ning and operation of special health projects; and (4) participation in and promotion of prompt reporting of existence of quarantinable disease. The Organization participates in the work of the World Health Organization by serving as regional office of that Organization in the Western Hemisphere.

Governing body: The Executive Committee is composed of nine members elected by the Directing Council or the Conference every fourth year, for overlapping terms of three years, two seats being filled in each of two successive years and three every third year. No member is eligible for immediate reelection. The Committee at the present time is composed of representatives of Barbados, El Salvador, Canada, Brazil, United States, Guyana, Honduras, Peru, and Venezuela.

6. Pan American Institute of Geography and History

Ex-Arzobispado 29, Mexico 18, D.F.

Origin and development: The Pan American Institute of Geography and History was created pursuant to a resolution of the Sixth International Conference of American States at Havana in 1928. This resolution was the culmination of proposals which had originally been made as early as 1903 and stemmed particularly from two related resolutions adopted by the Third Pan American Scientific Conference at Lima, in 1924, recommending that a Pan American Federation of Geographical Societies be constituted and that an Institute of Oceanography and Cartography be founded.

On January 12, 1949, the Institute entered into an agreement with the Organization of American States whereby it became an interAmerican specialized organization.

Initial date of U.S. participation: 1935.

Current authority for U.S. participation: 49 Stat. 512 (1935), as amended, 22 U.S.C., § 273.

Purpose of organization: The purpose of the Institute is (1) to develop, coordinate, and disseminate geographic, historical, and related scientific studies, and to initiate and execute investigations and activities pertaining thereto which the member states may request and (2) to promote cooperation between the geographic and historical institutes of the member states and other American organizations operating in these fields. It carries out this work through four committees: one in the field of cartography, one in geography, one in history, and one in geophysics.

Governing body: The Directing Council is made

chaimade up of representatives of all member states, usually the chairmen of the respective national sections.

Membership (1972):

H. THE SPECIAL AGENCIES AND COMMISSIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES

The Special Agencies and Commissions of the OAS maintain an independent status within the Organization or enjoy technical and administrative autonomy, and collaborate with the major organs of the OAS to achieve specific objectives within established fields of common interest to the American Republics. There are four such agencies and commissions currently in existence.

Sources for Special Agencies and Commissions of the OAS: Department of State, Bureau of Inter-American Affairs, Permanent Mission of the United States to the Organization of American States.

(64)

1. Inter-American Defense Board

2600 16th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

Origin and development: Established March 30, 1942, at Washington, D.C., in compliance with a resolution of the Third Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the American Republies, held in Rio de Janeiro in January of that year. Reorganized in 1949 in accordance with a resolution of the Ninth International Conference of American States, which provided that the Board would continue its functions until such time as the American Governments, two-thirds majority, were to decide to abolish the Board.

Initial date of U.S. participation: March 30, 1942.

Current authority for U.S. participation: Resolutions VII and XXXIV of the Ninth International Conference of American States (Bogotá, March 30-May 2, 1948).

Purpose of organization: To study and recommend to the Governments of the American States the measures necessary for the collective self-defense of the hemisphere against aggression. The Board's principal regular activity is to prepare and maintain a General Military Plan and its several annexes-the only multinational plan which establishes the bases for military cooperation and coordination within the hemisphere. It also directs the Inter-American Defense College, which provides advanced training to selected military personnel from member countries at its Ft. McNair campus, Washington, D.C.

Governing body: Council of Delegates of the IADB, composed of delegations of officers of the armed forces appointed by the various Governments of the American States.

Membership: All members of the OAS except present government of

Cuba.

(65)

2. Inter-American Statistical Institute

1725 I Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

Origin and Development: On the basis of organizational efforts laid at the Eighth American Scientific Congress held in Washington, D.C., in May of 1940, the Inter-American Statistical Institute was founded on May 12, 1940.

By agreement between the Organization of American States and the Institute, effective July 1, 1950, IASI assumed the status of an "inter-American technical organization coordinated with OAS." This status which has no parallel in the Inter-American system, provides: (a) IASI retains its technical autonomy; (b) the OAS Secretariat, through its Department of Statistics provides Secretariat services to IASI; (c) the Secretary General of IASI, who at the same time is the Director of the Department of Statistics in the OAS, is selected by the OAS Secretary General in consultation with the IASI Executive Committee; (d) the budget for the IASI Secretariat is included within the OAS budget; and (e) the annual contribution by the governments for the support of IASI is included by member. governments of the OAS in their quota payments, and in the case of the Canadian Government is paid directly to IASI.

Initial date of U.S. participation: January 27, 1942.

Current authority for U.S. Participation: Charter of the Organization of American States, April 30, 1948, 2 UST 2394, TIAS 2361. Purpose of organization: The Inter-American Statistical Institute is a professional organization whose main purpose is to foster statistical development in the Western Hemisphere. Membership is composed of both individuals and organizations. Individual members may be constituent or ex officio. Constituent members, limited to 15 from any one country, are elected on the basis of professional achievement and capacity.

Ex Officio members are the occupants of responsible statistical posts. Institutional members are of three kinds: Adhering, limited to governments of the Western Hemisphere (presently OAS members and Canada); affiliated, agencies or institutions engaged in statistical work; and sponsoring, available to business firms.

Governing Body: Although there is a General Assembly which meets every two to four years, the principal directive body of the Institute is the Executive Committee. It consists of a President and four Vice Presidents elected in succeeding order from the constituent (i.e., non-government) members.

Membership, 1972: 558, composed of the following: 24 governments, 24 affiliated institutions, and 510 individual members.

(66)