The Economic and Social Council, one of the principal organs of the United Nations, will convene its 25th (spring) session at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York on April 16 for a three-week period. The Council is responsible, under the authority of the General Assembly, for the economic and social activities of the United Nations. It is required by the terms of Article 62 of the Charter to make or initiate studies, reports and recommendations on international economic, social, cultural, educational, health and related matters and to promote respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. Canada's third term on the Council will expire at the end of 1958.

The candidature of Dr.George Davidson, Deputy Minister of Welfare, for the office of President of the Council for 1958, has been made known to the eighteen members of the Council and assurances of support have been received from fifteen members. Since there is at present no other candidate for the office, it appears probable that Dr.Davidson will be elected to the Presidency by acclamation.

In planning its work, the Council's practice is to consider the rather more routine items, less likely to give rise to serious differences of opinion, at its spring sessions and to reserve the more important questions and the coordination and overall supervision of its programme for its summer session.

The agenda for the spring session of the Council accordingly is not a heavy one and contains no matters which are likely to call for major policy decisions by the Government. On the economic side, the Council will consider the reports of the International Monetary Fund, of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and reports prepared by the Secretariat of the United Nations on aspects of the Economic Development of Under-developed Countries, including organizational machinery in the field of industrialization and problems of water resources development. On the social side, the Council will consider the work of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), a programme to which Canada makes major contributions and supports strongly.

The Council will fulfill its annual task of renewing the membership of certain functional commissions and the Executive Board of UNICEF. It will also elect the membership of a new body, the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which is to replace the present Executive Committee for the United Nations Refugee Fund. Canada was a member of the latter body and will seek election to the new body.

The Council will also consider a recommendation made by the General Assembly to give early and favourable consideration to the establishment of an Economic Commission for Africa and will in all probability establish a special committee to report to its 26th session in July on the establishment and terms of reference for such a commission.

I shall refer to my colleagues any questions which arise during the session which appear to require instructions from the Cabinet. The nature of the agenda does not, it would appear, require that instructions from Cabinet to the Delegation should be provided in advance. There has been consultation between my Department and other Departments of government when necessary, and I shall instruct the Delegation in accordance with the agreed views of the Departments concerned.

The approval of Cabinet is requested for a delegation to the 25th session of the Economic and Social Council to be composed as follows:²⁷

Representative:

Dr. G.F. Davidson, Deputy Minister of Welfare

Alternate Representatives:

Mr. L.E. Couillard, Department of External Affairs
Mr. J.A. Irwin, Department of External Affairs

[SIDNEY E. SMITH]

²⁷ Le Cabinet a pris note des recommandations du ministre et approuvé la composition de la délégation canadienne le 9 avril 1958. Pour un rapport sur les points précis discutés à la 25 session, voir Ministère des Affaires extérieures, Le Canada et les Nations Unies, 1958 Ottawa, 1959), pp.35 à 58.
Cabinet noted the recommendations of the Minister and approved the composition of the Canadian delegation on April 9, 1958. For a report on specific items discussed at the 25th Session, see Department of External Affairs, Canada and the United Nations, 1958 (Ottawa, 1959), pp.35-58.