CANADA SEEKS ELECTION

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25289, 15 September 1947, Page 7

CANADA SEEKS ELECTION

SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP “DECISION NOT TAKBEN LIGHTLY ” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8.40 p.m.) OTTAWA, September 13. Addressing the Ottawa branch the United Nations Association, the Minister of External Affairs (Mr St Laurent) announced that Cdnacw would be a candidate for membership

of the Security Council at the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. Mr St. Laurent said that other nations had been informed of Canada’s decision, but none had been asked to pledge its vote, because it was not the Canadian Government’s policy either to seek or give such pledges. The decision to seek election had not been taken lightly, because the United Nations had fallen far short of realising the hopes with which it had been founded. “Our faith in the organisation will be tested by the practical experience which we will have of the frailties of the United Nations.” he added. “We should indeed be misrepresenting the situation if we did not make clear our realisation that we are standing for membership of a body which has a discouraging record. “We must not delude ourselves or anybody else about the fact that membership of the Security Council will embody greater risks and responsibilities and fewer rewards -and honour* then it seemed to offer two years ago, when Canada withdrew in the original elections to enable Australia to be elected.”