Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 62 Part 3.djvu/438

This page needs to be proofread.

62 STAT.] MULTILATERAL-INT. REFUGEE ORGANIZATION-DEC. 16, 1946 3047 pursuant to authority conferred upon the Organization by inter- national convention or agreement. ARTICLE 15 RELATIONSHIP WITH AUTHORI- TIES OF COUNTRIES OF LOCA- TION OF REFUGEES AND DIS- PLACED PERSONS The relationship of the Organi- zation with the Governments or administrations of countries in which displaced persons or refu- gees are located, and the condi- tions under which it will operate in such countries, shall be deter- mined by agreements to be nego- tiated by it with such Governments or administrations in accordance with the terms of this Constitu- tion. ARTICLE 16 AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION 2. Subject to Article 96 of the Charter of the United Nations and of Chapter II of the Statute of the International Court of Justice, any question or dispute concern- ing the interpretation or applica- tion of this Constitution shall be referred to the International Court of Justice, unless the General Council or the parties to such dispute agree to another mode of settlement. ARTICLE 18 ENTRY INTO FORCE 1. (a) States may become par- ties to this Constitution by: (i) signature without reser- vation as to approval; (ii) signature subject to ap- proval followed by acceptance; (iii) acceptance. Texts of proposed amendments to this Constitution shall be com- municated by the Director-Gen- eral to members at least three months in advance of their con- sideration by the General Council. Amendments shall come into effect when adopted by a two-thirds majority of the members of the General Council present and vot- ing and accepted by two-thirds of the members in accordance with their respective constitutional proc- esses, provided, however, that amendments involving new obli- gations for members shall come into force in respect of each member only on acceptance by it. ARTICLE 17 INTERPRETATION 1. TheChinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts of this Constitution shall be regarded as equally authentic. (b) acceptance shall be effected by the deposit of a formal instru- ment with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 2. This Constitution shall come into force when at least fifteen States,['] whose required contri- butions to Part I of the operational budget as set forth in Annex II of this Constitution amount to not less than seventy-five per cent of the total thereof, have become parties to it. 3. In accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations, the Secretary-General of the United Nations will register this Constitution, when it has been signed, without reservation as to approval, on behalf of one State or upon deposit of the first instrument of acceptance. 4. The Secretary-General of the United Nations will inform States ' Entered into force Aug. 20, 1948. 59 Stat. 1052 . 59 Stat. 1059. Post, pp. 3132, 313:1. Post, p. 3052. 59 Stat. 1052 .