B Explanatory Memorandum by M. KRAFT
1. On 25th October 1956, the Assembly adopted Resolution 105, Article 3 of which provided that the work and function of the Committee on Population and Refugees should, as from the opening of the Ninth Session, be transferred to the Social Committee.
2. As a result of events in Hungary in October 1956, however, the refugee problem, which appeared to be on the way to being settled, took a turn for the worse. M. Pernot, former Chairman of the Committee on Population and Refugees, together with several Representatives to the Assembly therefore tabled on 29th April 1957, a motion for a Resolution to prolong theexistence of the Committee on Population and Refugees (
Doc. 652).
3. The Committee on Rules of Procedure considered this motion in the course of its meetings of 13th April and 16th October 1957. It took the view that, as a result of the turn of events since the adoption of Resolution 105, it was politically desirable to set up a new committee to deal with refugee problems.
4. Moreover, several members pointed out that general demographic questions, including trends of migration affecting Europe, also came within the Committee's terms of reference.
5. The Committee on Rules of Procedure unanimously, except for two votes, submits the above draft Resolution to the Assembly.
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