ABSTRACT

The non-aligned countries could move to recess the Conference to keep the process going; if Britain or the United States claimed that the issue was "substantive," Alatas could rule it procedural, requiring only a majority vote. The Conference could simply dissolve after two weeks, as Britain and the United States desired. The Conference could decide to recess without setting a specific date for another meeting, leaving that question to the discretion of Alatas. Mexico made the first move, several weeks before the Conference began. In the General Assembly, where it was sure to have the votes it needed, it introduced another resolution on the question of the Amendment Conference. In case any delegates missed any of the articles and columns, the nongovernmental organizations at the Conference distributed reprints widely. At Conference sessions, a member of the American delegation could be seen moving from chair to chair at the rear of the chamber, checking off attendance on her list of parties.