A SURVEY of the technical assistance available for economic development in the United Nations and the Specialized Agencies has been prepared by the secretariat for the second session of the Sub-Commission on Economic Development of the Economic and Employment Commission (London : H.M. Stationery Office. United Nations, E/CN. I/Sub. 3/22. June 2, 1948). Its immediate purpose is to facilitate examination of provisions currently being made for such assistance to members of the United Nations in their programmes of economic development, and particularly to assist the Sub-Commission in considering measuies for increasing the availability and effectiveness of such technical assistance. Its scope is limited to those activities, excluding the provision of funds and relief supplies, which are designed to assist economic development ; provisions for technical assistance in the sphere of social welfare are not described in detail. The Survey gives a very clear but concise account of the types of assistance available, including that in the form of research and information, as well as international training, panels and conferences ; and also of the sources of assistance. It then reviews in succession the various fields such as agriculture, forestry and forest products, fisheries, education and technical training, labour and employment, health, nutrition and safety, finance and currency, or statistics in which such assistance might be required. The Survey contains nothing that is new ; but gives a convenient and impressive picture of the elaborate and interlocking organisation for World co-operation which has already been built up, and which could be used if the will to do so were genuine and widespread.
