It has frequently been asserted that the financial problem of the United Nations is, in reality, a political problem. This proposition contains enough truth to serve us well, provided it is used not to dispose of the problem but to introduce serious consideration of it. Properly conceived, the political emphasis does not entail the denial of the meaningfulness and significance of the financial issue, but rather suggests the nature of the context within which that issue must be examined, and proposed solutions must be evaluated. Without an understanding of the political background of the fiscal difficulties of the United Nations and the political determinants of its future role in world affairs, one cannot deal intelligently with the problems and prospects of the Organization's treasury.

World War II taught Norway that she was dependent on international organization for her security. When it became evident to her that the UN, in which she had originally placed such high hopes, could not meet her needs on this score, she began exploring the possibilities of regional organization. After the failure of the negotiations for some kind of Scandinavian arrangement, or the decision not to enter into such an arrangement, forward-looking elements, under the leadership of Foreign Minister Halvard Lange, turned their attention to the regional collective security organization which was ultimately established by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) treaty.

The behavior of the Afro-Asian states on the Hungarian Question has been cited as an outstanding example of the discrepancy that exists between their moralistic pronouncements on international conduct and their true actions. It has also served to strengthen the view that they forma cohesive unit which is unduly solicitous of Soviet interests.

If, to misquote Harold Lasswell, one considers the study of politics to be the study of who gets what, when, and why, then this paper is a study of the politics of elections in the United Nations. Who gets what and when are easily discovered, since the results of elections and dates of elections are available in any United Nations Yearbook. The “why” is more difficult to determine. This paper is an attempt to analyze—by the use of empirical, numerical indices exclusively—why nations are elected to UN offices.

The General Assembly held its fourth special session, comprising the 1203rd–1205th plenary meetings, at UN Headquarters from May 14 through June 27, 1963. Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan (Pakistan) was elected President of the fourth special session by acclamation. At the same meeting Kuwait was admitted to membership.

The Security Council took up this item at its 1040th–1049th meetings, July 22–31, 1963. At the invitation of the President, the representatives of Tunisia, Liberia, Portugal, Sierra Leone, and Madagascar took places at the Council table. The item was being considered at the request of 32 African governments, which had sent a letter to the President of the Security Council asking the Council to consider “the situation in the territories under Portuguese domination.” According to this letter, which was accompanied by an explanatory memorandum setting forth the decisions of the heads of African states on this matter at the Addis Ababa Conference of May 22–25, 1963 the state of war prevailing in some of these territories following the persistent refusal of Portugal to comply with certain General Assembly and Security Council resolutions constituted a definite breach of peace and security in the African continent as well as a threat to international peace and security.

The 35th session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), comprising the 1242nd–1263rd meetings, was held in New York from April 2 through April 18, 1963. At the 1242nd meeting Mr. Alfonso Patiño (Colombia) was elected President of the Council; Mr. Walker (Australia) was elected First Vice-President; and Mr. Hajek (Czechoslovakia) was elected Second Vice-President. The Council adopted its agenda without discussion.

The World Bank announced on March 14, 1963, that it had made a loan equivalent to $13,250,000 to help finance a program to rehabilitate and modernize the two principal railway systems in Peru. The railways were an important element in Peru's transportation system, particularly for the movement of minerals, petroleum, and bulk merchandise, and their efficient operation was essential to the country's economic growth. Under the program, diesel locomotives would be put into use, carrying capacity increased, and tracks improved, thereby enabling the railways to reduce transportation costs and to provide more efficient service. The loan was made to the Peruvian Corporation Limited, a private company which owned and operated the railways, and was guaranteed by the Peruvian government. The total cost of the program, which was scheduled for completion in 1965, was estimated at the equivalent of $21.3 million, of which $19.5 million was in foreign exchange and would be covered in part by the Bank loan. The loan was for a term of sixteen years, and amortization was to begin in December 1967.

