713 



The final solution to the question of China's financial obligation 

 to "\^TH[0 was not worked out until the meeting of the Sixth Assembly 

 ( 1954) . Calderwood says : 



The practice followed at the Sixtli Assembly in r-egard to the 

 question of China's financial obligations is illustrative of the 

 Assembly's attitude in dealing with almost every controversial 

 issue, particularly one having a political aspect. The resolu- 

 tion which was finally accepted was the product of many in- 

 formal conversations and meetings. Representatives of the 

 Republic of China were consulted at various stages of these 

 conversations, largely arranged on its behalf by representa- 

 tives of States friendly to the Government in Formosa. The 

 Secretariat wa^ consulted as to the feasibility of sue:o:ested 

 courses of action under consideration. These were also dis- 

 cussed with representatives of the Members that had recog- 

 nized the People's Republic of China, with a view to finding 

 a solution acceptable to a substantial majority of the 

 Assembly.'^ 



Calderwood does not note that by the time of the Sixth Assembly 

 the number of Members present that had recognized the People's 

 Republic of China was somewhat limited l)ecause of the prior with- 

 drawal of the Eastern European States. Tlie politics of the situation 

 was kept in hand because of their temporary absence. 



On the whole, WHO has dealt successfully with politically moti- 

 vated proposals or proposals with distinct political connotations. 

 Although some of these have been resolved for the time being they are 

 likely to reappear. Some of these will have to do with the credentials 

 of the Chinese Delegation, the Arab-Israeli dispute, suspension of cer- 

 tain rights of South Africa and Portugal, radiation, nuclear testing, 

 and disarmament. At the Twentieth World Health Assembly the 

 United States and 39 other Members abstained on a vote in plenary 

 session urging IVIembers of the UN to implement a resolution of the 

 General Assembly with respect to the use of poisonous and other gases. 

 The United States had argued in Committee that the World Health 

 Assembly was not the proper forum for resolution of this issue.*"' 



CONSENSUS VERSUS REGUL.VTION ON PHARMACEUTICAL QUESTIONS 



•ilk 



The questions of drug safety, well within the domain of considera- 

 tion by WHO, though non-political are controversial. Resolutions to 

 warn countries about the use of "wonder dru^,'' ^' and narcotic and 

 psychotropic drugs ^^ have met with little resistance. However, as in 

 the United States, resolutions which have become controversial 

 invohed the establishment of an international system for monitoring 

 the adverse side efi'ects of drugs, drug efficacy,''^ quality of drugs,-* and 

 ]5harmaceutical advertising.*^ 



^9 Ibid., page 30. 



8" Twentieth World Health Assembly, Resolution No. 54. In "Handboolv of Resolutions." 

 (Eighth Edition. 1948-1967.) 



^ Fifth World Health Assembly, Resolution No. 76, In Ibid. 



s2 Eighteenth World Health Assembly, Resolution 47 and Twentieth World Health Assem- 

 bly Resolution 43. In Ibid. 



S3 Fifteenth World Health Assembly, Resolution 41 : Sixteenth World Health Assemtilv. 

 Resolution 36. Tv,entleth World Health Assembly, Resolution 51. and Twentv-third World 

 Health Assembly. Resolution 13.. In Ibid. 



8* Twenty-first World Health Assemblv, Resolution 41, In Ibid. 



^ Twelfth World Health Assembly, Resolution 3S. Twentieth World Health Assemblv 

 Resolution 34, Twentieth World Health Assembly, Resolution 51, and Twenty-third 

 \\ orlii Health Assembly, Resolution 13. In Ibid. 



