The Preparatory Commission of the United Nations was established by the San Francisco Conference on 25 June 1945 through the adoption of the "Interim Arrangements Concluded by the Governments Represented at the United Nations Conference on International Organization".
The Preparatory Commission was established to make practical arrangements for the transition from a proposal embodied in the Charter to a functioning organization. According to the document, the Commission:
- was established "for the purpose of making provisional arrangements for the first sessions of the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, and the Trusteeship Council, for the establishment of the Secretariat, and for the convening of the International Court of Justice"
- consisted of "one representative from each government signatory to the Charter"
- Executive Committee was composed of the representatives of the governments on the Executive Committee of the Conference
- was assigned several tasks, including among others:
- convocation of the first session of the General Assembly
- preparation of the agendas for the first sessions of the principal organs
- making recommendations regarding the "possible transfer of certain functions, activities, and assets of the League of Nations" to the United Nations
- making recommendations about the Secretariat and the location of the permanent headquarters
- met in London
- ceased to exist "upon the election of the Secretary-General" of the United Nations
Key Documents
Report of the Executive Committee to the Preparatory Commission
Report of the Preparatory Commission
- PC/20
- Includes, among others,
- recommendations, proposed agendas, and provisional rules of procedure for:
- General Assembly
- Security Council
- Economic and Social Council
- Trusteeship Council
- reports on matters related to the International Court of Justice
- recommendation concerning the registration and publication of treaties
- items related to privileges and immunities
- recommendations concerning
- the organization of the Secretariat and draft Staff Regulations and Staff Rules
- budgetary and financial arrangements
- the location of the headquarters
