On March 15, 1951 the International Meteorological Organization, which had existed nearly one hundred years as a semi-official body, held a conference in Paris to complete the arrangements for the transfer of its assets, activities, functions and obligations to the World Meteorological Organization. Immediately following the final session of the Conference of Directors of IMO, the first Congress of the World Meteorological Organization was to convene. The first congress was primarily concerned with administrative and organizational matters which would necessarily need affirmative action to insure the effective operation of the newly created organization. The provisional agenda included: 1) the election of officers; 2) the establishment of general regulations, rules of procedure, regional associations, and technical commissions; 3) the organization and location of a secretariat; 4) the appointment of a Secretary-General; and 5) the approval of a budget and a program of work.