Following is brief survey of how Australian policy has developed
at San Francisco Conference.

Australia submitted a number of detailed amendments to Dumbarton
Oaks text. In general terms these are designed to:-

(1) prevent possibility of a single great Power vetoing amendments
to constitution providing such amendment is twice approved by two-
thirds majority of General Assembly including three permanent
members of Security Council.

(2) exclude 'veto' of permanent members from all arrangements
relating to peaceful settlement of disputes and confine 'veto' to
decisions involving enforcement action.

(3) require a pledge from all members to respect territorial
integrity and political independence of other members.

(4) declare that justice and the rule of law shall be principles
guiding action of Security Council and for this purpose to require
maximum employment of Permanent Court in determining legal aspects
of International disputes.

(5) to see that Security Council is in fact composed of 'security'
Powers, i.e. powers which by their past military contribution to
cause of world security, have proved able and willing to assume
substantial security responsibilities, or which, by virtue of
their geographical position, are able to make substantial
contribution to maintenance of international peace and security.

(6) require members to pledge themselves to take action both
national and international for purpose of securing for all peoples
improved labor standards, economic advancement, employment for all
and social security, and as part of that pledge to take
appropriate action through the Assembly, the Economic and Social
Council and the I.L.O. and, in particular, to make regular reports
to the Assembly as to what they have actually done to carry out
the pledge.

(7) elevate the Economic Council into a principal organ, give it
under the General Assembly specific new functions, including power
to initiate action for making of international conventions on all
matters not being dealt with by other specialised agencies.

(8) give General Assembly wider jurisdiction over, and fuller
share in, general work of the organisation and in particular vest
Assembly with power to prevent situations and disputes from
becoming 'frozen' in Security Council.

(9) lay down principle that purpose of administration of all
dependent territories is welfare and development of native
peoples, and place obligation on nations controlling particular
dependent territories to report regularly to advisory body.

Trusteeship
Most important points in Australian proposals are:-

(1) The principle of trusteeship should be recognised by all
members of the United Nations responsible for administration of
dependent areas.

(2) An expert commission with advisory functions should be
established by or under authority of General Assembly. Commission
would receive reports and keep United Nations informed as to
welfare and development of peoples of territories concerned.

(3) The territories to which accountability system would apply
should be declared either by voluntary action of member
administering territory or by General Assembly, after
consideration of recommendations of a conference or conferences,
specially convened by United Nations, of members responsible for
administration of dependent territories. Bases or strategic areas
of special importance may be exempted by General Assembly on
recommendation of Security Council.

(4) Military restrictions in existing mandates may be removed by
the General Assembly on recommendation of Security Council where
prejudicial to security of mandated territory or of United
Nations.

Regional Security
Dr. Evatt has objected to Dumbarton Oaks provision whereby anyone
of the five great Powers could prevent enforcement action by a
regional security agency. Australian amendments propose (a) that
in authorizing action by regional agencies Security Council should
decide by affirmative vote of seven including three permanent
members and (b) that if Security Council does not itself act or
authorize regional action then parties to any regional arrangement
consistent with the Charter shall have freedom of action to
maintain or restore peace. Dr. Evatt has strongly stressed need,
however, for Security Council to retain primary control over
regional enforcement action.

An important sub-committee of conference agreed on a formula which
adopted chief features of Australian proposals.

Security Council
Objective of Australian amendment (No. 5. above) has been
successfully met in principle by sponsoring Powers amendment along
similar lines. Dr. Evatt's case for Amendment No. 2. above has won
considerable support.

General Assembly
Australian amendment (No. 8. above) has been favourably received
and met in part by similar Big Five amendment. Conference
Committees approved our proposal that 'full employment' be made
one of United Nations objectives and that Economic and Social
Council be made a principal organ.