§ 58. Mr. R. Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether 26W he will urge on the United Nations that all contracts for building and equipment in connection with the United Nations' headquarters in New York should be open to nationals of all member nations on a competitive basis; and why he has not previously taken steps to assure the adoption of this principle.
§ Mr. YoungerWe have always urged, and are continuing to urge, that the provisions of materials, equipment and furnishings for the United Nations headquarters should be open to the nationals of all member nations on a competitive basis and that as large a proportion as possible should he sought on a competitive basis from soft currency areas. As to the actual construction of the buildings, it was agreed by the Headquarters Advisory Committee, upon which we are represented, that for reasons of efficiency and economy the Secretary-General should if possible conclude one contract with one of the large construction firms in the New York area. The contracts for the Secretariat Building and the Meeting Hall area have been so placed, and I understand that the contractors who are responsible for inviting tenders for building materials have invited them from soft currency areas. We are, however, carefully examining the present system of allocating contracts in order to satisfy ourselves that in the prevailing circumstances every reasonable opportunity is offered for foreign firms to participate.