As you know, the Technical Assistance Conference, at which participating governments are expected to announce the size of their contributions to the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance, is scheduled to open at Lake Success on the 16th of May. It is essential, we believe, for the success of the Conference that the United States representative should be in a position to state what the United States contribution will be. For this reason and, in view of the uncertainties now attending Congressional action on this subject, we think that consideration should be given to postponing the date of the Conference unless it is clear, at least a week in advance, that the United States contribution will have been finally fixed by the time the Conference opens. Our idea was that the Secretariat might wait until perhaps the 9th of May before corning to a decision. However, if by then it seemed virtually certain that an appropriation would not have been authorized by Congress before the 16th, the Conference should be postponed. This should not cause too much inconvenience, since we understand that most countries will be represented by members of their permanent delegations in New York.

2. We have instructed Mr. Holmes to explore this suggestion with the Secretariat. He has now reported that the Secretariat still profess to be confident that a Congressional decision will be reached in time. Should this, on review in the first week of May, appear to be a false assumption, the Secretariat would again consider whether the Conference should be held as scheduled. The member of the Secretariat with whom Holmes spoke did not say definitely that the Secretariat would postpone the Conference if it looked doubtful by that time that the United States contribution would be fixed; he promised merely that the decision to hold the Conference would be reconsidered.

3. We have also learned that the United Kingdom delegation in New York, like ourselves, have been worried about holding the Conference before Congress has reached a decision, and intend to suggest to Sir Sidney Caine⁸⁹ that he speak to Willard Thorp⁹⁰ and suggest postponement. We should be grateful if you would also discuss with Thorp the possibility of postponing the Conference. You might perhaps wish to consult with Caine before doing so.

4. You might like to know for your own information that we are now disposed to recommend to Cabinet "that the Canadian Government authorize the contribution of not more than $1,000,000 to the Expanded Programme for Technical Assistance of the United Nations, the exact amount of this contribution to be determined when the President announces the amount of the United States contribution, the Canadian contribution to be related to that of the United States in the ratio of 1:16". The reason for our proceeding in this way is that we have come to the conclusion that we will not be able to command the support of the Department of Finance in this matter (which is vital) unless the proposed Canadian contribution is tied rigidly to whatever contribution is made by the United States. The chief disadvantage, of course, of such a recommendation to Cabinet is that, if the Technical Assistance Conference is held on the 16th of May and if a United States contribution has not been decided by that time, it will be impossible for our representative to announce a Canadian contribution. In speaking to Thorp you should not disclose the exact nature of the recommendation now being considered here; but it would be proper for you to stress what he no doubt knows already, that the size of the Canadian contribution will inevitably be related to the amount which the United States makes available.

⁸⁹Sir Sydney Caine, représentant suppléant du Royaume Uni auprès du Conseil économique et social. Sir Sydney Caine, Alternate Representative of United Kingdom to the Economic and Social Council.

⁹⁰Willard Thorpe, représentant ties hats Unis auprès du Conseil économique et social.
Willard Thorpe, Representative of United States to the Economic and Social Council.