New Zealand today became the twelfth nation to join the International Refugee Organization when Walter Nash, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the New Zealand delegation to the Economic and Social Council, signed the I.R.O. constitution.
New Zealand has been allotted 0.44 percent of the $151,060,500 first-year operational budget of the I.R.O. Since Mr. Nash’s signature was without reservation, the New Zealand Government has definitely committed itself to contributing its share of $664,666.
The only other country which has so far undertaken a definite commitment is the United Kingdom, with an allotted share of 14.75 percent. A further 55.15 percent has been subscribed, subject to approval, by the United States, Canada, France, The Netherlanda, Norway, the Dominican Republic, the Philippine Republic, Honduras, Guatemala and Liberia. The United States’ contribution of 45.75 percent, amounting to about $75,000,000, was recently approved by the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and now awaits further legislative procedure.
The I.R.O. constitution will, by its own provisions, come into force when 15 states have unconditionally subscribed 75 percent of the first year operational budget.
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