At the Seventh Session of the Economic and Social Council, elections will be held to fill vacancies on the following functional Commissions of the Council: Eco nomic and Employment, Transport and Communications, Human Rights, Status of Women, Fiscal, Statistical, Social, and Population.

You will recall that at the Third Session of the Economic and Social Council in 1946, elections were first held for membership to the functional Commissions of the Economic and Social Council. The term of office for Members of all Commissions is three years. However, for the initial period, one-third of the Members were elected to serve for two years, one-third for three years and one-third for four years. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs is an exception, for its initial Members were all elected for three years. On that occasion, Canada was elected to serve for three years on the Statistical Commission, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the Population Commission, and for four years on the Social Commission. Consequently, the elections to be held at the Seventh Session of the Economic and Social Council will take place while Canada is still a member of those Commissions to which it was elected in 1946. For this reason, it might not be appropriate for us to seek election to any additional Commissions.⁷⁶

It is likely, however, that the Canadian Delegation will be asked whether Canada is willing to accept membership on any of the Commissions for which elections will be held. In view of our continuing membership on four Commissions of the Council, I should be grateful for your advice as to whether the Delegation should at this time accept membership on any additional Commissions of the Council.⁷⁷

A communication has been received from the Indian Representative to the United Nations requesting Canadian support for India's re-election to the Transport and Communications Commission and the Fiscal Commission, and its candidature for membership on the Social Commission. A similar request has been received from the High Commissioner for South Africa concerning the re-election of South Africa to the Social Commission, It is proposed, if you agree, to advise Mr. Wilgress of these communications and to instruct him to use his own judgment concerning them.⁷⁷

L.R. PEARSON

⁷⁷Notes marginales par Saint-Laurent, le 21 juillet :1St. Laurent wrote the marginal notes in this document on July 21:
I agree

⁷⁸ I do not think we should

⁷⁹ I agree