UNITED NATIONS DAY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27490, 26 October 1954, Page 6

UNITED NATIONS DAY

MESSAGE FROM MR T. C. WEBB (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 22. “In spite of disappointments there may have been in the past, the principles of the Charter are still the best rules there are for international action to resist aggression and secure peace,” said the Minister of External Affairs (Mr T. C. Webb) tonight, in a message calling attention to the commemoration of United Nations Day on October 24. Mr Webb said it would be illogical to blame the United Nations because international differences could not always be immediately resolved. The truth was rather that the United Nations deserved praise because it kept open the channels of conciliation. Moreover, in matters affecting international peace and security its overriding authority was unchallenged, said Mr Webb. “Its shortcomings are due more to the imperfections of human nature than to fundamental defects in the provisions of the Charter or the machinery of the United Nations.” The Minister said that the present session of the General Assembly was in the committee stage. There were seven main committees, on each of which all delegations were represented. The New Zealand representatives to the present session in New York were Mr L. K. Munro, New Zealand Ambassador in Washington, and Mr Foss Shanahan, Deputy-Secretary of External Affairs, with alternates and advisers chiefly from the New Zealand permanent delegation to the United Nations.