The British delegation at the United Nations was today authorized by its government to sign the International Refugee Organization constitution. The Secretariat of the United Nations was informed that the authorization is now in the mail. The formal signing will take place in a few days.
The announcement contradicts a report from London published in the local press this morning that Britain was not likely to join the International Refugee Organization until United States adherence has been approved by Congress. It also blasted the gloom over the fate of the I.R.O. Great Britain is the tenth nation to sign. The Netherlands formally signed the I.R.O. constitution yesterday.
Before the organization can begin to function, 15 nations who will meet at least 75 percent of the I.R.O. operational budget of $151,000,000 must be signatories to the constitution. It is now certain that other nations which have been waiting for a British decision will also sign, bringing the total assessment to the required 75 percent. Although the signatures of most nations must be ratified by their governing bodies, as is the case with the United States, the organization may begin functioning before these ratifications.
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