statistical, Human Rights, and Population. The Human Rights, Status of Women, and Narcotic Drugs Commissions meet annually and the other five meet biennially. The eight United States members of these Commissions serve primarily during Commission sessions and are paid on a w. a. e. (when actually employed) or per diem basis and then only if not otherwise officers of the United States Government. In fiscal year 1955 the councils, commissions, and committees of the United Nations will hold approximately 2,000 separate sessions at the United Nations headquarters at New York. Approximately 500 of these sessions are attributable to the General Assembly alone. The regular staff of the United States Mission performs the following functions: (a) Diplomatic negotiation and consultation.-Personnel of the United States mission represent the United States in meetings of the various councils, commissions, etc., presenting the United States position on agenda and other items, negotiating and consulting both formally and informally with ranking officers of 59 national delegations on viewpoints of the United States and other members on over 400 different agenda items during a year, reporting on high-level policy matters, devising means of presenting United States positions at the United Nations and advising in connection with the drafting, reformulation, and redrafting of United States positions. The mission is a continuous focal point of daily contact with the United Nations Secretariat and the representatives and staffs of the other 59 member nations on substantive, procedural, and administrative matters. (b) Public affairs.-The mission handles comprehensive public affairs activities on all phases of United States participation in the United Nations at New York with the accredited correspondents to the United Nations, the representatives of nongovernmental organizations, representatives of broadcasting and other public information media, and also handles the public correspondence on activities of the United States in the United Nations. The greater part of this public affairs activity is directed toward foreign accredited correspondents and foreign information media. Personnel carrying on this activity play an important part in the preparation and presentation of United States positions in United Nations organs as advisers on the propaganda and psychological aspects of strategy and tactics. (c) Executive Secretariat and administrative and conference services.-The Secretariat coordinates for the United States mission the instructions and positions on United States policy and the servicing of the State Department and many other United States agencies (through the State Department) with extensive reporting and documentation covering over 2,000 meetings of international organizations in 1 year. The Secretariat not only services the permanent staff but also provides office facilities, secretarial, messenger, telephone, reproduction, communication, reference and research, documentation, fiscal and supply services as well as extensive hotel and transport accommodations for over 500 additional persons appointed as members of approximately 30 United States delegations annually meeting in New York. In addition, the Secretariat handles the general host country liaison responsibilities to the United Nations and to the national delegations, and administers in New York the specific legal responsibilities of the International Organizations Immunity Act (22 ̊ U. S. C. 288). These responsibilities include among other things, assistance on visa problems, arrangements for exemption from city and State excise taxes, issuance of monthly diplomatic lists for Federal, State, and local authorities and business concerns, and customs and immigration clearances. BACKGROUND For 1955, a total of 115 positions is requested, or a net of 108 man-years after lapse. This compares with a total of 190 persons on the rolls in September 1950. Management economies and organizational adjustments reduced the 190 persons to 177 by the end of fiscal 1951. The progressively severe budget cuts in fiscal years 1952, 1953, and 1954 compelled large reductions in force and cancellation of positions becoming vacant. In the first and second quarters of fiscal 1954, the total staff has been reduced by approximately 22 percent. Some of the reduction was deferred until the completion of the resumed session of the Seventh General Assembly at the end of last August and of the regular session of the Eighth General Assembly in December. The prospects for intensive meetings from January to June of calendar 1954 are very probable, with a wide range of agenda items to be listed for U. N. meetings as a result, in part, of agreements reached in various political conferences. The United States mission cannot control the volume of U. N. activities in either the number of meetings or duration of conferences. Certain administrative and operating expenses may, therefore, fluctuate by as much as up to 30 percent above budget estimates. The extent of U. N. activities in New York in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 1954 will determine whether even after extensive reduction in staff, space, and services the total obligations can be held to the $800,000 available. ESTIMATED REQUIREMENTS FOR 1955 The 1955 budget request of $820,000 slightly exceeds the funds available for fiscal 1954 but compares with total 1953 obligations of $956,621. Specifically, the 1955 request reflects an increase of $6,400 in total "Personal services" in contrast with 1954 and an increase of $13,600 spread