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,6. The matter of filling the twenty-first seat on the Council caused considerable controversy. There was a division of views. The United States, Canada, and the South American republics pressed for the seat to be filled, while the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and European countries were mainly desirous of leaving the way open for the U.S.S.R. to take the twenty-first seat if that country should decide to become a member State. After an extremely close vote in Sub-commission, a recommendation was presented to Commission 1 that the vacant seat be left open. Again, in full Commission, the division was clearly defined, and discussion continued •along similar lines to that in the Sub-commission. The Provisional Organization or the Council, however, had not made a direct specific approach to the U.S.S.R., since it had been felt that there had been ample time and opportunity for the Soviet Union to signify their intention to participate if they had so desired. By a vote of 15 to 14 the recommendation of the Sub-commission was rejected, and Commission 1 presented to the Assembly a resolution that the vacant seat should be filled forthwith. At the Plenary Meeting of the Assembly the same arguments were again advanced both for and •against the resolution, and by a vote of 20 to 18 the recommendation that the twentyfirst seat on the Council be filled was adopted. In a later secret ballot by the Assembly, Ireland was elected to fill the vacancy with very little opposition. 7. The other item on which New Zealand expressed special views was in connection with the selection of the permanent seat. Early discussions in Sub-commission were ■as to the legality and competency of this Conference to make such a decision. It was held by some member States that it was not necessarily the final Assembly of the Provisional Organization and, therefore, it was not proper for this Assembly to make such a decision. The Sub-commission, however, did finally resolve that the permanent seat should be selected, and Commission accordingly presented a resolution to that effect to the Assembly. The Assembly adopted the resolution and referred the matter back to Commission for recommendation as to procedure to be followed in selecting the permanent seat. At the final meeting of the Assembly the matter was decided by secret ballot, and by overwhelming majority Montreal, Canada, was selected as the site of the Permanent Organization. 8. Other items relating to participation of non-member States in PICAO activities, the maintenance of continuity of the Organization, and policy with respect to aid and financial assistance to member States were also discussed at length, and all resolutions •of Commission 1 in regard to these matters were adopted by the Assembly without comment. AIR NAVIGATION 9. Satisfaction was expressed with the work of technical Divisions in the development of recommendations for International Standards, Practices, and Procedures, concerning which it was not considered necessary at this time to take special steps to make them legally binding, as States were obliged under Article XIII of the Interim Agreement to apply them as rapidly as possible in their aviation activities. These recommended Standards, Practices, and Procedures, which were developed mainly from the Chicago technical Annexes, and cover such facilities as airworthiness, communications and radio aids, meteorology, aerodrome routes and ground aids, rules of the air and traffic control, aeronautical maps and charts, search and rescue, accident investigation, personnel licensing, and airline operating practices, were distributed to member States .as soon as the final reports of the technical Divisions were approved by the Council. Already there has been widespread evidence to show that member States, including New Zealand, are giving effect to their application as far as is presently practicable. 10. Some of the problems of international air transport, being regional in character, could best be solved by regional air navigation meetings, and this applies particularly to facilitating the widespread acceptance of Standards, Practices and Procedures, and to the co-ordination of all auxiliary services within the regional areas. Two such regional meetings have already been held, and others are scheduled. New Zealand

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