United Nations General Assembly Resolution 21

21. Steps Necessary For Convening the International Court of Justice

It is desirable that the International Court of Justice should meet as soon as possible after the election of its members by the General Assembly and the Security Council.

In correspondence with the Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Carnegie Foundation, the Executive Secretary has ascertained that the Board is willing to meet representatives of the United Nations at The Hague to begin preliminary negotiations in order to fix the conditions on which the premises in the Peace Palace at The Hague, which are required by the International Court of Justice, can be placed at the disposal of the Court.

Therefore, the General Assembly instructs the Secretary-General:


 * 1. To take the necessary steps to summon a first meeting of the Court at The Hague as soon as can be conveniently arranged after the election of the members;


 * 2. To appoint a Secretary and such other temporary offices as may be required to assist the Court and to act for so long as the Court desires during the period preceding the appointment of its registrar and its officers;


 * 3. To conduct preliminary negotiations with the Board of Directors of the Carnegie Foundation, at the The Hague or other convenient place, in order to fix the condition on which the premises in the Peace Palace at The Hague, which are required by the International Court of Justice, can be placed at its disposal, the conditions being embodied in an agreement subject to the approval of the General Assembly.

Twenty-eighth plenary meeting, 10 February 1946.