Annex V
THE "LAHORE CONVENTION"
The following is an extract from the report of Econo- mic Commission for Asia and the Far East (seventh session), held at Lahore, Pakistan, from 28 February to 7 March 1951 (E/1981) generally known as the "Lahore Convention":
"340. One of the most satisfactory features of the Commission's working has been the substantial mea- sure of agreement behind all decisions and recom- mendations. Decisions on all major economic issues have been taken either unanimously or by an over- whelming majority of votes. General agreement on all economic problems has characterized the working not only of the Commission itself but also of the committees and other subsidiary bodies functioning under it in which the associate member countries have voting rights, and as a rule the decisions of these bodies have been adopted with but slight, if any, modification by the Commission.
"341. In effect, therefore, countries within the re- gion, both members and associate members, have been taking their own decisions in the formulation of which the presence, co-operation and advice of
countries outside the geographical scope of the Com- mission have been most welcome. Member govern- ments feel, however, that the time has come when clearer recognition should be given to the principle that member countries belonging to the region should take their own decisions in the Commission on their own economic problems; and that in doing so they should take full account of the views of the associate members in the region, to be ascertained when not known by referring any specific resolution to a Com- mittee. In pursuance of this principle the member countries of the Commission not in the region* would be willing, as a general rule, to refrain from using their votes in opposition to economic proposals predominantly concerning the region which had the support of a majority of the countries of the region. The Commission does not consider a more formal expression of this conclusion to be necessary and notes with satisfaction that all members are agreed on the principle which governs their co-operation."
Member countries not in the region, at that time, were Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America.
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