World Notes UNITED NATIONS

When the U.S. resigned from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1984, a major reason was the alleged bad management and antidemocratic sentiments of the organization under its director-general, Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow of Senegal. Citing the same reason, Britain left in 1985. Last year M'Bow announced he would not seek a third six-year term, and there was some hope that the U.S. and Britain might rejoin the agency, whose programs have been crippled by the loss of Washington's $48 million annual contribution.

But that possibility seemed more remote last week after President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia nominated M'Bow for a new term. Aides to the director-general now claim that he never promised not to accept a draft, and would serve again if elected. Though there are eleven other nominees for the job, Kaunda's endorsement carries weight: he is chairman of the Organization of African Unity, which includes 62 of UNESCO's 158 member states. The election will take place in November. Among the perks that M'Bow may be reluctant to give up: a $160,000 salary and a rent-free apartment atop UNESCO's Paris headquarters.