During the period March 22, 1963–June 12, 1963, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) made agreements with the governments of five countries establishing the initial par values of their currencies. The agreements were as follows: 1) one Liberian dollar per United States dollar; 2) 0.347543 Nigerian pounds per United States dollar; 3) one Somali shilling equivalent to 0.14 United States dollars; and 4) 45 Afghanistan afghanis per United States dollar.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held its twelfth General Conference in Paris from November 9 to December 12, 1962, under the presidency of Mr. Paulo de Berrêdo Carneiro (Brazil). One of the Conference's first actions was to elect for a six-year term as Director-General Mr. René Maheu (France), who had served as Acting Director-General since the resignation of Dr. Vittorino Veronese (Italy) in 1961.

The fifteenth session of the Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) was held in Geneva from May 8 to 25, 1962, under the presidency of Dr. S. V. Kurashov (Minister of Health of the Soviet Union). The Assembly approved an effective working budget of $29,956,000 for 1963, representing an increase of $5,092,200 over the figure for 1962.

The ANZUS Council met in Wellington, New Zealand, on June 5–6, 1963. In reviewing the course of East-West developments during the past year, particularly those affecting the Pacific area, the Ministers noted with concern the Communists Chinese aggression against India and the continuing threat against that country, the renewal of fighting in Laos, and the persisting communist assault in South Vietnam.

The second meeting of the Caribbean Council was held in March 1962 in British Guiana. The Coulcil approved the immediate establishment within the secretariat of a clearinghouse for the exchange of information on trade and tourism between member countries.

The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) held its seventeenth session in Bucharest on December 74–20, 1962, attended by delegates from Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, and the Soviet Union. A communiqué stated that a permanent currency and finance commission had been set up under the Council to develop cooperation in those fields among COMECON member countries, that international specialization and “socialist division of labor” among members had increased, and that during the first nine months of 7962 over-all trade among member countries had risen by 15 percent and trade in machinery and industrial equipment by 24 percent. The communiqué noted that the COMECON countries were now largely self-sufficient in certain raw materials, manufactures, etc., notably lignite, hard coal, oil and oil products, fertilizers, grain, machinery and industrial equipment, and timber.

The Addis Ababa Conference of Independent African States was held on May 22–25, 1963, and was attended by the heads of state of 30 African countries. The Conference adopted six resolutions and a Charter to establish an organization to be known as the Organization of African Unity (OAU).

Provisional Organ of Consultation: The Organization of American States (OAS) Council met on April 28, 1963, acting as the Provisional Organ of Consultation under the terms of Article 6 of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty), to discuss the tense situation existing between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The immediate cause of the situation was cited as the alleged Haitian violations of the premises of the Dominican Embassy in Port-au-Prince. These violations were denied by the government of Haiti. The Provisional Organ of Consultation authorized the Chairman to appoint a five-man fact-finding committee to visit the scene and submit a report. It also resolved to request the two governments involved to guarantee fully that they would abstain from taking any act susceptible of aggravating the situation between them or that might breach the international peace.

The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) Council held its eighth meeting in Paris from April 8 to 10, 1963, under the chairmanship of Mr. Maurice Couve de Murville, Minister of Foreign Affairs of France. According to the communiqué released at the close of the meeting, the Council discussed the situation in Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Ministers noted that considerable progress had been achieved in the fight against subversion in Vietnam and that one might expect a new improvement in the situation thanks to the efforts made by the Vietnamese government. It was hoped that South Vietnam, with the support given to it, would be in a position to maintain its advance toward internal stability and international security. The Council reiterated its support for a neutral and independent Laos and took note of the deployment of troops from some member countries in Thailand in May 1962.

A meeting of ministers responsible for international trade of the contracting parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was held in Geneva from May 16 to May 21, 1963. During the meeting theministers adopted conclusions and resolutions on three agenda items: 1) measures for the expansion of trade of developing countries as a means of furthering their economic development; 2) arrangements for the reduction or elimination of tariffs and other barriers to trade, and related matters; and 3) measures for access to markets for agricultural and other primary products.