Peace Talk — Autumn 2005
The Quarterly Newsletter of Peace Action MaineFew are alive today who remember the surge of idealism that swept the country in 1945 at the prospect — at long last — of a world at peace, a world that would be organized under the benign leadership of the five victorious powers of World War II. Shortly before his death, even FDR, according to Stephen Schlesinger, “confided to members of his inner circle that he would consider resigning from the presidency when the war was over and becoming the secretary-general of the United Nations.”
In spite of the intrigues and ambitions which motivated the principal actors, Roosevelt, Truman, Churchill and Stalin, meeting in San Francisco, produced a quite remarkable document which became the fountainhead of modern international law, the United Nations Charter. It came into force as an international treaty on October 24th, 1945 — United Nations Day. The Charter’s preamble endures as an eloquent statement of the postwar aspirations of mankind:
“We the Peoples of the United Nations, determined
To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and
To reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and
To establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and
To promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
“And for these ends
To practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and
To unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and
To ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and
To employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,
Have resolved to combine our efforts to accomplish these aims.”
The first serious effort at international cooperation — the League of Nations, born out of World War I, failed. Could this new effort, the United Nations, coming out of World War II, do better?
The intervening 60 years have not been easy ones for the UN, especially in matters falling under the purview of the Security Council, whose agenda has featured troubles in the Balkans, Palestine, Iran and Iraq, Vietnam and Afghanistan, all made immensely complex by the poisonous atmosphere of the Cold War, and ultimately by the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Perhaps less well known or understood, UN activities in economic and social fields have made tremendous strides in the same period, accompanied by an explosive shift to independence by former colonial territories and the resulting increase in UN membership from 55 to 191. Ambitious new programs were launched: attacks on poverty, illiteracy and disease as the underlying causes of civil distress; programs aimed at harnessing technological breakthroughs in public health, communications, transportation, peaceful uses of atomic energy, environmental enhancement and disarmament. Following the proclamation of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Human Rights Commission was established and soon became a hotbed of controversy. These achievements have been facilitated by a growing web of treaties, protocols and agreements binding the nations of the world together in a framework of international law.
Reflecting the vastly different world of today, as compared with that of 1945, a broad international consensus has emerged focusing on the need for basic reforms in the United Nations institution and its Charter. Secretary General Kofi Annan has called for a summit meeting of heads of state in September 2005 to consider various proposals for reform, starting with the recommendations of the panel of experts he appointed last year. Many additional proposals are on the table, including those of a Congressional Task Force, proposals made by a group of former foreign ministers from Europe, Canada, Asia and the U.S., by the “G-8” group of states and by other regional groups. The proposals all call for some sort of expansion of the Security Council, abolition of the Human Rights Commission and establishment of a new Human Rights Council, and for streamlining the Secretariat and making it more efficient. The size of a reformed Security Council and the number and identity of “permanent” members of the Council are among the yet-unresolved questions.
It is uniquely appropriate that on October 22nd 2005, the United Nations Association of Maine is sponsoring a discussion of the challenges and opportunities facing the United Nations, to be keynoted by Sir Brian Urquhart, former Under-Secretary General and one of the first members of the UN Secretariat. Succeeding Dr. Ralph Bunche, Sir Brian for many years directed all UN peacekeeping and peacemaking efforts, worldwide. It should be an insightful and informative discussion, especially since the results of the September Summit meeting will then be available.
Members of Peace Action Maine are cordially invited to attend this event, which will take place in the Portland Museum of Art at 6:00 PM on October 22nd, with a reception to follow. Tickets are $20 per person for PAM members and may be obtained by sending a check made out to UNA Maine, to 11 Columbia Street, Augusta, ME 04330.
Bruce Stedman is vice president of UNA Maine