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DCER : Volume #15 - 223.PCONol. 113 : UNITED NATIONS FELLOWSHIPS UNDER A PROGRAMME OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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Volume #15 - 223.

CHAPTER III

UNITED NATIONS

PART 3

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL AND SPECIALIZED AGENCIES

SECTION A

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

SUB-SECTION II

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

223.

PCONol. 113

Memorandum from Secretary of State for External Affairs
to Cabinet

Ottawa, May 5th, 1949

UNITED NATIONS FELLOWSHIPS UNDER A PROGRAMME OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Background
Resolution 200 (III), adopted by the General Assembly at the First Part of the Third Session, authorized the Secretary-General, among other things, to arrange for facilities for the training abroad of experts in under-developed countries through the provision of fellowships for study in countries which have reached a high level of technical development. The Secretary-General has now enquired whether the Canadian Government would be prepared to receive a small number of U.N. Fellows into the appropriate Departments of Government for short periods of technical training lasting from three to six months. The subjects included in the programme cover a wide range from medicine to statistical methods.

Considerations
1. Technical assistance in economic development has become a subject of rapidly increasing importance in the U.N. Point Four of President Truman's inaugural address, in which he indicated that the United States was prepared, through the U.N. and specialized agencies, to do much to make U.S. technological advances generally accessible, has intensified interest in the subject.

2. In view of this strong and continuing drive towards industrialization on the part of the "under-developed countries", it would be an obvious advantage to Canada that advanced students from these regions should become familiar with Canadian methods and equipment.

3. If a programme of this kind could be successfully worked out, it would be a genuine and valuable contribution to international understanding.

4. The Canadian Government would incur no financial obligation by co-operating in the project, since the expenses would be borne jointly by the U.N, and the governments which nominate Fellows.

5. Officers of the Departments which deal with the various types of technical work in question have been consulted and have indicated that it would be possible to make arrangements to receive a limited number of Fellows for short courses in technical training.

Recommendations

It is recommended:

1. That the Secretary-General be informed that the Canadian Government is prepared to co-operate in carrying out this programme;

2. that in view of the number of other Government agencies which would be concerned, including the Civil Service Commission, the Department of External Affairs should be responsible for the co-ordination of the necessary arrangements.72

A.D.P. HEENEY
for Secretary of State for External Affairs



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