History of the South Pacific
p. 107 · Read in the full issue
Commission
THE South Pacific Commission was formed in 1949 by Britain, United States, France, Australia, Nether* lands and New Zealand, at the instance of Dr. H. V. Evatt (then a prominent Socialist Minister in Australia) as a means of co-ordinating the thinking and the work of the six nations re sponsible for the living standard of the South Pacific natives.
It merely investigates, reports and recommends. It has no power of im plementation.
A fundamental error was made in placing the headquarters in Noumea.
But that was the only place where suitable accommodation then was avail able; and, in any event, the French probably would not have joined the SPC if Noumea had not been selected.
The first Secretary-General was Mr.
W. D. Forsyth, a brilliant organiser from Australia, who did not remain long. The second was Sir Brian Free ston, a former Governor of Fiji. The third (and present) chief executive is Dr. Ralph Bedell, a United States Foreign Office careerist, whose term expires within a few months.
Most observers agree that, if the SPC is to have real value in the future, a highly qualified Director should be permanently in charge of the organisation, and the headquarters should be in a place more accessible and less expensive than Noumea.