over other object classes, or a combined total increase of $20,000. The specific items of increase for 1955 listed in the tabulation on page 16 are primarily relative since many of the comparative items of expense for 1954 were arbitrarily adjusted to come within the total available 1954 budget. The object class estimates for 1955 reflect minimum requirements. A 5-year comparison of the 1955 budget request with previous funds and personnel is as follows: The $690,400 requested for personal services represents a net increase of $6,400 over 1954 and a decrease of $129,795 compared with 1953 costs. The increase results from a lower lapse rate due to expected less personnel turnover, and slight increase for part-time employment and for overtime, night-pay differential, and holiday pay and for compensation of certain Presidential appointees when actually on duty. Travel: Obligations: 1953. 1954 1955. Increase.. $9,838 11, 000 12, 000 1,000 The estimate of $12,000 is an increase of $1,000 over 1954 and is required to cover additional travel between Washington and New York because of the reduced staff of the mission. The request provides $7,440 for travel of permanent officers between New York and Washington; $3,820 for travel between New York and other points; and $740 for local transportation (taxis to meetings, messenger fares, bridge tolls, etc.). Transportation of things: Obligations: 1954 1955. $100 100 The $100 requested is to cover transportation costs for moving certain equipment and materials. Communication services: Obligations: Increase.. It is estimated that $57,000 will be required for the following costs: Circuits for communications equipment at $403 per month.. Postage (including reimbursement to the Post Office Department The switchboard costs include service not only for the United States Mission and the many United States delegations attending U. N. conferences in New York, but also for the United States representatives in the Military Staff Committee of the United Nations whose offices are adjacent to the Mission and are serviced by the central Mission switchboard. Those United States representatives have an authorized staff of 38 personnel. Rents and utility services: Obligations: 1953 1954. 1955 Increase The estimate of $20,400 is based on the following items: 1. Official Embassy residence for United States representative $20, 708 19, 400 20, 400 1,000 $17,500 Printing and reproduction: 3. Garage rental (includes washing) for 3 passenger vehicles and 1 Jeep truck.. 2. Supplementary heating and elevator service for offices on Satur- 1,000 1, 900 $2,872 1,000 1,500 500 Obligations: 1953. 1954 Increase.. It is estimated that $1,000 will be needed for a replacement supply of stationery, blank forms, administrative orders, etc., and $500 for miscellaneous printing requirements. It is estimated that the amount of $28,000 will be needed for the following purposes: Representation allowances. It will be necessary for the Mission to entertain representatives of foreign governments and of international organizations, as well as maintain the representation obligations common to diplomatic and international functions. The total estimate for this purpose for the fiscal year 1955 is $16,000. Automobile repairs.-The Mission, in fiscal year 1955, will operate 3 passenger vehicles and 1 jeep panel truck. The average cost of repairs, based on age and physical condition will be approximately $125 per car, or a total of $500. News tickers.-Teletype news service from the United Press and from the United Nations is furnished at a monthly cost of $143 and $23, respectively. The total annual cost is estimated at $2,000. Official Embassy residence.-Partial reimbursement of compensation for household servant in official leased residence for United States representative to U. N., per Public Law 341, 81st Congress. Annual cost estimated at $1,000. Miscellaneous services.-It will be necessary to contract for various housekeeping functions in the amount of $8,500 as follows: Total_ Supplementary cleaning. Repair and maintenance of office equipment, air conditioners, etc.--- $4,000 4,000 500 8, 500 8, 734 5, 500 8,000 2, 500 Supplies and materials: Obligations: 1953 Increase.. It is estimated that $8,000 will be needed for (1) the replacement of office supplies for the permanent staff and the various conference delegations in the amount of $5,300; (2) the purchase of gas and oil, tires, batteries, etc., needed in the operation of 4 vehicles in the amount of $1,300; and (3) the purchase of newspapers, periodicals, etc., at a cost of $1,400. Equipment: 1953_ 1954 $3, 831 1,000 1,500 500 It is estimated that $1,500 will be needed for (1) replacement only of office equipment (including manual and electromatic typewriters, etc.) in the amount of $1,200, and (2) the purchase of books in the amount of $300. The $1,100 requested is to cover the Federal Government contribution to the social security fund for those employees hired with social security benefits instead of civil service retirement benefits. The total United Nations budget for the calendar year 1954 assessable against members amounts to $41,300,000. The gross expenditure budget for 1954 amounts to $48,060,000. When this amount is offset by the amount of $6,760,000 in miscellaneous revenue from the staff assessment plan, sale of publications, and so forth, the resulting assessment to members is $41,300,000, a reduction of $2,900,000 from the previous year. The reduction in estimated total assessments is based primarily on economies throughout the departments at headquarters, |