U.N. Salaries
Sm.—Janus suggests that the level of salaries paid to British nationals who 'are members of the Unesco staff should- be challenged in the next Ministry of Education estimates. I am uncertain what proportion of Unesco's 1950 budget of $8 millions was borne by the U.S.A., but the American contribution to the budget of the U.N. itself is some 39 per Zent.—an immense proportion of the cost of an organisation comprising sixty States. Since the headquarters of the U.N. are in America, the level of 'remuneration of staff must obviously be one which compares not un- favourably with that prevailing locally for work demanding comparable 'qualifications. Thus the rate for the job throughout the U.N. and its agencies is based on American standards, and by far the heaviest pro- Jortion of the cost is borne by American tax-payers. --In theie circum- tanoes, does Janus believe that it is desirable or practicable to reduce ',the general level of U.N. remuneration (What would be the effect on U.S. nationals?) or would he have the reduction apply to British nationals only?, Janus is, of course, aware of the immensely higher cost of living, hs compared with that in the U.K., prevailing -in the various countries [where the U.N. and its agencies are situated. No doubt he is also aware that most of the appointments are in the nature of short-term
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