REPORT OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ON REFUGEES AND
CONSIDERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE
ORGANISATION (IRO)
1. The Economic and Social Council, with the dissent of the
U.S.S.R., Ukraine and Yugoslavia, at its third meeting adopted a
revised draft constitution for the proposed I.R.O. [1]

2. The main results arising from the Council's discussions were-
(a) A scaling down of the budget estimate for the first year from
approximately $250m. to $150m.

(b) Deferment of any scale of contributions pending consideration
by the General Assembly of the Report of the Committee on
Contributions of the United Nations.

(c) An offer by the governments of the United States and United
Kingdom to contribute nearly three-quarters of the revised first
year budget of approximately $150m. (Press report of 7th October).

(d) Continuing political differences as between the countries of
origin and others concerning the definition of refugees and
displaced persons and related questions.

3. On October 2nd, prior to receipt of information as to the above
budgetary changes, an Inter-departmental Meeting of
representatives of External Affairs, Treasury, Immigration and
Post War Reconstruction agreed to submit a joint agendum to
Cabinet on the question of Australian participation in the IRO. At
this meeting differing views were expressed by the Departments of
the Treasury and External Affairs as to the merits of Australian
participation in the IRO [2] and it was agreed that these views
would be set out in the joint agendum. [3] The agendum, is now
under discussion with Treasury and it is not yet known whether
they wish, in the light of the above budgetary reductions, to
press their objections to Australian participation.

4. For your information and any directions you may wish to give a
submission concerning Australian participation in the IRO is
attached . [4]