HC Deb 15 June 1956 vol 554 c51W
Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the attitude of Her Majesty's Government regarding the appointment of a new Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations Organisation.

Mr. Amory

Her Majesty's Government would favour a proposal, if made at the special meeting of the F.A.O. Council next week, that a special conference should not be convened this year to appoint a new Director-General, thereby leaving the Acting Director-General in post until the regular conference of the Organisation in the autumn of 1957. This would allow member Governments sufficient time to give mature consideration to the selection of the most suitable candidate for appointment to the very important post of Director-General of the Organisation.'

Her Majesty's Government's primary concern however is to support the Organisation in its constructive work. This, is best assured by the greatest possible measure of agreement amongst member countries, and if it were the general wish of the Council to convene a special conference in the autumn of this year for the selection and appointment of a new Director-General, Her Majesty's Government would not dissent.