Having received the special report of the United Nations Command of 18 October 1952 on ‘the present status of military action and armistice negotiations in Korea’ and other relevant reports relating to Korea,

Noting with approval the considerable progress towards an armistice made by negotiation at Panmunjom and the tentative agreements to end the fighting in Korea and to reach a settlement of the Korean question,

The first report of the Commonwealth Consultative Committee for South and Southeast Asia (the Colombo Plan) was released in May 1952. The Korean conflict, it was noted, had had the short-term effect of improving the balance of trade of countries in the area through increasing volume and prices of exports. As a result, the trade deficits expected when the original plans were drawn up, turned out to be surpluses; increased volume of public revenue had enabled governments to spend more on development projects, in some cases financed wholly from their own resources. Expenditures of the first year of the plan had been appreciably greater than in 1950–1951. Since the end of 1951, however, economic conditions had again changed. Terms of trade were less favorable with a decline in export prices for raw materials. Government contributions for 1952–1953, therefore, were expected to be smaller than in 1951–1952. At the same time, planned expenditures for 1952–1953 were greater than before, due partly to increased costs and partly to additional projects. Unless conditions became “very adverse”, there was a “reasonable expectation” that next year's program would be successfully completed; finances were expected to come from accumulated budget surpluses, internal loans, increased private savings, private foreign investments and loans from other governments and from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. As for future years, the report noted that success would depend in part on the determination of the countries involved, careful planning of projects, continuance of the cooperative spirit in which the plan was begun, and technical and capital assistance.

Desiring to implement the principle of equality of rights for men and women contained in the Charter of the United Nations,

Recognizing that everyone has the right to take part in the government ofhis country directly or through freely chosen representatives, and has the right to equal access to public service in his country, and desiring to equalize the status of men and women in the enjoyment and exercise of political rights, in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

At a meeting of the Danube Commission in December 1951, a Soviet proposal that only states whose vessels were directly involved in an accident on the Danube should take part in its investigation was approved. Yugoslavia objected to the proposal as a violation of the sovereign rights of the riparian states which, Yugoslavia felt, should investigate any accident which occurred in its territory. At a further meeting of the commission at Galatz, Rumania, in July 1952, a commission was set up to examine a Yugoslav proposal toamend the rules of procedure and the Statute. A Yugoslav motion that this commission report to the next session of the commission in December 1952, was rejected; no date was set for further action on the Yugoslav resolution. The Yugoslav delegate (Djurich) maintained that, at present, the commission was not independent but was controlled by the Soviet Union; the purpose of his government's resolution, he continued, would be to make the organization more representative.

Desiring to implement the right of their peoples to be fully and reliably informed,

Desiring to improve understanding between their peoples through the free flow of information and opinion,

The second annual meeting of the International Commission for Northwest Atlantic Fisheries met at St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada, June 30–July 9, 1952. Among the matters considered by the commission were a review of the activities of the organization since the first meeting in April 1951, permanent headquarters for die organization, election of a new chairman and executive secretary, the 1952–1953 budget, and the composition of the five sub-areas into which the commission area was divided. In addition, the commission considered recommendations formulated at a meeting of members of sub-area V held in Ottawa on February 26, 1952. The United States and Canada, who comprised the sub-area adjacent to the New England coast, recommended that the commission 1) instruct the Research and Statistics Committee to make a detailed study of all fish resources falling within the purview of the commission; 2) consider a proposed regulation for haddock fishing, including a proposal to increase the average mesh size of nets used in fishing for haddock off the New England coast; and 3) call the attention of interested governments to a recommended research program concerning haddock.

The second annual meeting of the International Commission for Northwest Atlantic Fisheries met at St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada, June 30–July 9, 1952. Among the matters considered by the commission were a review of the activities of the organization since the first meeting in April 1951, permanent headquarters for the organization, election of a new chairman and executive secretary, the 1952–1953 budget, and the composition of the five sub-areas into which the commission area was divided. In addition, the commission considered recommendations formulated at a meeting of members of sub-area V held in Ottawa on February 26, 1952. The United States and Canada, who comprised the sub-area adjacent to the New England coast, recommended that the commission 1) instruct the Research and Statistics Committee to make a detailed study of all fish resources falling within the purview of the commission; 2) consider a proposed regulation for haddock fishing, including a proposal to increase the average mesh size of nets used in fishing for haddock off the New England coast; and 3) call the attention of interested governments to a recommended research program concerning haddock.

A meeting of a committee of the International Sugar Council was scheduled to open in London, September 29, 1952. The major question to be considered by the committee was the distribution of the world's sugar supply, in particular, the surplus accumulated in Cuba as a result of a record harvest. Many members of the organization were said to feel that a general reassessment of the marketing methods of sugar was needed in view of changed conditions of production. Some delegates were reported to favor asking the United Nations to convene a world sugar conference; it was pointed out that the principal obstacle to successful distribution of the world sugar supply was the lack of international convertibility of currencies. France, Belgium, Netherlands, United Kingdom, German Federal Republic, Peru, Haiti, Cuba, United States, and Indonesia were expected to send delegates to the meeting while observers were expected from Brazil, Mexico, Poland and Czechoslovakia.

The eighth session of the International Wheat Council met in London on April 17, 1952. The principal question of the session was the possible extension of the International Wheat Agreement beyond its expiration date of July 1,1953. Amendments necessary to make extension generally acceptable to all members were considered. The Council established a Recommendations Committee to study questions relating to price structures and drafting problems.

The eighth session of the International Wheat Council met in London on April 17, 1952. The principal question of the session was the possible extension of the International Wheat Agreement beyond its expiration date of July 1, 1953. Amendments necessary to make extension generally acceptable to all members were considered. The Council established a Recommendations Committee to study questions relating to price structures and drafting problems.

The ninth meeting of the Rubber Study Group, held in Ottawa, May 5–9, 1952, was attended by delegations from eighteen countries and territories and observers from the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Organization for European Economic Cooperation, the Organization of American States and the International Rubber Development Committee. Meeting under the chairmanship of the head of the Canadian delegation (Plumptre), delegations exchanged information concerning policies and problems of member governments. A number of short- and long-term problems of special concern to member governments, the producing and manufacturing industries and the rubber trade were discussed and, where necessary, referred to governments for further consideration. Noting that many members of the group were concerned about the uncertainties of rubber production, consumption and price, the study group decided to establish a working party “to consider whether measures designed to prevent burdensome surpluses or serious shortages of rubber are necessary and practicable; to prepare drafts of any agreements required to implement such measures; and to report back to the study group as soon as possible.”