United Nations Conference on International Organization

Insignia of the conference, prototype of the current logo of the United Nations

The United Nations Conference on International Organization (UNCIO) was a convention of delegates from 50 Allied nations that took place from 25 April 1945 to 26 June 1945 in San Francisco, United States. At this convention, the delegates reviewed and rewrote the Dumbarton Oaks agreements.[1] The convention resulted in the creation of the United Nations Charter, which was opened for signature on 26 June. The conference was held at various locations, primarily the War Memorial Opera House, with the Charter being signed on 26 June at the Herbst Theatre in Civic Center. The conference was chaired by U.S. diplomat Alger Hiss.[2]

A square in downtown San Francisco, called "UN Plaza," commemorates the conference, and is located adjacent to the city's Civic Center.

The conference

The basic framework for the proposed United Nations was framed in the vision of US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in which the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and China would lead the postwar international order. Would those countries, with the addition of France, who would assume the permanent seats on the Security Council. At the conference in Malta, it was proposed that the permanent members have veto power. This proposal was adopted at the Yalta conference. At the same conference, they began sending invitations to the conference.[1] 46 countries were invited to San Francisco. They had declared war on Germany and Japan, having signed the Declaration by United Nations.[3]

The conference directly invited four additional countries: Denmark (newly liberated from Nazi occupation), Argentina and the Soviet republics of Belarus and Ukraine.[3] The participation of these countries was not without controversy. The decision on the participation of Argentina was troubled because of Soviet opposition to Argentina membership, arguing that Argentina had supported the Axis Powers during the war. Several Latin American countries opposed the inclusion of Belarus and Ukraine unless it was Argentina admitted. In the end, Argentina was admitted to the conference with support from the United States and the desire for the participation of the Soviet Union at the conference was maintained.[1]

The participation of Belarus and Ukraine at the conference was given to Stalin by Churchill and Roosevelt concession. Stalin had originally requested that all republics of the Soviet Union have membership in the United Nations, but the US government launched a counterproposal in which all US states obtain membership in the United Nations. Such counterproposal encouraged Stalin to the Yalta conference, accepted that Ukraine and Belarus were admitted to the United Nations.[1] This treatment made to ensure a degree of balance in the general assembly, which, in the opinion of the Soviets, was unbalanced in favor of the Western countries. For this purpose, modifications were made to the constitutions of the two republics in question, so that Belarus and Ukraine international legal subjects were limited, while they were still part of the Soviet Union.

Poland, despite having signed the Declaration by United Nations, did not attend the conference because there was no consensus on the formation of the postwar Polish government. Therefore, a space is left blank for the signing of that country. The new Polish government was formed after the conference (June 28) and signed the United Nations Charter on 15 October, which made Poland one of the founding countries of the United Nations.[3]

850 delegates, who along with his advisors, employees and staff of the secretariat, totaling 3,500 people attended. In addition, the conference attended by 2,500 representatives of the media and observers from numerous organizations and societies.[3]

Entrance sign to Muir Woods National Monument

As President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was supposed to host the conference, had died on April 12, 1945, the delegates held a commemorative ceremony on May 19 among the tall Redwood trees in Muir Woods National Monument Cathedral Grove, where a dedication plaque was placed in his honor.

A steering committee, composed of the heads of delegation was formed. This committee decided on all important matters relating to principles and rules. Although each country had one representative, the membership was too much for the detailed work. Therefore, he commissioned an executive committee of 14 heads of delegation, to submit recommendations to the steering committee.[3]

The draft of the United Nations Charter was divided into 4 sections, each of which was studied by a commission. The first of these took over the organization's purposes, principles, membership, secretariat and the question of amendments to the Charter. The second considered loas functions of the General Assembly. The third took over as regards the Security Council. The fourth dealt with the assessment of the draft Statute of the International Court of Justice. This draft statute had been drafted by a team of legal experts from 44 countries, meeting in Washington in April 1945.[3]

At the conference, delegates reviewed and sometimes rewrote the text agreed at the Dumbarton Oaks conference. The delegations agreed to a role for regional organizations under the "umbrella" of the United Nations. delineation of the responsibilities of the Secretary General, as well as the creation of the Economic and Social Council and the Trusteeship Council was also agreed.[1]

The issue of veto of the permanent members of the Security Council proved to be an obstacle to reach agreement on the United Nations Charter. Several countries feared that if one of the "big five" assumed a behavior that threatened peace, the Security Council would be helpless to intervene, whereas in the case of a conflict between two countries that are permanent members of the Council, five They could proceed arbitrarily large. Therefore, they wanted to reduce the scope of the veto. But the great powers insisted that this provision was vital, stressing the fact that the United Nations was for the greater responsibility in maintaining world peace. Finally, these countries gave way.[3]

On June 25, delegates were meeting for the last time in plenary at the San Francisco Opera. The session was chaired by Lord Halifax (head of the British delegation) and to submit the final text of the Charter to the assembly, said: "The question we are about to solve with our vote is the most important thing that can happen in our lives". He then proposed that instead of raising his hand to vote more adequately proceed. Thus, each of the delegates stood and the rest of those present at the place. This led to an ovation that invaded the premises when Lord Halifax announced that the Charter had been adopted unanimously.[3]

President Truman speaking at the conference

The next day, in the auditorium of the Veterans Memorial Hall, the delegates signed the Charter. China signed first, for having been the first victim of an Axis power.[3] President Truman in his closing speech said:

The Charter of the United Nations which you have just signed is a solid structure upon which we can build a better world. History will honor you for it. Between the victory in Europe and the final victory, in this most destructive of all wars, you have won a victory against war itself. . . . With this Charter the world can begin to look forward to the time when all worthy human beings may be permitted to live decently as free people.[3]

Then President Truman pointed out that the Charter would work only if the peoples of the world were determined to make it work:

If we fail to use it, we shall betray all those who have died so that we might meet here in freedom and safety to create it. If we seek to use it selfishly - for the advantage of any one nation or any small group of nations — we shall be equally guilty of that betrayal. [3]

The existence of the United Nations did not start with the signing of the Charter, since in many countries it had to be subjected to parliamentary approval. It had been agreed that the Charter would come into effect when they have ratified the governments of China, France, Britain, the Soviet Union, the United States and most of the other signatory countries, and when they have notified the fact to the Department of State the United States. That happened on October 24, 1945.[3]

Participant countries

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "The United States and the Founding of the United Nations, August 1941 – October 1945". Washington: U.S. Department of State - Office of the Historian. October 2005. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  2. ↑ Who was Alger Hiss? The Alger Hiss Story: Search for the Truth
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "1945: The San Francisco Conference". United Nations. Retrieved August 22, 2016.

Further reading

External links


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