Libya was to become an independent state not later than January 1, 1952. A United Nations commissioner was appointed and was to be assisted by a ten-member council in drawing up a constitution and preparing for self-government. Since Libya was a poor country with a population of approximately 1 million, all appropriate agencies of the United Nations, including the specialized agencies, were urged to aid it with technical and financial assistance. A National Assembly was chosen, a federal from of government was adopted, and on December 24, 1951, Libya was proclaimed an independent state. Libya immediately applied for United Nations membership, but its application was vetoed by the Soviet Union, and it was admitted only as a part of the “package deal” in December 1955. Libya continued to receive special attention in the aid programs of the United Nations until the discovery of large petroleum resources moved it from very low to very high per capita income in the space of a decade.