115. Editorial Note
On April 20, the Group of Four published its report calling for the establishment of an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and full membership in this organization by the United States and Canada. Representatives of the 20 OEEC nations met in Paris May 21–25 to discuss the Group of Four’s proposals. At this meeting, the decision was taken to establish a commission to draft a convention for the new organization. The commission’s work was reviewed by the Ministers representing the OEEC nations at a special meeting called in conjunction with the regular OEEC Ministerial session in Paris July 22–23. The Ministers agreed on the outline presented to them for a draft convention and established a “Preparatory Commission” (PrepCom) to complete final drafting of the OECD agreement by November. U.S. proposals for the inclusion within the OECD structure of a trade committee and of the Developmental Assistance Group were also approved. Thorkil Kirstensen was appointed Secretary General of the OEEC and Secretary General-designate of the OECD with instructions to coordinate the transition from the old organization to the new of existing properties and holdings and overall supervision of the PrepCom’s work. Under Secretary of State C. Douglas Dillon headed the U.S. Delegation to the Paris OEEC and OECD meetings. Documentation on Dillon’s participation in the Paris meetings is in Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 64 D 559, CF 1725. In addition, Dillon commented on the results of the conference in a speech to the Inter-American Economic and Social Council of the Organization of American States meeting in Washington on July 27. Dillon’s speech is ibid., EUR/RPE Files: Lot 68 D 29, OECD Non-Members.